I 70 FTEIS Pre Location Meeting Summary September 2008

Transcription

1 I 70 FTEIS Pre Lcatin Meeting Summary September 2008 OVERVIEW The Missuri Department f Transprtatin (MDOT) has begun an envirnmental study f I 70 n the Missuri side f the Kansas City Metrplitan Area. The study is a First Tier Envirnmental Impact Statement (FTEIS) fr the future I 70 Kansas City Metr prject. The study will end in It spans 18 miles f I 70 frm the last ramp termini east f the Missuri Kansas state line t just east f I 470 and includes all f the Dwntwn Kansas City Central Business District Freeway Lp. MDOT held tw large public meetings fr the study: September 9, 2008 frm 4 7PM at St. Paul Schl f Thelgy, Hlter Center, 5123 Truman Rad, Kansas City, Missuri. September 11, 2008 frm 4 7PM at Truman High Schl, Cafeteria, 3301 S. Nland Rad, Independence, Missuri. The meetings were frmatted as pen huses, s participants were welcme t cme and g as desired thrugh the length f the 3 hur meetings. N frmal presentatins were given. The fllwing exhibits were n display fr review and cmment: Welcme Frm Idea t Reality The verall prcess fr a transprtatin prject FTEIS Schedule and Prcess Study Area Map Existing Traffic Bth directins n an average day Purpse and Need Map Envirnmental Cnstraints Map What is a Cncept and a Strategy N Build Cncept Imprve Bttlenecks Cncepts Cncepts that Change Capacity Specialty Managed Lanes Cncepts Evaluatin f Strategies Getting Invlved Other MDOT Prjects in the Kansas City Area I 70 FTEIS Pre Lcatin Meeting Summary September

2 Meeting participants received a prject status handut and a cmment card that included fur questins as they signed int the meeting: What are the prblems in the Crridr? What needs t be fixed and hw wuld yu fix it? Hw des the crridr affect yur everyday life? Other Cmments? Over 8,400 newsletters were mailed t I 70 prperty wners and 308 fliers were mailed t umbrellas rganizatins, agencies, businesses, and public fficials inviting them t attend the meetings. Cmbined, 55 peple attended. Generally their cmments related t: Nise/sund walls Additinal lanes Traffic cngestin Entrance and exit ramp lengths Light rail/multi mdal transprtatin Specific cmments are included belw by meeting date. COMMENTS: SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 MEETNG AT ST. PAUL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY 24 peple attended the meeting and 11 cmment cards were received. Verbatim cmment card cmments include (persn s name excluded): Q. What are the prblems in the crridr? A. Only ne methd f transit cars. The Nrth Lp frms a barrier between dwntwn and river market. The Suth Lp frms a barrier between dwntwn and the crssrads. Air pllutin which impacts the safety and health nearby residents is hrrendus. The residents in the city are bearing the brunt f suburban cmmuters. A. Traffic mves t slw. It s very nisy & we have n privacy. We are s clse t the highway nw, we have a majr nise prblem. Crime is als high and we hear the emergency equipment g by all the time. When traffic is backed up I can t even ck in the kitchen because peple can see in ur windws. We keep them clsed at all times. Hmes shuld nt be allwed s clse t the highways. I agree that I 70 shuld be widened t get the flw ging. Yes! A. Bentn Curve pses prblems frm the standpints f degree & turn (turns t quick). Als very treacherus in winter weather. A. There is bumper t bumper traffic mrnings and evenings t and frm dwntwn KC. I 70 FTEIS Pre Lcatin Meeting Summary September

