[1:53] everybody.
[1:54] Um, it is 5:30 and uh, with that
[1:58] Commissioner Watson asked to be excused
[2:01] this evening. So we will go ahead and
[2:02] get started with the agenda.
[2:04] Work session's open and it's yours.
[2:06] >> Sure. Thank you commission.
[2:09] » Sure. Thank you commission.
[2:09] I'd like to take a minute and introduce
[2:11] Chris Chardella, our city engineer.
[2:14] He's helped on the He's been the project
[2:15] manager on this project and then
[2:18] our consultants PEC
[2:21] Kristen Zimmerman
[2:23] with PEC and then Suzanne Loomis also
[2:26] with PEC.
[2:27] So I'm going to let
[2:29] PEC kind of
[2:31] just take it over take over the reins
[2:33] from here and then if there's questions
[2:35] as we go along then
[2:37] we can stop or we can wait till the end.
[2:39] Whatever works best for PEC.
[2:43] » Okay.
[2:44] >> stop us if they have questions?
[2:46] » stop us if they have questions?
[2:46] >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Please please stop us if
[2:49] » Yes. Yes. Yes. Please please stop us if
[2:49] you have questions.
[2:51] Okay, well very good. Well good evening
[2:53] Mr. Mayor and commissioners. Appreciate
[2:56] you um inviting us out for an update
[2:59] today. Want to thank Chris for being a
[3:02] great project manager and then Ed for
[3:05] inviting us out for an update today. So
[3:08] um Suzanne and I are here for
[3:11] just to sort of provide an update on
[3:14] where we're at with the Safe Streets for
[3:16] All or the Transportation Safety Action
[3:19] Plan.
[3:20] Again, my name is Kristen Zimmerman. I
[3:22] am the project manager for this. I am a
[3:25] transportation planner by trade and also
[3:29] the team lead for
[3:32] PEC's planning and GIS group.
[3:35] Suzanne, you want to introduce yourself?
[3:36] >> Yeah, Suzanne Loomis. We've met before.
[3:40] » Yeah, Suzanne Loomis. We've met before.
[3:40] >> [laughter]
[3:41] » [laughter]
[3:41] >> Yeah, I'm a project manager on the
[3:43] » Yeah, I'm a project manager on the
[3:43] market side at PEC and so I get involved
[3:46] in all types of projects, transportation
[3:48] being one of those because of my um
[3:52] varied background from working in a
[3:54] municipality. So, we've got a lot of
[3:57] stuff to cover with you tonight. So,
[3:58] bear with us and we'll give you an
[4:00] update where we've been and where we're
[4:02] headed. So, okay. Well, sounds good.
[4:05] >> I think probably most of you are
[4:06] » I think probably most of you are
[4:06] familiar with PEC or Professional
[4:08] Engineering Consultants. This is just a
[4:10] a brief introduction to our company. So,
[4:12] we're headquartered down in Wichita.
[4:14] We're proud to be really one of the only
[4:17] full-service engineering firms
[4:18] headquartered in South Central Kansas.
[4:21] Um
[4:21] you can see there we have about 400
[4:23] employees and several satellite offices
[4:26] across the region. So, we are
[4:29] um very very diverse in our expertise.
[4:35] Now, let's get to this particular
[4:36] project. So, the Safe Streets for all
[4:39] um
[4:40] initiative is a relatively new
[4:43] initiative that's been rolled out by our
[4:45] federal government. Um
[4:46] this is a new program that's providing
[4:49] funding for both planning and capital
[4:51] projects to local governments all across
[4:53] our country.
[4:55] Um the goal is um from the federal
[4:58] perspective is to reduce fatalities and
[5:00] serious injuries that are happening on
[5:03] our public transportation network. So,
[5:05] whether that be highways, local streets,
[5:08] township roads,
[5:10] um
[5:11] uh sidewalks and parks. Really looking
[5:13] at the entirety of the network to reduce
[5:15] fatalities and serious injuries, which
[5:17] you can think of as
[5:19] um an injury that happens on the
[5:21] transportation network that causes you
[5:23] to a life-threatening injury that causes
[5:26] you to need to take an ambulance to the
[5:27] hospital. That's that's what a serious
[5:29] injury is. So, from the federal
[5:31] perspective, that's the goal is to
[5:33] reduce these all across the United
[5:35] States on the entirety of the the public
[5:37] transportation network. Again, whether
[5:39] that be owned by the state DOT or KDOT
[5:42] in our case or uh a township uh gravel
[5:45] road, a township road. Really looking at
[5:47] the entirety of the network and really
[5:49] looking at the entirety of all users of
[5:51] that network. So, whether you drive a
[5:53] passenger car and you're running errands
[5:55] or you drive a semi truck as your job or
[5:57] you drive a farm implement or maybe
[5:59] you're walking or bicycling or in a
[6:02] wheelchair, it's really trying to look
[6:04] at the entirety of the users across the
[6:05] entirety of the network to reduce these
[6:08] fatalities and serious injuries.
[6:10] And I will say from the local
[6:12] perspective, it's really an opportunity
[6:13] to reevaluate your particular roadway
[6:17] street network. Um you know, a lot of
[6:19] our streets across our country and in
[6:21] Newton were put in decades ago and have
[6:24] worked very well to support um the land
[6:27] uses and the the neighborhoods and
[6:29] commercial areas during that time. Have
[6:31] really worked well. Um but as we know,
[6:33] cities change, counties change,
[6:36] neighborhoods change, commercial areas
[6:37] change and so it's really an opportunity
[6:39] to kind of re- reevaluate your system
[6:41] and say, is our network working for us
[6:44] the way we need it to now and and in the
[6:46] future? Um you know, one thing in
[6:48] particular we've definitely noticed here
[6:50] in Newton in particular is there's a lot
[6:52] of demand for uh pedestrian and
[6:54] bicycling facilities uh on a network
[6:57] that isn't really designed for that. So,
[6:59] that's that's one change that's that's
[7:01] been for sure prevalent in this project.
[7:05] >> Kristen, the other thing we ought to
[7:07] » Kristen, the other thing we ought to
[7:07] mention that maybe you have it on your
[7:08] list, but this project isn't just a
[7:11] Newton project. It is a Harvey County
[7:13] and Newton combined. Um when you applied
[7:15] for the grant, it was a partnership for
[7:18] the grant and so uh we've been working
[7:20] with the county as well. So, when
[7:22] Kristen keeps mentioning, you know, uh
[7:24] gravel roads, dirt roads, it's because
[7:26] we also were looking at the county's um
[7:28] transportation network as well.
