PUBLIC HEARING ITEM:
ITEM NO. 18: TEXT AMENDMENT TO TRANSPORTATION 2025 TO AMEND ROADWAY SYSTEM PLAN AND MAJOR THOROUGHFARES MAPS (BA)
Amend Transportation 2025 (T2025) – Roadway System Plan and Major Thoroughfares Maps (Figures 6.8 & 6.9) to show an east-west arterial along the general alignment of the extension of Peterson Road west to George Williams Way and to remove an incorrect section from the Major Thoroughfares Maps, deleting Franklin Road from 31st Street to South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT). Initiated by the Planning Commission at their June meeting.
At the June, 2004 Planning Commission meeting, concern was expressed over the lack of proposed east-west roadway connection in the area north of 6th Street between Folks Road and Queens Road. Staff was directed to develop an amendment to T-2025 to add Peterson Road as an arterial road between Folks Road and George Williams Way (extended). In Dec., 2003, staff had developed a traffic analysis to compare three potential east-west alignments in the study area. That traffic analysis was used in developing this proposed plan amendment.
To evaluate improvements to the western and northwestern areas of Lawrence, Kansas, several modeling exercises were undertaken. Modeling was based on roadway networks and data used in the development of the adopted Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation 2025. Traffic analysis zones (TAZs) used in the LRTP effort were subdivided to provide a greater level of detail in the area to be tested. Additional collector streets were then added to the area west of Wakarusa and between 6th and 15th Streets to incorporate recent changes to the Major Thoroughfares Map. This network was used as a base for the evaluation of three improvement scenarios (refer to Alignments 1-3) north of 6th Street, plus the adopted Transportation 2025 network modified by splitting TAZs and adding collector streets.
Once the approximate alignments were placed on the network and on GIS, potential issues and impacts associated with each alignment were identified.
A cost estimate range for each of the alignments was estimated assuming construction of new 4-lane roadways. Right-of-way acquisition was estimated and cost estimates developed assuming undeveloped property. Due to terrain and drainage considerations in the approximate alignments, construction estimates assumed the high end of the range and total cost estimates were then projected to 2025. Specific right of way, structures, terrain and drainage costs, potential year of construction, and costs associated with public properties are unknown and the LRTP target year was therefore used.
· T 2025: This model run demonstrates the effect of splitting zones and adding collector streets in the area between 15th and I-70, west of Wakarusa Drive and east of the SLT. The primary effect of this change is a redistribution of traffic on 6th and 15th Streets due to the relocation of zone boundaries and zone centroid connectors. Overall, there is a slight increase in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and a substantial decrease in overall delay as compared to the LRTP model with the original zones.
The 2025 network with TAZ splits and added collectors showed several improvements over the 2025 LRTP model as adopted. Most noticeable, projected volumes and associated roadway level of service (LOS) on N1800/Farmer’s Turnpike showed significant improvement. Several segments of 6th Street and 15th Street showed some improvement in level of service (LOS), improving from LOS E or F to LOS D.
· Alignment 1: This alignment includes the one mile extension of Peterson Road west from Folks Road, currently a 2-lane collector. These extensions redistribute travel from N1800 Rd./Farmer’s Turnpike to use Peterson Road and 6th Street, thereby reducing traffic volumes on Queens Road and western portions of 6th Street. However, there is a slight increase in traffic on 6th Street east of Monterey Way, as well as on Folks Road, Peterson Road, and Monterey Way. Overall, there is a marked decrease in both VMT and congestion delay as compared to the “T 2025” scenario.
Since this roadway does not exist, acquisition of right of way would be required. There are twenty-eight developed and undeveloped properties abutting the approximate alignment. A significant issue is the presence of the undeveloped city park property west of Folks Road. In December, 2001, the City of Lawrence purchased and was given several properties west of Folks Road for use as park properties. Conservation easements, held by the Kansas Land Trust, strictly limit development of the properties to specified uses. At the time of the park’s acquisition, no rights of way for future roadways were preserved, with the result that the abutting properties covered by the conservation easement block any extension of Peterson Road. Under the terms of the agreement, the easement can only be terminated by court proceedings.
To avoid the easement-protected park property, the proposed alignment was shifted slightly southwest off of and parallel to the section line at the Folks/Peterson intersection and carried westward then back to align with N1700 Road. This alignment shift would impact the city park property at the southwest corner of Peterson & Folks and would also require additional right-of-way from undeveloped and residential properties to the west.