3 A. Cngestin prblems widen area and prvide cnservatinal tuch (trees, flwers, bushes, etc.) t beautiful and absrb sme f the pllutin. A. T much traffic fr the rad. Wasn t meant t handle all the traffic it carries. Heavy vehicles tear up the pavement. Shuld have been a crss ver frm ne side t the ther when riginally built. 29 th and Oakley. A. Back up between 3p 6p M F A. That there s nly ne highway ging east and there shuld be mre than ne east west highway. A. Interested in any access t 40 hwy I Signed, Kevin Sleyster. A. Traffic ging east frm dwntwn is basically a parking lt. Widen I 70 frm 3 lanes t 6 lanes in each directin. A. My main cncern is with the shrt n/ff ramps that serve as bth n/ff ramp at the same time. A. Prblems in the crridr are nt enugh lanes. Lanes need t widen t 5 lanes. On and exit ramps are t shrt, need t lengthen. Jacksn Curve is very dangerus. Q. What needs t be fixed and hw wuld yu fix it? A. Cap the Suth Lp. Get rid f the Nrth Lp. Add Massive tree buffers t filter pllutants frm adjacent neighbrhds. Get rail transit in the crridr (see I 25 in Denver T REX prject). Stp perpetuating suburban and exurban sprawl. A. Fr ½ diamnd curve, it s preferable t see a mre graduated curve. A. I wuld recmmend light rail where ne culd park their cars in Independence, Overland Park, N. Kansas City. Cnnectins and agreement wuld need t be wrked with the railrad as light rail culd g t Unin Statin and buses frm there t dwntwn and ther cnnectins. A. Replace rad bed with mixture f ld tires t give rad mre give and wuldn t tear up r wear ut s easily. If yu build a new rad put in a bridge crssing, ver I 70 at 29 th and Oakley area. A. Imprved maintenance. A. The reverse highway is a really gd idea. A. Need t fix the n and ff exit 7A. I 70 & 40 Hwy fr future develpment. Signed, Kevin Sleyster. A. Funding r n funding I 70 needs fixed frm 435 west (Legends) t St. Luis. A. Reduce the number f n/ff ramps especially in the nrth lp s that sme ramps can be lnger and serve a single purpse. A. Shrt entrance ramp make traffic merging difficult and at times unsafe. The I 70 w/i 435 exit frm Delaware/Independence ramp is an example f such a ramp. Getting t I 70 w is at times dangerus, requiring yu t cme t a full stp at the end f the ramp and then dart acrss lanes t arrive in the crrect left mst lane. A. It s simple. Buy up prperty and spend sme mney. Get I 70 up graded fr the safety f Kansas Citians. It s lng verdue. I 70 FTEIS Pre Lcatin Meeting Summary September

4 Q. Hw des the crridr affect yur everyday life? A. I have t breathe in the pllutants emitted frm suburban cmmuters which enhances my risk f asthma. I find it hard t walk frm my residence at 8 th and Bradway t the River Market and Crssrads because f the Nrth and Suth Lp. A. Smetimes it takes a lng time t get hme after wrk because f the slwness. And if there is an accident, frget a decent time t arrive hme. Everyne I wrk with hates the I 70 drive hme. Especially the Bentn Curve. A. I d nt drive I 70 thrugh rush hur nt necessary. Nt affected by it. I 70 makes cnnectins east t 435, Hwy 291 and west cnnectin prblem ccurs dwntwn with cnnectin t I 35 and t intercity bridge and nrth acrss Pase bridge r cnnectins nrth. A. Shpping, getting ut f twn t pints east. A. It is behind my huse. A. Nt Much. I nly travel if I am ging t KS r Eastern Jacksn Cunty. A. I walk t wrk, s the crridrs effect n my life is mainly due t the nise I encunter while walking ver it. On the weekend, hwever, I drive alng I 70 frequently and d experience the challenges then. A. It s a nightmare all the way t Indep., Blue Springs. Back t back traffic every day. Stand stills. Traffic. Rad rage. Q. Other Cmments? A. Build a highway fr the 21 st Century and beynd. Fix the mistakes f the riginal highway netwrk which sacrificed sustainable urban living fr unsustainable suburban sprawl. Make the highway multi mdal Give peple different ptins fr transit. Increase MDOT s funding f mass transit, decrease funding fr rads. PUT A TOLL ROAD FROM I 470 TO DOWNTOWN. TAX THE SUBURBANITES WHO WANT TO COMMUTE 50+ MILES PER DAY. A. Thanks fr listening. It s a cnstant battle Mnday Friday. A. Light rail wrked in Sacrament CA. Culd be used as a guide fr Kansas City. I 70 East past Marshall, MO is a mess. Wrn ut and int St. Luis, disastrus. A tunnel prpsed is a jke and t me ne way traffic and separate lanes fr bus and 4 riders. Tried in Califrnia and failed. A subway in LA was built n exists, etc. I 70 is mre flat in Missuri and rails culd be built alng the present I 70. A. Keep up the gd wrk & remember safety 1 st. Prvide mre camera and slar pwered lighting t save n energy! A. Prepare fr increased rapid transit. A. There needs t be anther way t g east r tll lanes fr faster travel. A. It s abut time. A. If the nrth and suth lp culd be cvered, cnverting the space int a park r sme ther cmmunity feature, yu wuld have my vte! I 70 FTEIS Pre Lcatin Meeting Summary September