[7:30] >> Yes, thank you, Suzanne. Yes, and
[7:33] » Yes, thank you, Suzanne. Yes, and
[7:33] um you know, we wanted to look at this
[7:35] from the beginning from a holistic
[7:37] perspective, you know, from looking at
[7:39] the the highway network. Um but you'll
[7:41] see as we move through this that um,
[7:44] we're moving toward having sort of two
[7:46] separate plans. One will be for the city
[7:48] of Newton and specifically for for your
[7:50] network and then one will be more for
[7:52] Harvey County um, and we're looking at
[7:54] the the unincorporated parts of of the
[7:56] county.
[8:01] Okay, and I I guess lastly and you'll
[8:03] see there on that second paragraph this
[8:04] this project was made possible by a
[8:07] grant that the city of Newton received
[8:10] last probably two or three years ago at
[8:12] this point. It took a long time long
[8:14] time
[8:15] >> [laughter and gasps]
[8:16] » [laughter and gasps]
[8:16] >> to uh, to get to get the agreement in
[8:18] » to uh, to get to get the agreement in
[8:18] place. So, um, that that's what has made
[8:21] this possible. So, this has come at
[8:23] really no cost uh, to either the city of
[8:26] Newton or Harvey County because the
[8:27] state of Kansas uh, paid the match and
[8:30] there's a federal grant.
[8:35] So, I did want to cover just kind of the
[8:37] approach that um, this is the approach
[8:39] that we've taken to um,
[8:42] attack this problem. It's called the
[8:43] safe system approach. Um, this is a
[8:46] relatively new approach when we're
[8:48] thinking about safety. I do have some
[8:50] handouts here that um, I'm happy to pass
[8:52] around or um, if you're interested in
[8:55] this.
[8:56] Um,
[8:58] you know, a lot of us might be familiar
[8:59] with a more technical approach of of
[9:03] safety. You know, maybe something like
[9:04] um,
[9:05] uh, we you know, we have a goal of
[9:07] eliminating all crashes. Well, that's
[9:09] not necessarily the goal on the safe
[9:11] systems approach. It's a people focused
[9:13] approach and what we're really looking
[9:15] at is these key principles here of um,
[9:19] you know, saying that death or serious
[9:21] injury is unacceptable on our system.
[9:23] You know, that's one key principle of
[9:25] this. Number two, humans make mistakes.
[9:28] Um, that you know, we ought to maybe
[9:29] just accept that happens instead of you
[9:32] know, constantly trying to fight that.
[9:34] Uh, number three, humans are vulnerable.
[9:36] Same same relatively same principle
[9:39] there. Responsibility is shared. Uh you
[9:42] know, the safety on the network is
[9:43] shared between individual drivers, you
[9:45] know, the decisions that we all make
[9:47] when we get into our cars. Are Are we
[9:49] going to put on our seatbelt? Are we
[9:50] going to drive intoxicated? Are we going
[9:51] to drive the speed limit? These are
[9:53] decisions that we all make individually.
[9:56] Um as well as our car manufacturers have
[9:59] a share in the responsibility, our
[10:00] vehicle manufacturers. Um as well as um
[10:04] you know, cities like city of Newton in
[10:05] terms of providing the network that that
[10:07] we use. So, this whole concept of of
[10:10] responsibility is shared is a is a big
[10:12] deal in this in this approach.
[10:14] >> I have a question.
[10:15] » I have a question.
[10:15] >> Yes.
[10:16] » Yes.
[10:16] >> Um
[10:17] » Um
[10:17] pedestrians have a responsibility as
[10:19] well.
[10:20] >> Yes.
[10:21] » Yes.
[10:21] They do.
[10:23] >> Is that really part of this? The
[10:25] » Is that really part of this? The
[10:25] education side for
[10:26] >> Yes.
[10:27] » Yes.
[10:27] >> Okay.
[10:28] » Okay.
[10:28] >> Yes. We will We will get to that, but
[10:30] » Yes. We will We will get to that, but
[10:30] yes, exactly. And I'm glad you brought
[10:31] that up. Yes, all users. So, whether
[10:33] you're a pedestrian or bicyclist or
[10:35] driver or truck driver implement driver
[10:39] we all have a responsibility to to know
[10:42] the rules of the road and follow the the
[10:43] traffic laws.
[10:46] And then the last one is redundancy is
[10:47] critical. So, this is a just um
[10:51] you know, this is just some background,
[10:53] I guess, to to provide sort of a
[10:55] perspective of the approach we took when
[10:57] looking at this. And you'll especially
[10:58] see it um when we get to um some of the
[11:02] concepts and some of the
[11:04] um the the recommendations, you know,
[11:06] really targeting these fatal and serious
[11:08] injuries. And and preventing preventing
[11:11] them from happening is is really a a
[11:13] focus here.
[11:17] Okay, so uh how did we go about doing
[11:20] this this study? Um well, it is kind of
[11:23] to boil it down, we we kind of had three
[11:24] steps. You know, number one, what and
[11:26] where are the problems? You know, we
[11:28] need to kind of understand what where
[11:29] are the what and where are the problems?
[11:31] Uh number two, what and where are the
[11:33] priority problems? And number three,
[11:35] what are the preferred solutions? So,
[11:38] hopefully a fairly straightforward kind
[11:40] of rational approach you might take to
[11:41] to any kind of problem. Um, and you can
[11:44] see we're in this last step now. Here's
[11:47] a little bit more detailed view of the
[11:48] process we've taken. So, we chose two
[11:52] ways or kind of two methods, two avenues
[11:55] of of answering the questions what and
[11:56] where are the problems. Uh, we took a a
[11:59] technical analysis where we were looking
[12:01] at uh, crash data of crashes that have
[12:04] happened on the network. That was data
[12:05] provided by the Kansas Department of
[12:07] Transportation as reported by uh, the
[12:10] Newton City Police and the Harvey County
[12:13] Sheriff's Office.
[12:14] Um, and then we also took um, and also
[12:16] looked at other technical data, looked
[12:18] at volumes, had engineering assessments.
[12:21] Um, that that was really the heart of
[12:22] the the technical approach. Um, and then
[12:25] you can see there we had a community
[12:26] engagement approach. So, a big part of
[12:29] this
[12:30] Safe Streets for All program is
[12:32] involving the community, having it be
[12:34] community-driven, having it be um, not
[12:36] just a technical study. Um, beca- again,
[12:40] some of it is to
[12:42] um, you know, sort of get input, but
[12:44] also some of it is to be able to
[12:45] reiterate this notion that it is a
[12:47] shared responsibility for of all of us
[12:49] to to have a safe network.