· Alignment 2: This alignment includes the approximately 1.7 mile improvement of Martin Park Road/ N1750 from Peterson Road to Queens Road as a 4-lane arterial. Model results indicate a slight decrease in traffic on N 1800 Road, Queens Road, and 6th Street. Traffic volumes and congestion increase on Peterson Road, Folks Road, and Monterey Way. Decreases in traffic volumes are generally lower and increases in traffic volumes are generally higher than those seen with Alignment 1. Overall VMT and congestion delay decrease, but less significantly than with Alignment 1.
Presumably, an improved or upgraded road would generally follow the alignment of existing Martin Park Road. Some additional right of way would be required for a road that meets current design standards for an urban-type arterial. There are twenty-three properties abutting the approximate alignment. Most of the properties are undeveloped, agricultural, or rural single-family dwellings, but the roadway also borders Martin Park north of Peterson Road and east of E1100 Rd.
· Alignment 3: This alignment includes the approximately .75 mile connection of a new arterial (approximately an extension of Stetson Drive) west from Folks Road to Wakarusa. With this alignment, there is some diversion of traffic from N1800 Road to Stetson Drive and 6th Street. This results in the greatest decrease in congestion on N1800 Road and moderate decreases in traffic volume on Queens Road. The decrease in congestion on N1800 Road is somewhat offset by the increase in volumes on 6th Street west of E1150 Road. Also, high levels of congestion are forecast on Folks Road and Wakarusa Drive between Stetson Drive and 6th Street and on Wakarusa south of 6th Street, indicating that a two-lane extension of Wakarusa may be insufficient. Overall, this alignment experiences the largest decrease in VMT, but the smallest decrease in delay.
Since this roadway does not exist, acquisition of right of way would be required. There are twenty-three developed and undeveloped properties abutting the approximate alignment. Thirteen of the properties are developed single-family homes. The alignment also abuts the grounds of USD 497 Free State High School.
All three alignments have positive and negative impacts associated with them. The T-2025 traffic assignment serves essentially as the “no build” alternative for the purposes of comparing with the three alignments that test alternative new roadways. Individual roadways show different impacts under each scenario; some experiencing little additional traffic, while others showed significant increases due to reallocating travel patterns. 6th St. showed improvements under all three scenarios since all of the alignments provide drivers with an east-west alternative to traveling on 6th Street.
The Alignment 1 scenario analyzed Peterson Road extended to Queens Road. This scenario provides the best east-west connection in terms of arterial spacing and service to developing areas. While traffic on Folks Road and Queens Road increased somewhat, Monterey Way showed significant increase. Conversely, 6th Street west of Folks and Farmer’s Turnpike both showed considerable improvement. The significant adverse impact of this alignment would be its effect on the city park property at the southwest corner of Peterson & Folks and would also require additional right-of-way from undeveloped and residential properties to the west. Due to terrain and drainage in the area, constructability would be challenging with consequently higher costs.
Alignment 2 analyzed the potential improvement of Martin Park Road to arterial standards. This alignment provides some improvement to 6th Street and increases traffic volumes on Folks Road and Monterey Way. Costs estimates showed this alignment was the highest of the three studied, being the longest road section at approximately 1.7 miles. There could also be significant costs associated due to drainage structures needed with an improved roadway. This alignment avoids much of the severe terrain of alignments 1 and 3, but would require drainage improvements.
Alignment 3 analyzed a new roadway connecting Folks to Wakarusa along an alignment approximately online with Stetson Dr. extended. This alignment showed significant traffic volume increases on area roadways and provides the least positive benefit. While 6th Street between Kasold and Wakarusa showed a small amount of improvement, Wakarusa both north and south of 6th Street increased considerably. This alignment is the shortest of the three at approximately .75 miles and also has the least challenging terrain issues to address and would presumably to be the least expensive.
At their September 9, 2004 meeting Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) voted to recommend that the Planning Commission amend the Roadway System Plan Chapter of Transportation 2025 to show an east-west arterial along the general alignment of the extension of Peterson Road west to George Williams Way and change the designation of Martin Park Road/N1750 from Peterson to Wakarusa from arterial to collector. TAC also voted to defer action concerning removal of arterial designation of Franklin Road from 31st to SLT due to ongoing discussion on the Southeast Area Plan.
Planning Staff recommends that the Planning Commission, functioning in its role as MPO, amend Transportation 2025 to add Peterson Road between Folks Road and George Williams Way (GWW) as a future arterial street. The Major Thoroughfares Maps will be revised to show Peterson Road from Folks Road to GWW as an arterial and Martin Park Road from Peterson to Wakarusa changed from arterial to collector. TAC tabled revision of Major Thoroughfares Maps concerning removal of Franklin Road from 31st to SLT due to ongoing discussion on the Southeast Area Plan.