Stakeholder Interviews

 

Summary of what we’ve heard:

 

 

Question 1:  What should be the most important transportation goals and objectives for Lawrence and Douglas County region?

 

·        Improve the east-west flow of traffic in Lawrence for automobiles and bicyclists.

·        Improve the north-south flow of traffic in Lawrence for automobiles and bicyclists. 

·        Get people out of their cars and reduce the number of vehicles on the region’s roads by 10 % or more.

·        Provide greater Public Transportation services for the region including fixed-route bus service and paratransit service.

·        Help senior citizens maintain their independence by providing transportation options such as convenient bus routes and paratransit service.

·        Develop high-speed transit between Lawrence and Kansas City as well as Lawrence and Topeka.

·        Develop bicycle trail system between Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City.

·        Sidewalks should be ADA accessible.

·        Coordinate land use and transportation planning.

·        Plan transportation modes and infrastructure in ways that reduce energy consumption and reduce emissions that contribute to global warming.

·        Support multi-modal transportation over encouraging private automobile use.

·        Land use planning should keep the community compact, avoiding sprawl, and avoiding encroachment on sensitive environmental areas.

·        Adopt Smart Growth concepts to enable pedestrian and public transportation as dominant modes within newly developed neighborhoods. 

·        Focus should be on moving people, not vehicles.

Question 2:  What are the most important specific transportation issues or needs in the Lawrence and Douglas County region?

 

·        Complete the South Lawrence Trafficway from US-59 (Iowa Street) to K-10 east of Lawrence.

·        There is a need for an additional river crossing.  Currently the only places to cross are on the turnpike (I-70) and highway US-40/59.

·        The US-40/59 river bridge is a bottleneck.

·        Traffic flow is very poor on 6^th Street between Tennessee and Massachusetts.

·        Create an East Lawrence Bypass that connects the industrial areas south of the Kansas River with the Turnpike (I-70).

·        Concerns for traffic and safety impacts of the proposed 142 acre development near the airport.  Avoid adding industrial traffic to the residential portion of North 7^th Street.  Highways will need to be widened to accommodate development traffic.  Concerned for increased potential for flooding due to rainfall runoff from the development’s buildings and parking lots.

·        Locust Street is a truck route through a residential neighborhood that serves ICL and another chemical plant.  Provide alternate route to connect these plants to US-24/40 to the north.

·        Adequate funding needed for transportation improvements.

·        Future availability and cost of motor fuels and impacts on transportation.

·        Centralized public/private transit facility to connect intercity and intracity bus service.  Also a connection to intercity trains.

·        Bus rides should be free to the public and buses should run more frequently.

·        More bicycle trails are needed in the region.

·        Bicycle lanes should be continuous, not stop after a few blocks.

·        Although additional east-west major roadways are needed, the South Lawrence Trafficway will not help existing congestion. 

·        Need additional paratransit services for senior citizens, especially as this portion of our population is growing.

·        Separate truck traffic from automobile traffic by routing it outside or at the periphery of Lawrence.

·        Retrofit existing neighborhoods to encourage pedestrians.

·        The University of Kansas is served by only one bicycle facility.

·        Need to reduce green house gas emissions.

·        Need to provide more choices of viable transportation alternatives.

·        Regional commuter rail is needed between Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City.

Question 3:  What are the most important roadway connectivity issues facing the Lawrence and Douglas County region?

 

·        Major streets and highways connections should be improved in advance of residential, commercial, or industrial development.

·        31^st Street should be improved across Lawrence and provide a better connection to K-10 east of Lawrence.

·        The east-west flow of traffic needs to be improved.

·        The South Lawrence Trafficway should be completed along the proposed alignment.

·        The South Lawrence Trafficway should go south of the Wakarusa River to provide connection to developing areas.

·        An additional river crossing is needed to connect the main area of Lawrence with areas north of the river.

·        Cut-through traffic is an issue due to lack of connectivity in the road network.

·        An East Lawrence Bypass is needed to connect industrial areas with I-70 and as a way to remove through traffic, including trucks, from city streets.