[12:52] So, we went through and essentially
[12:54] evaluated those. We were able to sort of
[12:57] define the major problems um, from each
[13:00] one separately and then we narrowed
[13:02] those down to what are the major ones we
[13:04] want to focus on, both the locations and
[13:07] some behavior uh, or road condition
[13:09] problems.
[13:11] And then now we're in this what are what
[13:12] are the preferred solutions? Um,
[13:15] so you'll see a little bit later we've
[13:17] got some capital concepts as well as
[13:19] non-capital recommendations, things like
[13:21] the mayor had mentioned, education
[13:22] campaigns or um, enforcement enforcement
[13:26] options.
[13:28] So, and then you'll see for the rest of
[13:29] the project, we've got we're coming up
[13:31] on our next round of community
[13:32] engagement. That's one of the main
[13:33] reasons we want to come here and visit
[13:35] with you tonight um to make sure that uh
[13:38] you get to see these before they roll
[13:40] out um and you're prepared if your
[13:42] constituents are asking questions about
[13:44] that.
[13:45] Uh then we'll go through the final
[13:46] vetting, final recommendations, and of
[13:48] course have our final documents that
[13:50] should all wrap up early next year.
[13:54] Uh so, like I mentioned, really the goal
[13:56] for the presentation today is really to
[13:58] sort of brief you on on what what's been
[14:00] happening with this project, the work
[14:02] done to date. Uh number two, prepare you
[14:05] for this community engagement round two,
[14:07] um and and define next steps. So, we
[14:09] will be um out in the community over the
[14:12] next couple weeks, 2-3 weeks, I guess,
[14:14] and just wanted to make sure you all had
[14:17] a chance to see this before it sort of
[14:19] rolled out publicly.
[14:23] So, uh I'm going to go through this
[14:24] technical technical analysis summary, as
[14:26] well as our community engagement.
[14:30] So, the crash analysis is really the
[14:32] heart of the technical analysis. Um I
[14:34] just put some statistics up there just
[14:36] to share some of this with you, so you
[14:39] can see over the last 5 years um for the
[14:42] entirety um or for the the city of
[14:46] Newton area, we there was 32 fatalities
[14:48] and 56 serious injury crashes uh that
[14:51] took place on the public network. Um and
[14:55] then um you can see some of those
[14:57] statistics really that bottom one was,
[15:00] you know, 63% of all crashes are
[15:02] occurring on local roads and 37% on the
[15:05] highways. And again, that's all crashes.
[15:07] Uh so, KDOT does a really good job of
[15:10] providing this that the data's very
[15:12] detailed. Um in general, it's sort of
[15:14] divided into uh fatal crashes, injury
[15:18] crashes, and property damage only. So,
[15:20] that you can think of that as like maybe
[15:22] you backed into a tree in your yard or
[15:24] you had a fender bender with the person
[15:26] in front of you.
[15:27] >> Does Denise have a copy of this
[15:29] » Does Denise have a copy of this
[15:29] presentation she can send out to us?
[15:31] >> Mhm. Yes. And we have a lot more data
[15:34] » Mhm. Yes. And we have a lot more data
[15:34] that we're happy to share. Um I've sort
[15:37] of just weaned the the most important
[15:40] things for tonight, but we're happy to
[15:42] to share more information if you'd like
[15:43] to dive into this a little bit more.
[15:45] >> The other thing to remember is when we
[15:46] » The other thing to remember is when we
[15:46] started this process, we were just into
[15:49] um 2025 and so the data that was
[15:52] available was that 5-year period from
[15:54] 2020 to 2024. So if don't go, "Why are
[15:57] you using old data?" Well, that was the
[15:59] data that was available at the time.
[16:03] >> Yes, and the 5 years is an industry
[16:06] » Yes, and the 5 years is an industry
[16:06] standard of looking at crash data to get
[16:09] uh it's it's sort of a representative
[16:11] trend.
[16:14] So we took that. Um we got some of this
[16:16] basic information. We
[16:18] put that into what we call a high injury
[16:20] network.
[16:22] Um
[16:22] and I'm sort of summarizing a lot of
[16:25] this to to get to this end product. Um
[16:28] so
[16:30] Yeah, I skipped I skipped those cuz they
[16:31] were real detailed. So we we have more
[16:33] information in the PowerPoint if we want
[16:35] to see some more detail, but um
[16:37] essentially we were looking at the
[16:39] spatial distribution of crashes as well
[16:42] as the
[16:43] type of crashes and the contributing
[16:46] circumstances that led to the crashes.
[16:49] Um as well as an engineering assessment
[16:51] of each location where a crash happened
[16:54] and sort of compare that with the
[16:55] volumes that were taking place or the
[16:58] amount of car traffic volumes that were
[17:00] on these roadways.
[17:01] So here were the from the technical
[17:04] perspective, sort of the major issues
[17:07] here in Newton.
[17:08] Um really focused on the intersections
[17:11] at the local streets. Um there's
[17:13] definitely a disproportionate risk to
[17:15] pedestrians and bicyclists
[17:17] um
[17:18] in terms of sort of
[17:20] um serious injuries and fatalities as
[17:22] compared to their representation in the
[17:25] system, their activity in the system.
[17:28] um
[17:31] The behavioral factors multiply the
[17:33] severity. We've listed those there. Um
[17:35] distraction, speed, alcohol, and drugs.
[17:38] Um you know, for example, if a crash
[17:40] were to happen let's say a property
[17:42] damage only crash were to happen when
[17:44] when these fourth other things get
[17:45] involved, the severity of course
[17:47] increases.
[17:48] um
[17:50] Number four, urban context increases the
[17:52] risk.
[17:53] That is just sort of an um I'm going to
[17:55] say unfortunate reality that cities have
[17:58] a lot more activity, a lot more conflict
[18:00] points. There's more intersection,
[18:02] there's more volumes, there's more
[18:03] traffic, there's more people.
[18:06] Um and in any kind of situation when you
[18:08] have more of something
[18:10] the risk is going to increase. So,
[18:13] that's just the truth um for any sort of
[18:15] urban setting. And then you can see the
[18:17] last thing there are the locations. So,
[18:19] these these primarily came out of our
[18:21] crash analysis. So, um I-135 uh through
[18:25] the city limits, um 12th Street, really
[18:28] that uh corridor south of the high
[18:30] school
[18:31] um Grandview, which is uh just uh east
[18:34] of the high school
[18:36] the Main and 12th Street intersection
[18:38] Main Street from all the way up at north
[18:40] city limits down to first, uh Washington
[18:43] sort of continuing that uh where it
[18:45] starts, and then Anderson Avenue north
[18:47] of 12th also over by the high school,
[18:49] and then Kansas from first to US-50. So,
[18:52] those were sort of our top two tiers
[18:55] um of locations coming out of the
[18:57] technical perspective.