5 A. Why has it taken MDOT and ther city members t start making plans t d smething abut the I 70 crridr? Stp wrrying abut mney. Just get it dwn. Staff Ntes Supprt fr truck lanes need thicker truck pavement. 3 cars fr cars, 3 trucks fr trucks and rebuild existing. Wuld like t see recycled asphalt used. Dn t like elevated lanes. Like tunnel and reversible lanes reversible lanes wuldn t cst t much. One way lp wuld prbably wrk. Thinks light rail wuld wrk. Lived in Chicag used reversible lanes it helps, ne f the better ideas, limit exits within them I 90 did this the better ptin with gd signage. On I 70 everyday cngestin cmes and ges. Cncern ver lng term rad cnditin. COMMENTS: SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 MEETING AT TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL 31 peple attended the meeting and 12 cmment cards were received. Verbatim cmment card cmments include (persn s name excluded): Q. What are the prblems in the crridr? A. Entering and exiting alne I 70 are t shrt and crss traffic at 470/I 70 Bentn Curve t sharp. And inf fr lane change t shrt ntice. A. Bentn Curve is biggest prblem. We need the tunnel. A. Nise abatement by traffic and N Jake Break Signs (Especially n the Crysler Bridge where the drivers start t let her lse)! Signed, Bill Baker. A. Regin wide issues. Mre capacity needed. Alternatives t adding lanes. A. Nise and level drainage frm west and east a 12 mile marker. Cme acrss ur yard washing gravel away. Signed, Jhn Paris. A. Speed decrease nise and wrecks with lwer speed. A. Lane reductins at 435 interchange clgs rush hur cmmutes. High level f nise fr hmes facing the highway. High level f traffic use. A. The speed limit shuld be lwer. It wuld decrease nise and lwer the number f wrecks. A. Extra entrance/exit lane. I 70 EB in between Lee s Summit Rd and 291 always a prblem with everyne wanting t be in the right lane t get n 291 and peple trying t get n the highway frm Lee s Summit Rd EB. A. The biggest prblem is nise. I 70 as it nw stands can handle the traffic. I 70 FTEIS Pre Lcatin Meeting Summary September