·        Need an east-west express bus route along 15^th Street.

Question 4:  What transportation options are needed to support and enhance the mobility and economic vitality of Lawrence and Douglas County?

 

·        Highways US-24/40 and US-40/59 should be improved to accommodate traffic to and from the proposed industrial development near the airport.  Highways should handle traffic generated by freight movement and employees.

·        Truck farming and specialty farming will increase in the future.  Transportation improvements should avoid prime farm land.

·        More bike trails, free bus service, other forms of “people movers”.

·        An “East Lawrence Connection” between I-70 and K-10 is needed.

·        Improve bus service to provide a more flexible system for connections to employment.

·        Mobility options for the severely disabled are limited or extremely expensive.

·        Emphasize public transit in Lawrence and Douglas County where feasible.

·        Facilitate public transit, vanpooling, and carpooling for commuters.

Question 5:  What would be the best ways to give people more access and more choices when it comes to transportation in and out of this area?  What are the most critical needs?

 

·        Develop high-speed commuter rail service to Topeka and to Kansas City.

·        Need express bus service to Topeka and Kansas City for commuters.

·        Need for transportation options from Lawrence to smaller cities in the county. 

·        Locate a central transit hub in downtown Lawrence that connects local buses with interurban bus service and possible commuter rail service.

·        Develop bicycle trail to connect to Topeka, also to the Kansas City metro area.

·        Improve transportation alternatives to KCI airport.

·        Add a “fast lane” for car pools and transit along K-10 and the Turnpike (I-70).

·        Land use planning facilitates or prevents of various transportation modes.  Street configurations in new residential or commercial developments should consider public transit and pedestrian traffic.

·        Facilitate public transit and the supporting sidewalk infrastructure. 

·        Develop “Park and Ride” lots at key locations.

Question 6:  What would be the best ways to give people more access and choices when it comes to transportation inside the Lawrence and Douglas County area?

 

·        New developments should be designed to allow easy access to bus routes and bicycle facilities.

·        Roadway improvements

·        Enhance bus service by providing longer hours of operation and by increasing the frequency of buses on each route.

·        Increase the number of bicycle facilities.

·        Good sidewalks in all neighborhoods.

Question 7:  How can we help protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation and improve quality of life while meeting the transportation needs of the Lawrence and Douglas County region?

 

·        Actively support transportation modes other than private automobiles in land use planning, rehabilitation of existing areas, and infrastructure maintenance and construction.

·        Enhance the public transportation system.

·        Don’t destroy pristine farmland when constructing new roadways.

·        Encourage the use of bicycling as a form of transportation; provide bicycle facilities to attract riders.

·        The “look” of the road system is important, use appropriate landscaping.

·        Develop a “green” buffer area around the City of Lawrence.

·        Consider electrically-powered buses as buses are replaced to reduce air pollution.

·        As buses are replaced, consider alternative fuels that would result in less air pollution. 

·        Invest in buses that do not emit CO₂.

·        Use road surfaces other than asphalt, as petroleum derivatives may be significant sources of CO₂ because they evaporate and emit fumes when heated.

Question 8:  How important is it to maintain the existing transportation system in good condition and make it more efficient, versus adding lanes or building new roads? 

 

·        Maintenance of existing facilities should take a higher priority than building new roads.

·        Top priority is to maintain existing infrastructure.

·        Existing streets could move more traffic if the traffic signals were better coordinated.

·        Roundabouts should be considered instead of traffic signals as they provide less delay to drivers.

·        Replace the traffic signal at the south end of the highway US-40/59 Bridge with a roundabout.

·        Many North Lawrence streets lack curb and gutter.  Upgrade these streets to urban standards.

·        Streets should be maintained to provide a smooth surface (safety as well as aesthetic impacts).

·        Transportation plans should be coordinated with urban design plans.

Question 9:  How can we make it easier to transport freight in and out of the area?  How can we make it easier for freight to move among rail, air, and trucks?

 

·        Maintain and improve I-70 to accommodate freight traffic.