[19:00] Before I shift on to the community
[19:02] engagement perspective, any questions or
[19:06] questions to date?
[19:08] >> that 2022 looked like the numbers were
[19:10] » that 2022 looked like the numbers were
[19:10] the highest in 2022, and then they
[19:12] dropped off.
[19:13] Is there
[19:17] » I just wondered what was happening at
[19:19] that time.
[19:20] >> I don't know. Drive to zero.
[19:21] » I don't know. Drive to zero.
[19:21] >> Nothing immediately comes to mind.
[19:23] » Nothing immediately comes to mind.
[19:23] Suzanne has a possible theory.
[19:25] >> Yeah, I I don't recall the the year that
[19:28] » Yeah, I I don't recall the the year that
[19:28] KDOT kicked off their Drive to Zero
[19:31] um campaign. It may have been in there,
[19:33] which so you start seeing more about it.
[19:35] You start thinking more drive safe, more
[19:38] enforcement, those kind of things. I'm
[19:40] not sure the year that it started. It
[19:42] could line up with that.
[19:43] >> Yeah.
[19:44] » Yeah.
[19:44] >> The following year.
[19:45] » The following year.
[19:45] >> the Newton part, not the unincorporated
[19:47] » the Newton part, not the unincorporated
[19:47] part. The Newton part, I noticed that
[19:49] 2022 those numbers seem to be higher.
[19:52] >> Yes, I'm happy to take that back to our
[19:54] » Yes, I'm happy to take that back to our
[19:54] team and see if we can get a
[19:56] >> I just couldn't recall anything that was
[19:58] » I just couldn't recall anything that was
[19:58] going on at that time, but just it's
[20:01] just interesting to see that why then?
[20:04] >> Right.
[20:04] » Right.
[20:04] >> was happening in the community then? Was
[20:07] » was happening in the community then? Was
[20:07] there a lot of issues with streets? Were
[20:09] we working on streets at that time?
[20:12] >> like a lot of construction.
[20:13] » like a lot of construction.
[20:13] >> driving cuz it was post-COVID. They were
[20:15] » driving cuz it was post-COVID. They were
[20:15] going back to work.
[20:17] >> Yeah.
[20:18] » Yeah.
[20:18] >> Could be any number of things.
[20:20] » Could be any number of things.
[20:20] >> Okay.
[20:23] » Okay, anything else on the technical
[20:26] part or
[20:28] kind of the study introduction? Okay.
[20:32] Okay. Um here's the same information for
[20:34] the the unincorporated part of the of
[20:36] Harvey County. So, the major takeaways
[20:39] from the technical perspective, um
[20:42] roadway departure and loss of control
[20:43] crashes,
[20:45] um speed and high energy crash
[20:47] environment. You can imagine there's
[20:48] higher speeds out in the county. Um one
[20:52] surprising thing was uh lack of occupant
[20:54] protection. Um I think our numbers
[20:56] coming in for the county in terms of not
[20:59] wearing a seatbelt or or lack of
[21:00] occupant protection was maybe um
[21:03] significantly under the statewide
[21:05] average and under uh the county average.
[21:07] So, or the statewide average and the
[21:09] national average. So, that was a
[21:11] surprising thing that came out of this.
[21:13] Um there's some behavioral factors. Um
[21:17] intersection crashes less frequent than
[21:19] Newton, but likely to be fatal. And then
[21:20] we had locations uh pulled out for the
[21:23] unincorporated part of the county as
[21:25] well.
[21:28] Okay, let's move on to the the second
[21:30] perspective was community engagement.
[21:32] So, our round one engagement was really
[21:36] um where we were asking folks about
[21:38] their use of the network. We asked folks
[21:40] about their um you know, the heart of
[21:43] this was asking, you know, where where
[21:45] is the network safe and where is it
[21:47] unsafe? That was really the heart of
[21:49] this. You can see some of our numbers
[21:51] there um in terms of having open houses,
[21:54] stakeholder sessions. We had surveys, um
[21:57] some comments, individual comments came
[21:59] in over five right around 500.
[22:02] Um so, in addition to the general
[22:04] public, we also had these stakeholder
[22:05] groups where we were targeting people
[22:07] that had um expert knowledge in safety.
[22:11] So, you can see we um really had a
[22:13] really great group with the first
[22:15] responders here in the area. That's from
[22:17] our picture.
[22:18] Um so, we really targeted either folks
[22:20] with expertise, so the first responders
[22:22] or our public works groups, or groups
[22:25] that were especially impacted by how the
[22:28] transportation system functions and or
[22:31] had some sort of stake in it. Uh so, you
[22:34] can see the range there, everything from
[22:36] civic groups to teenagers to uh public
[22:40] and private schools. So, really trying
[22:42] to be diverse and representative and go
[22:45] to them and and in these groups we had
[22:47] invitation-only uh small group sessions
[22:50] with representatives from all of these.
[22:52] So, really try to get their their
[22:54] knowledge and and uh input as well as
[22:57] from the general public.
[22:58] >> That was our both both fellows civic
[23:01] » That was our both both fellows civic
[23:01] group with that that group in the group.
[23:02] >> [laughter]
[23:03] » [laughter]
[23:03] >> Yes.
[23:05] » Yes.
[23:05] The emergency services version.
[23:09] Uh this was just some stats on our
[23:10] public open houses. We had five in total
[23:14] uh counting our virtual one.
[23:17] And really the main issues that came out
[23:19] of these uh community engagement
[23:21] sessions was um in terms of behaviors, a
[23:24] lot of concern about speeding,
[23:26] aggressive driving, and non-compliance
[23:28] with traffic laws. You can see about a
[23:30] third of sort of votes were concerned
[23:33] about that, distracted driving just
[23:35] right around there also at 30%. Uh
[23:37] roadway conditions, sort of the top vote
[23:39] getter was, you know, adding pedestrian
[23:41] infrastructure.
[23:43] Uh and then the locations that came out
[23:47] of this, you can see perceived as safe
[23:49] um
[23:50] was sort of Main Street um as well as
[23:52] the Sand Creek bike path,
[23:54] which is a little bit contradictory
[23:56] because it was an interesting finding.
[23:59] It was sort of perceived as safe, but
[24:00] through our technical analysis, it was
[24:03] it was rated as um
[24:05] a higher crash corridor. So, that was
[24:08] sort of a a a uh interesting difference.