6 Q. What needs t be fixed and hw wuld yu fix it? A. TDM. Alternative wrk hurs. Ride sharing. Carpl lanes. Light rail thrughut metr area. Design issues. Clverleaf interchange design utdated at I 470. I 435 interchange als needs t be mdernized ie flyvers etch. Lnger weave areas wuld help with interchanges. A. Build up grwn s water will g east nt acrss ur yard. Signed, Jhn Paris. A. Added lanes. The reversible lane is a viable suggestin. Barrier walls t reduce the nise. A. Make 3 lanes that g under 435 eastbund and westbund. Cnsider rush hur by using a lane frm directin it is ging like St. Luis. D nt put red lights n ramps. A. I wuld build lnger and wider entrance and exit ramps at the stadium. I wuld put in reversible lanes. This wuld cut dwn n the wrecks. A. Redesign f 40/Sterling Exit (I 70 WB). Very dangerus merging with traffic cming frm Blue Ridge as well. Straighten ut the curves heading dwntwn t reduce speed restrictins. A. Sund barriers n bth sides. D nt add any additinal lanes. Q. Hw des the crridr affect yur everyday life? A. When we built ur hme 50 plus years ag, I 70 was a crn field. My builder and I were bth infrmed that the lng hill behind my lcatin wuld be cut thru and all I wuld be seeing is the tps f sme semis. As a frmer Independence City Cuncilman, I knw that there were federal dllars t. Signed, Bill Baker. A. Nise and can get yard dry s can mw it. Signed, Jhn Paris. A. Nise. A. Hme sits alng I 70 and the nise level is annying t the pint it affects vlume levels f TV and recreatinal use f backyard. A. It is s lud during rush hur, we dare nt pen the windws. There are 1 ½ blcks nrth f I 70 n Rittman Rd. A. Nise. We live next t I 70 and we cannt use ur backyard. Primary nise is frm large trucks and additinal lanes were nly make the nise prblem wrse. Q. Other Cmments? A. Better access t Pwer and Light frm Eastern Jacksn Cunty. A. Build sund barriers neighbrs and I attended a meeting dwn by the plaza years ag and were nt allwed t express r cmments r feelings. Nt a gd night. S what s the latest n sund barriers s I can reprt back t neighbrs? Thank yu, Bill Baker E 41 st Terrace (Just East f the Crysler Bridge). (Cmment Suggest nt shw persn s name regarding the versin f the meeting summary shwn t the public.) Signed, Bill Baker. I 70 FTEIS Pre Lcatin Meeting Summary September

7 A. Believe a light rail/cmmuter train wuld be ppular and heavily used. Wuld lve t see this happen parallel t I 70 t Blue Springs and Nrth t Airprt. A. Thanks fr explaining things s well it is a relief t knw exactly hw this prcess wrks. A big relief fr us!!! A. The disintegrating rubber tires cntribute t txic air. A. I think the Highway Department shuld wrk with cunty assessrs fr lwer tax assessed value f prperty next t the highway. This wuld give sme relief t prperty wners. Staff Ntes Need 3 lanes under I 435, nw just 2. Accidents in the straight part between Blue Ridge Cutff and Sterling r any straight part. Weird ging in lp frm I 70 w t 29/35N. Accidents (sirens) when there s a ball game. Straighten ut I 70 between dwntwn t I 435. Straighten ut curves and allw faster speeds fr thrugh traffic. Need better signage t help peple g east n I 70 frm the west side f the lp (Sign needs t say that yu can stay in the right lane). Wuld like t see flyver ramps t I 470 frm I 70. Like reversible lanes wrk elsewhere. 12 Mile marker new warning sign cming acrss back fence t read the meter message bard is in their backyard. Als have drainage prblem related t freeway runff and ersin. Flyvers at I 435 a key issue. Part f majr cngestin is nging cnstructin n the rad. 15 miles n I 70 t Kansas side smetimes takes 45 minutes t an hur ften cnstructin is a factr. Big fan f clverleaf except sme n I 470/70. Dust is a cncern clse t freeway system in additin t nise. Tires, shcks car damage due t maintenance issues rad litter, metal, tires etc causing damage. Car pl lanes. Need t reduce drivers. N experience with HOT/HOV lanes dn t knw if we need smething like that. D nt nrmally have much truble with I 70 traffic. Mainly g frm Lee s Summit t the airprt. In favr f maintain and perhaps add a lane. Stick t the basics. Cncerned with widening lives 5 huses away and says it is very nisy gtten mre s in the last 30 years desn t want rad widened. I 70 FTEIS Pre Lcatin Meeting Summary September

8 Need flyver eastbund t suthbund peple dn t yield the right f way. Prblem with drainage t nrth frm riginal cnstructin f center lane need t present in any future cnstructin. Nise bad and vibratins. Nise n hills Jake Breaks. What happened t mney fr sund barriers between Nland and 40 HWY? I 70 FTEIS Pre Lcatin Meeting Summary September