EMAILS FOR TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE ON IOWA
-----Original Message-----
From: Kitos, Paul A [mailto:chum@ku.edu]
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 8:51 PM
To: Charles Soules
Subject: Iowa Street left-turn lane
Chuck,
I have been unable to reach you by telephone, and want to express our opinion of this proposed change. We live on Terrace Road, a short dead-end street, one block north of l5th street, and off Iowa on the West side only. There are 14 homes that use the Terrace Road entrance/exit onto Iowa and it has become increasingly difficult and dangerous to come and go at almost any time of day.
We would like to see the proposed left-turn lane include the Terrace Road turn. This would extend the new lane less than one block in length. It would serve to increase safe access to the residents in our neighborhood. Please include our comments at the meeting March 27th, which we are unable to attend.
Sincerely,
Gwenyth and Paul Kitos
-----Original
Message-----
From: Ardy Curtis [mailto:ArdyC39@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 2:49 PM
To: Charles Soules
Subject: re: Iowa Street and other
Re: left turn lanes impacting University Drive:
I am one of the ministers of the University Community of Christ and we have asked our
membership, if able, to contact the city regarding the necessity of the turn lane and the
desire that University Drive not be blocked from Iowa, as was recently suggested.
We also have a full time Montessori School using our building whose families use Iowa to
University at different times of the day to drop off and pick up youngsters.
We would be in favor of a left turn lane from Harvard to University as well as a light which
would give West bound University Dr. access to south bound Iowa, as well as a left turn light
from south bound Iowa to University Drive.
We are not of the opinion that a lot of the traffic in/near University and Iowa is bound for KU.
Many homes in the area need this access.
Thank you for information received and we trust we will be kept up to date through your
offices and that of the neighborhood organization.
Elder A. L. Curtis
ardyc39@msn.com
-----Original
Message-----
From: John or Karla Spurgeon [mailto:kandjspur@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 11:36 AM
To: Charles Soules
Subject: Iowa Street Turn Lane
Mr. Soules,
We are writing in support of the proposed turn
lane on Iowa St. We have lived on Orchard Lane for almost 23 years and have
seen or heard many accidents because of drivers trying to turn left onto our
street or Oxford, Stratford, or University. We feel it is a safety concern that
should have been addressed long ago. We realize that it may increase traffic
through residential neighborhoods, but we feel that the safety concerns
outweigh the possible problems of increased neighborhood traffic. We urge the
city commission to submit the request to KDOT.
Karla and John Spurgeon
2319 Orchard Lane
EMAIL AGAINST TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE ON IOWA
-----Original
Message-----
From: Oread Gallery [mailto:oreadgallery@sunflower.com]
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 9:49 PM
To: Charles Soules
Subject: Opposition to left-hand turn lane on Iowa Street
I hope that this email will be posted to the City Commission agenda. It is my experience that the city commissioners of Lawrence do not read or respond to emails from everyday citizens, so feel this is my only way to get on the record.
In the report on the proposed turn lane, I take offense to the statement that the “University Heights Neighborhood Association fully supports the project.” The officers of the association may have expressed their support for the proposal, but no information was distributed to the membership of the association on this proposal, nor was a vote taken of the association membership. It is thus a complete fabrication that the association “fully supports the project.” I am one of many dues-paying members of the neighborhood association that vehemently opposes the construction of turn lanes on Iowa and the further desecration of our pedestrian-friendly neighborhood on behalf of KU’s interests.
The commission should be prepared that, if these turn lanes are installed, requests for traffic circles, roundabouts, speed bumps, and other traffic calming devices on University and Stratford will soon follow. These will certainly prove more expensive over the long-run for the city than the one-time injection of KDOT funds on the turn lanes justifies.
I am opposed to these turn lanes being rammed down the throats of many neighborhood residents without adequate consultation. Those commissioners who make such a big song and dance out of protecting the interests of our neighborhoods should think long and hard before forcing this “improvement” upon us. We who live in the “inner city” of Lawrence could use lots of improvements to our infrastructure – more and better sidewalks, improved streetlighting, better street maintenance – but not a turn lane that will diminish our quality of life.
William M Tsutsui
1515 University Drive
-----Original
Message-----
From: DHaughB17G@aol.com [mailto:DHaughB17G@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 8:50 AM
To: Charles Soules
Subject: No left turn lane for Iowa St
Dear Mr Charles Soules, P.E.
I have resided at a family home since 1961 that is threatened by the proposed left turn lane "idea" which has resurfaced. Over the years, our neighborhood has been invaded by an excessive amount of traffic estimated at 6000 cars per day. I know this estimate, as we had to do traffic counts in order to get a stop sign installed at Engel and University to slow the cars excessively speeding down University Drive. That was a number of years ago, so I can only imagine that the traffic counts are even higher now.
Some years ago, there was a proposal to eliminate left turns to University Drive and Stratford Road by installing a median to prevent southbound traffic on Iowa from entering our neighborhood. The added safety benefit would have been to prevent left turns from University and Stratford onto Iowa Street. Unfortunately, we were unable make a convincing enough plea to promote safety to travelers, and to the neighborhood as well. We would not need to have this discussion all over again had the correct solution been implemented at that time. Now, the results of that blunder have become obvious. Or should I say, the result of doing nothing.
If Iowa street is to be widened, it should only be improved to prevent left turns to the neighborhood from southbound traffic by creating a median or barrier. This would provide the necessary safety benefit, and shelter our neighborhood from the excessive amount of traffic.
If the real problems could be addressed for handling the inbound and outbound traffic to the University, then our neighborhood would gain some relief from the excessive traffic, and the public safety would be enhanced. Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.
Best regards,
Dan
Dan A Haugh
1512 University Drive
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-843-7471 Office
785-843-6888 Fax
-----Original Message-----
From: John McQueeney [mailto:jmcqueeney@krjohnson.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 12:20 PM
To: Charles Soules
Cc: jennyathome@mac.com; BILL SKEPNEK
Subject: IOWA STREET TWO-WAY LEFT TURN LANE
Evening Mr. Soule.
For the Hillcrest School meeting had originally sent you a note supporting
the left turn lane on University Drive. My mind has changed.
This past week, with K.U. in Spring Break, the traffic along University
Drive has still been quite busy. Am certain the left turn lane onto
University will only result in an additional amount of traffic along
University Dr. Additional in the sense the left turn lane will be a
convenient "artery" to avoid the Iowa and 15th street light. The wear on
University Dr. this past winter has been horrendous, as evidenced by the reinforcement wire coming through the potholes. Is the city ready for the significant University Dr. upgrade this will cause?
Several years ago the University/City proposed a bus route that would, in effect create a loop per se of Stratford and University Dr becoming opposite one way streets. The catalyst for this plan was to relieve the traffic congestion coming onto the campus from the west--primarily the backup on 15th street. It was decided then, and nothing has changed, attempting to shift the traffic flow onto residential streets would not be in the best interest of the neighborhoods.
Since then the University has created the Docking Gateway Entrance and the University has dubbed the 15th Street as their main entrance. Perhaps now, as it was several years ago, the City should look at improving these streets that serve the University before looking at adding left turn lanes and loading up the neighborhoods with heavy, thoroughfare traffic.
Bottom line---no longer in favor of the left turn lane onto University Dr.
from Iowa Street.
My home address is 1634 University Dr.
John J. McQueeney
KR Johnson, Inc
913-599-1134 x 114
913-599-5108 fax
EMAIL CONCERNS TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE ON IOWA