[24:12] And then you can see the locations
[24:13] perceived as unsafe. A lot of these were
[24:15] well uh that first one was the same as
[24:18] what we got out of our technical
[24:20] assessment. Um
[24:22] uh the the
[24:23] the community input also added US 50,
[24:26] uh East First Street east of the
[24:28] Interstate, and then the south
[24:30] interchange of I-135 and US 50.
[24:35] So, and again, sort of a similar uh com-
[24:38] comments on the bike ped features, you
[24:40] know, safe is when there's dedicated
[24:42] features, unsafe, you know, when there's
[24:44] activity in a system that's designed for
[24:46] vehicles.
[24:47] >> and bicycles.
[24:50] » and bicycles.
[24:50] >> [clears throat]
[24:52] » Okay, so through both of kind kind
[24:55] combining this technical and um
[24:57] community engagement, we kind of came
[24:59] out with these what we called major
[25:00] problems. Um for this one's for Newton
[25:03] and we have have a a similar one for
[25:05] unincorporated Harvey County. Uh so you
[25:07] can see here we've got sort of two sets
[25:09] of locations.
[25:11] Um and then we um also added some
[25:14] behaviors there.
[25:16] And um kind of a focus on pedestrian
[25:18] bicycle activity and then intersections,
[25:20] especially the stop stop controlled
[25:22] ones.
[25:30] Okay, and then for Harvey County, we
[25:32] have a similar um similar list here. So
[25:35] you can see here the for the specific
[25:38] locations uh
[25:40] the the state system had a lot of uh
[25:43] really came out on top and then local
[25:45] system, we had some local local roads,
[25:47] county roads listed there as well as
[25:49] some sort of behaviors and sis-
[25:51] system-wide things to focus on. Uh for
[25:54] example, low seatbelt usage, you know,
[25:56] is kind of a system-wide uh
[25:58] thing.
[26:02] So from
[26:04] those two data sets together, we took
[26:08] the technical data, um took the
[26:10] stakeholder input. And I had to Suzanne
[26:12] and I worked on this presentation
[26:13] together, put together. I just had a
[26:15] laugh. She's the engineer and I'm a
[26:16] planner.
[26:17] And I I just had to chuckle a little bit
[26:19] cuz she put in this equation
[26:21] uh in the PowerPoint. So we have a we
[26:24] have a math equation there of the
[26:26] technical data plus the stakeholder
[26:28] input um community engagement from the
[26:31] general public, plus we want really
[26:33] wanted to focus on those things that
[26:36] your local jurisdiction sort of has
[26:39] control over or can control. Uh we
[26:42] wanted to really focus on that, right?
[26:44] We don't necessarily want to have a a
[26:46] KDOT a highway project in here for a a
[26:49] recommendation
[26:51] for the city to take on, something like
[26:53] that. But, when things rise to the top
[26:55] that are on the state network, we will
[26:58] be discussing that with KDOT staff. So,
[27:02] it won't go Yes, it won't just be thrown
[27:05] aside and nobody talk about it. We will
[27:07] be taking it back to them cuz we've
[27:09] already met with those folks once.
[27:13] So, we've got two sets of, I guess, what
[27:15] we're you might call recommendations.
[27:17] So, one thing is called countermeasures
[27:20] and the other one is concepts. So, I'm
[27:22] going to cover the countermeasures and
[27:24] then Suzanne is going to cover the
[27:25] specific concepts at specific locations.
[27:30] So, countermeasures,
[27:32] what are countermeasures?
[27:34] Um,
[27:34] really this is just sort of a fancy term
[27:38] that means
[27:39] some sort of action or thing you do that
[27:44] reduces the frequency or severity of
[27:46] crashes,
[27:47] especially fatal or severe fatal or
[27:50] serious injury ones.
[27:52] Um, really on a systematic level. So,
[27:56] you might think of maybe like an
[27:57] education campaign about
[28:00] seatbelt usage. That's sort of targeted
[28:03] to all users.
[28:06] It's not necessarily at a specific
[28:08] location. Or you might think of sort of
[28:10] a capital project like, for example,
[28:14] rumble strips. Let's this would maybe be
[28:16] more appropriate for the a county and
[28:17] unincorporated roadway. Let's think of
[28:20] rumble strips. You know, that's
[28:21] something that could go across the
[28:23] entirety of the network at a relatively
[28:27] low cost. Um, so that's really what
[28:29] these countermeasures are intended to
[28:31] have a a big bang for your money. You
[28:33] know, a relatively low cost um, of
[28:36] something an application that can be
[28:38] applied across the entirety of the
[28:40] network. So, that's really what we're
[28:42] meaning when we say countermeasures.
[28:45] So, we've um,
[28:47] worked with um
[28:49] the staff and have come up with
[28:50] countermeasures for all these different
[28:52] categories of things.
[28:54] And I'm going to go just give a few
[28:56] examples so you can kind of get a sense
[28:58] here.
[29:00] So, for example, roadway and lane
[29:02] departures. Um this is something that is
[29:05] a uh one of the things that rose to the
[29:07] surface in the county, the
[29:08] unincorporated county areas.
[29:11] Um and so for a capital option, like I
[29:12] mentioned, you could do rumble strips
[29:14] along the center line and rumble strips
[29:16] on the edge, on the the edge of pavement
[29:19] line. And really the goal here is it uh
[29:22] alerts drivers from drifting out of the
[29:23] lane.
[29:25] Um probably many of us have ridden have
[29:27] experienced these rumble strips.
[29:30] Um and these have been proven to reduce
[29:32] fatal and serious injury crashes
[29:34] anywhere from you can see 36% to 44%
[29:38] kind of depending on the environment
[29:40] that it's in. So, that's a a pretty big
[29:43] bang in terms of a uh
[29:45] reducing crashes for a relatively low
[29:48] cost, right? You're not going in and
[29:50] tearing up the roadway or reconfiguring
[29:53] the whole intersection.
[29:55] Um and then here's an example of a
[29:57] programmatic activity is uh you could
[29:59] maybe add a line item or a budget for a
[30:01] road safety audit program in your annual
[30:03] CIP or your annual street maintenance
[30:06] budget. And that would say you would
[30:08] say, "Hey, we're going to do
[30:10] uh five road safety audits every year."
[30:13] You know, you would set the number and
[30:14] you would say, "We're going to really
[30:15] focus on going to specific locations,
[30:18] specific intersections, or we're going
[30:19] to pick three, we're going to pick
[30:21] five." Whatever your number is, we're
[30:23] going to pick that many and we're going
[30:24] to go out and we're going to do a road
[30:25] safety audit and we're going to really
[30:27] dive in and see what is going on at that
[30:30] particular location safety-wise.