·        New industrial developments should be located near existing transportation infrastructure such as railroads and major roads.

·        Build an East Lawrence Bypass to connect highway K-10 to the Turnpike (I-70).

Question 10:  What are the most critical needs for improving bicycle and pedestrian transportation in Lawrence and Douglas County?

 

·        Need good sidewalks along both sides of all urban roadways.

·        Increase bicycle education.

·        Increase use of “share the road” signs.

·        Each bicycle you see frees up one parking space – should inform the public so that they may be more courteous to cyclists.

·        More sidewalks are needed in North Lawrence neighborhoods.

·        Bicycle trail system needs to be completed.

·        Improve system of sidewalks (including widening) along 6^th, 9^th, 11^th, 13^th, 15^th, and 19^th Streets.

·        Provide better connection of sidewalk system to commercial areas.

·        Continue bicycle trails into the eastern part of Lawrence.

·        Need a Key City Employee to oversee pedestrian issues.

·        Pedestrian Plan should reference AASHTO and other national guidelines.

·        List priorities for pedestrian improvements in the T2030 Plan.

·        Bike lanes need to be continuous, eliminate gaps in lane markings along major streets.

·        There is a “gap” in the sidewalk along Iowa Street approaching the recreational path that parallels the South Lawrence Trafficway.

·        A bicycle facility is needed from the area near the Lieds Center to Downtown Lawrence.

·        A bicycle facility is needed along 15^th Street from Kasold to Iowa.

·        The north end of the recreational path along the South Lawrence Trafficway (K-10) should be extended to the “Farmers Turnpike”.

·        Douglas County needs a comprehensive trail plan.

·        Motorists don’t have a good understanding of the rights of bicyclists; a public education program is needed.

·        Increase city-funded programs for bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

Question 11:  What do you envision the role of public transportation to serve in the community?

 

·        Strong need for public transportation in the future.

·        Need longer service hours for fixed-route buses.

·        Shorter headways are needed between buses on fixed routes.

·        Transit should be a priority.  Investment in transit could provide savings on roadway maintenance.

·        KU on Wheels should provide evening service for students.

·        Need more transit-oriented development due to the future possibility of higher cost motor fuels or possible lack of fuels.

·        A review of the existing bus routes in Lawrence is needed to determine if system can by improved.

·        It will have to be a major method of transportation in order to reduce CO₂ emissions.

·        The role of public transportation is reducing noise, improving safety, reducing pollution, and reducing the extraordinary expense of building and maintaining infrastructure for private automobiles.

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Question 12:  How can we make it easier for people to easily switch between driving a car, taking transit, bicycling, and walking?

 

·        Park and Ride lots are important and more of these should be constructed.

·        Public transit must be convenient, run frequently, be on schedule, and make logical connections to other bus routes.

·        Coordinate transit routes with bicycle routes and sidewalks.

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Question 13:  What are your biggest concerns about safety as they relate to automobile, truck, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation?  How could they be improved?  How strong are your concerns?

 

·        Roadways that are without curb and gutter should have paved shoulders to improve safety for motorists and bicyclists.

·        Concerns for pedestrian safety near public facilities such as the library, swimming pool, or crossing major streets.

·        US-24/59 curve north of Lawrence has been the site of vehicle crashes.

·        Concern for safety at railroad crossings in North Lawrence.

·        Safety concerns for bus stop on K-10 near the jail (east of Lawrence).

·        On street parking next to bicycle lanes is a safety concern.

·        Truck traffic should be routed around the periphery of Lawrence.

·        Concern for the conflicts between turning motor vehicles and bicycles where a bicycle path crosses a street at an intersection.

·        Adequate distance must be maintained between vehicles and pedestrians.

Question 14:  What are your biggest concerns about homeland security and personal security as they relate to automobile, truck, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation?  How could they be improved?  How strong are your concerns?

 

·        Generally not seen as an issue for the region.

·        Some concern for NAFTA/I-35 corridor not being secure regarding people and goods.

·        Minimal or no border checks for containers transported on NAFTA route I-35.