[30:32] >> And there's multiple capital options to
[30:35] » And there's multiple capital options to
[30:35] treat this contributing factor and
[30:37] multiple programmatic activities. We're
[30:39] just trying to give you some examples
[30:41] just quickly. We didn't want you to have
[30:43] to be here all night.
[30:44] >> Yes.
[30:46] Um here's another one for pedestrian
[30:48] bicycle. So, if they're if there's a um
[30:52] a location where pedestrians and
[30:54] bicyclists are that
[30:55] um we've got a a capital option there of
[30:57] these crossing improvements. You've
[30:59] maybe have seen these crossing lights or
[31:01] high-visibility crosswalks.
[31:04] Uh again, lots of options. Um and then
[31:07] here's a couple programmatic activities
[31:09] of you know, maybe um looking at uh some
[31:12] sort of policy that covers sort of the
[31:15] responsibility of users as well as kind
[31:18] of the city's approach to, you know, how
[31:20] do you want to account for them as
[31:22] you're building and maintaining your
[31:24] roadway network.
[31:25] Um or here's another option is, you
[31:27] know, to partner with the school
[31:29] district or health department. And I
[31:30] know a lot of that's already happening
[31:32] now to do classes and have education on,
[31:36] you know, how to bike or walk um use
[31:38] under traffic laws.
[31:42] » Some of that may already be going on
[31:43] now, but think about the fact that we're
[31:45] trying to put together a traffic safety
[31:47] plan for you. This is This is a plan for
[31:51] the city to use moving forward. And then
[31:54] that plan gets referenced when you start
[31:56] applying for grants. And so, we're
[31:58] trying to match up those factors with
[32:00] some things that you can do that are low
[32:02] cost and put that in your plan and then
[32:04] be able to reference that when you're
[32:06] applying for grants.
[32:08] >> Yes, I probably should have said that at
[32:09] » Yes, I probably should have said that at
[32:09] the very beginning. That was really the
[32:11] the reason for doing this whole plan is
[32:14] it was a requirement to have this plan
[32:16] done in order to
[32:18] um capture be able to even apply for a
[32:21] capital grant through this program. So,
[32:23] probably should have said that at the
[32:24] beginning. I always kind of make a joke,
[32:26] we have to go through this dumb plan to
[32:28] get the project we want to do.
[32:29] >> [laughter]
[32:30] » [laughter]
[32:30] >> So, we'll go through this exercise. So,
[32:32] » So, we'll go through this exercise. So,
[32:32] last example here was uh occupant
[32:34] protection. You might remember uh this
[32:36] is one
[32:38] um
[32:38] surprising thing we sort of learned
[32:40] through this, especially in the
[32:41] unincorporated part of the county. Um
[32:43] so, here's a couple capital options
[32:45] about just really adding a sign um or
[32:48] having stations to uh inspect, you know,
[32:51] child protection seats uh
[32:53] uh car seats, you might know them as,
[32:55] or programmatic activities. KDOT has
[32:57] several uh programs um for um
[33:01] you know, how to support um inspecting
[33:04] um how car seats are installed. So,
[33:06] taking advantage of programs that other
[33:08] groups, you know, other um governments
[33:11] or other groups are already doing. Sort
[33:12] of promoting those or taking advantage
[33:14] of them.
[33:16] So, now I'm going to turn it over to
[33:17] Suzanne, and she's going to talk a
[33:19] little bit about the um concepts that
[33:22] we're developed. I will say that um so,
[33:25] as part of this uh part of our scope to
[33:27] effort, um we were scoped to develop uh
[33:31] five separate concepts for it for shared
[33:35] over both the city and the county. Um
[33:37] and the idea of developing these
[33:39] concepts is is that these, you know,
[33:40] whichever one is kind of selected or
[33:42] rise to the top, um could be one could
[33:46] be applied for by the city, and then one
[33:48] could be applied for by the county to
[33:50] get this capital grant that's coming out
[33:52] of this. So, keep that in mind, and um
[33:55] I'll I'll turn over to Suzanne.
[33:57] >> Okay. So, the other thing I want you to
[33:59] » Okay. So, the other thing I want you to
[33:59] keep in mind as we look at the concepts,
[34:02] be open-minded. Um these are not
[34:05] recommendations.
[34:06] >> bad if she's already giving you a
[34:07] » bad if she's already giving you a
[34:07] disclaimer. Okay.
[34:09] >> giving the disclaimer. Be open-minded
[34:11] » giving the disclaimer. Be open-minded
[34:11] about these. These are not
[34:13] recommendations.
[34:14] These are element We are putting forward
[34:17] some concepts that have multiple
[34:19] elements for the public to see, discuss,
[34:23] because remember we're taking this to
[34:25] the public forum, and going to get input
[34:27] from the public. And the items that were
[34:30] chosen were chosen based on all of the
[34:33] technical information, and then the
[34:35] public input that was put together. And
[34:37] so, we're trying to address the things
[34:39] that we think will hit um the ability to
[34:43] decrease those fatalities and the severe
[34:46] accidents.
[34:47] >> And prevent others from happening.
[34:49] » And prevent others from happening.
[34:49] >> Yes. Um so,
[34:51] » Yes. Um so,
[34:51] >> I might I might add, it's safety driven.
[34:54] » I might I might add, it's safety driven.
[34:54] >> Safety. These things are about safety.
[34:57] » Safety. These things are about safety.
[34:57] It doesn't always look at is this best
[35:00] for um you know, the business that sits
[35:03] right here, or for the homeowner that
[35:05] sits right here.
[35:06] It's looking at the safety on the
[35:09] transportation network. So, okay,
[35:10] there's my qualifiers. We'll roll on,
[35:12] okay?
[35:14] So, the first one um we're at 12th
[35:16] Street, and this is up by the high
[35:18] school, so we're going from Boyd over to
[35:21] Plum. And all of these concepts, these
[35:24] are drafts. These are not final plans,
[35:27] okay?
[35:28] And the city has looked at this location
[35:30] on multiple occasions, right? Because
[35:32] there's been lots of comment, not just
[35:33] during this
[35:35] um community engagement process, but in
[35:37] the past, there's been a lot of people
[35:38] that have talked about this location.
[35:40] So, several of the elements that are
[35:43] being looked at
[35:44] >> And the technical data supports it. It
[35:45] » And the technical data supports it. It
[35:45] was really in the top tier.
[35:46] >> Absolutely, it was in the top tier. So,
[35:48] » Absolutely, it was in the top tier. So,
[35:48] several of the items I'm going to point
[35:50] out to you, we've got all of them on
[35:52] here. You could implement all of them,
[35:54] or we could implement one of them, or
[35:57] you may say, "Nah, we're not interested
[35:59] in this." And you want to get public
[36:01] input before you make those decisions,
[36:03] right?
[36:04] So, one of the items that is looked at
[36:05] along the south side of 12th Street is a
[36:08] bike lane. This is a bike lane that
[36:10] would be going eastbound only.
[36:12] Okay?
[36:14] And then, there is an option And in
[36:16] order to put that in,
[36:18] and in order to look at this protected
[36:21] left-hand turn that's running down the
[36:23] middle of 12th Street. And remember,
[36:24] we're going from Boyd, it goes Boyd this
[36:27] direction, and then it picks up and
[36:29] we're going all the way over here, okay?
[36:31] Here Here's Grandview. We'll We'll end
[36:33] up farther down, but this is the
[36:35] application for this area.
[36:38] We also would be looking at a protected
[36:41] left-hand turn all the way up to Here's
[36:43] Grandview as it goes to the south.
[36:46] And in order to do that, right now
[36:47] you've got four lanes there.
[36:49] So, this would shrink it down to that
[36:51] three lane. In order to get a bike lane
[36:53] on there and have that protected
[36:55] left-hand turn all the way along.
[36:57] Um
[36:58] what this does, the reason that we look
[37:00] at this location, this was a high
[37:02] accident location.
[37:04] And there's a lot of traffic. There's a
[37:05] lot of young drivers. There's a lot of
[37:07] pedestrians that cross here. Remember,
[37:10] we've talked about that in the past at
[37:12] the city level that are going back and
[37:14] forth across 12th Street. Um the green
[37:17] that you see on here, this is bike
[37:19] crossings. It's bike and ped going north
[37:21] and south. It's bike only going to the
[37:25] east and west.
[37:27] The other application that is added here
[37:29] is some additional signage that goes
[37:31] along with a 10-ft multi-use path on the
[37:34] north side.
[37:37] So, you'd be coming from Boyd and you
[37:40] could take it as far as Berry or you
[37:42] could take it all the way to Main
[37:43] Street, but that is an application that
[37:45] would be considered.
[37:47] Um
[37:48] and currently we're not showing any
[37:50] changes to the exit here um out of the
[37:53] parking lot for the high school. It's
[37:55] something that could be discussed later
[37:56] if this was selected. And then the other
[37:58] thing to point out is there's another
[38:00] element that is a protected right turn
[38:03] lane into the school.
[38:06] If you were westbound on 12th Street and
[38:08] going to be turning in here because
[38:10] often you will see vehicles backing up
[38:12] along here. And if we're going to shrink
[38:14] it down to only one lane in each
[38:16] direction, maybe we need to stack some
[38:18] vehicles in there. And And the traffic
[38:20] counts would show that.
[38:22] Okay?
[38:24] So, that's that's one element to
[38:27] consider or one multiple elements
[38:30] one design option there.
[38:32] Then we go farther to the east, okay?
[38:34] So, we are going from Anderson. Here's
[38:37] Anderson.
[38:38] And then going all the way down all the
[38:40] way down over to here's Plum and then
[38:43] you get right over here and here's San
[38:44] Creek.
[38:46] So, it doesn't show on the picture, but
[38:48] just to put it in your mind where we're
[38:49] at. And in this location, um
[38:54] there were a lot of comments that we
[38:56] received during the community
[38:58] engagement, plus there had been some
[39:00] accidents throughout this area, but a
[39:01] lot of comments that people are confused
[39:04] because 12th Street is split. And so,
[39:06] when you come out in one area, if you're
[39:08] doing a cross one of these cross streets
[39:10] or you're on one of the ends, sometimes
[39:12] people don't know which direction they
[39:13] need to be going and they may end up
[39:15] going the wrong way. They may be going
[39:18] eastbound when they should be going
[39:19] westbound. And so, some of the things
[39:21] that were suggested here was definitely
[39:24] um having some improved signage. And you
[39:28] can see there's multiple locations where
[39:29] we're showing different signs that would
[39:31] be added in. And eliminating
[39:34] uh closing some of these crossings. So,
[39:38] at Elm, there would is a recommended
[39:40] closure. And then at Vine, there is a
[39:43] recommended closure.
[39:45] Which just means that somebody may have
[39:47] to turn and then come back to get to
[39:48] where they needed to be, but there are
[39:50] multiple crossings here and maybe you
[39:52] don't need so many and that would make
[39:54] it be less confusing for the driving
[39:56] public.
[39:57] >> And from a safety perspective, um you
[40:00] » And from a safety perspective, um you
[40:00] know, we
[40:01] it's sort of balancing access with
[40:05] with um and so, just closing off one
[40:09] uh entry point reduces a conflict point.
[40:12] You know, that's really the the point
[40:14] there. So, you know, if you think about
[40:17] uh
[40:18] having conflicts with people, you know,
[40:20] if you take one person out of the
[40:22] situation, sometimes the the conflict
[40:25] will go down. So, that's that's sort of
[40:27] how I think about on these conflict
[40:28] points, if you can reduce one or reduce
[40:31] a meaningful one, it can really help
[40:33] kind of the overall
[40:36] opportunity for crash to happen.
[40:39] Okay?
[40:40] All right, we'll go to the next.
[40:43] Next is Main Street. And we're going to
[40:45] do this in pieces, okay? So, the first
[40:48] one is the BNSF tracks to 8th Street.
[40:53] Now, there's multiple concepts here.
[40:56] So, bear with me. Here is concept design
[40:59] one.
[41:00] Um you notice all these little bulb outs
[41:04] um at the intersections. And this has
[41:06] been talked about off and on before. Uh
[41:09] but the purpose of this, because again,
[41:12] lots of lots of crashes that occur along
[41:15] Main Street in this area, and
[41:16] pedestrians. And for years, the city has
[41:20] received comments about it's difficult
[41:21] for a pedestrian to be able to cross the
[41:23] street. Okay? And so, what this does is
[41:26] it extends that sidewalk out a bit.
[41:29] And it does multiple things. It gives
[41:31] them less distance to have to cross when
[41:34] they're crossing.
[41:36] So, that's a pro for your pedestrian,
[41:38] right? That's on the pro side, not the
[41:40] con side. It also puts them a little bit
[41:42] farther out into
[41:45] um Main Street, because like right in
[41:48] this area, there's parked cars. And when
[41:50] you're clear back here at the curb, can
[41:52] you guys see my cursor? I'm looking at a
[41:54] cur- Yeah, you can. Okay. So, when
[41:56] you're when you're standing back on the
[41:58] sidewalk, you can't see around those
[41:59] parked cars, but if you can get out a
[42:01] little bit farther, then you can see,
[42:03] and your sight distance for the
[42:04] pedestrian is better, and for the people
[42:06] that are driving to see the pedestrian
[42:07] is a little bit better. So, that helps
[42:09] with that. Um and when you put in these
[42:14] uh bulbs these bump outs at the
[42:17] intersection, it is a traffic calming
[42:19] device. So, the vehicles that are
[42:22] traveling along Main Street, you see a
[42:24] little bit of a neck down, and when
[42:25] you're driving, you automatically go,
[42:27] "Maybe I better slow down cuz it's more,
[42:29] you know, like I'm threading the
[42:30] needle." They wouldn't be super narrow,
[42:32] but it does slow people down a bit,
[42:34] which helps with
[42:36] transportation safety, okay?
[42:39] Um
[42:41] Okay, so that's concept
[42:43] design one.
[42:45] Kind of option one. Option one for this
[42:47] piece of Main Street.
[42:50] There's a That's kind of a blown-up area
[42:53] so you can see. It's It extends those
[42:55] out to the opposite side of the parking,
[42:59] the opposite the curb side.
[43:01] Now,
[43:02] I would be remiss if I didn't mention
[43:03] that there are some cons to this, and
[43:05] those cons come up when you start
[43:07] looking at drainage, um because you've
[43:09] got inlets at those intersections that
[43:12] take on water, and so getting
[43:15] a drainage to flow around that, there'll
[43:16] be some tricks that have to have to
[43:18] occur in the design, and uh street
[43:22] maintenance staff, when they're clearing
[43:23] snow,
[43:24] you can't just blade right on down
[43:27] straight through there. You're going to
[43:28] be going around little curved bulb outs,
[43:30] and that'll be an annoyance.
[43:32] So, with everything, pros and cons,
[43:35] right?
[43:36] Mhm. Okay.
[43:38] Now, here's
[43:39] Here's concept design 2A. I know these
[43:42] are little on the screen, but we've got
[43:44] things color-coded for you. And for this
[43:48] one, this adds a protected left turn.
[43:51] Um this protected left turn, right now
[43:54] you only have one, you know, right here
[43:55] at 5th Street.
[43:57] But this adds protected left turn all
[43:59] the way down from BNSF tracks to 8th
[44:02] Street.
[44:03] Which
[44:04] What that does for the driving public,
[44:07] you can see that it's offset. So, let me
[44:11] let me go to the bigger.
[44:13] Just to look here. So, when you're at
[44:16] 8th Street, you see how the turn lane is
[44:19] right here, and it's not in the very
[44:21] middle of the road, it's offset.
[44:25] And that allows the person that is going
[44:27] to be making a left-hand turn that's in
[44:28] the vehicle to be able to see the
[44:30] oncoming traffic so that you aren't
[44:32] turning and end up with a T
[44:36] um accident.
[44:40] So, in order to have enough width to
[44:43] gain
[44:45] space for that left-hand that protected
[44:47] left-hand turn, there has to be
[44:50] a give and a take here. And so,
[44:53] in this option, design 2A, remember
[44:56] we're looking at this from a
[44:57] transportation safety, this is traffic
[44:59] safety, what we're looking at. The west
[45:02] side of Main Street, where we see the
[45:04] purple,
[45:05] would the parking would be eliminated.
[45:08] There would be no parking
[45:10] on that side in order to accommodate the
[45:12] width for that protected turn down the
[45:14] middle.
[45:16] And when we get to the end here, I'll
[45:18] tell you how many spaces it is that
[45:20] you'd be losing, okay?
[45:22] These are elements. You can pick and
[45:25] choose elements throughout. It may not
[45:27] be popular with everybody, but
[45:29] >> smiles to you.
[45:30] » smiles to you.
[45:30] >> You You know
[45:31] » You You know
[45:31] >> getting some smiles.
[45:33] » getting some smiles.
[45:33] >> I know
[45:34] » I know
[45:34] >> I'm like, how do you choose which side
[45:35] » I'm like, how do you choose which side
[45:35] of the road?
[45:36] >> Well, hang on a second.
[45:37] » Well, hang on a second.
[45:37] >> Just a second.
[45:39] » Just a second.
[45:39] >> Here we go. Let's Let's look at the
[45:41] » Here we go. Let's Let's look at the
[45:41] cross section, and then we'll move to
[45:42] the next one. So, if you're looking at a
[45:44] cross-sectional design, um you're
[45:46] getting
[45:48] you're you don't have any parking on the
[45:51] left side, but you did gain a little bit
[45:53] of sidewalk because that turn lane is
[45:56] not quite as wide when you take away
[45:58] parking, but you can't park half width
[45:59] of a car. So, you gain that other. Give
[46:02] them a chance. They will.
[46:04] >> [laughter]
[46:04] » [laughter]
[46:04] >> Maybe. Except that it'll be up on the
[46:06] » Maybe. Except that it'll be up on the
[46:06] curb, so you gain a little bit over on
[46:08] that side for a little bit wider
[46:10] sidewalk. And I think you've been
[46:12] hearing in some of your comp plan
[46:15] discussions that people want to be able
[46:17] to have more space downtown and more
[46:19] sidewalk interaction and space to sit
[46:23] and walk and congregate.
[46:26] >> That was my filter, I mean, shut.
[46:28] » That was my filter, I mean, shut.
[46:28] >> Yeah.
[46:29] » Yeah.
[46:29] Again, these are just elements, right?
[46:33] Okay, so here's
[46:35] a concept design 2B.
[46:37] What this one does, same thing, you've
[46:40] got your lane going down the middle,
[46:41] you've still got your bulb outs, they're
[46:43] on, but they're only on one side. I
[46:45] didn't point that out on the last one.
[46:46] They're only on one side because if you
[46:48] don't have parking over here, um you
[46:51] don't want to have your bulb out, or you
[46:52] would have people driving into that bulb
[46:54] out. Um this puts the no parking on the
[46:57] east side. So, you see the purple, well,
[47:00] that's the parking on the east side. So,
[47:02] it's the same as it was in the last
[47:04] option, it's just flipped.
[47:08] There it is up close. Same as the other,
[47:10] just the other side. Okay?
[47:15] Looks the same in the cross section,
[47:16] we've just flipped it over.
[47:20] And there's
[47:21] no parking then on the east side.
[47:24] Okay?
[47:27] All right, then concept design three.
[47:31] This has This has your middle lane
[47:34] for turn.
[47:35] >> Both. Both. Both sides.
[47:37] » Both. Both. Both sides.
[47:37] >> Um
[47:41] And
[47:41] >> What's your phone number?
[47:42] » What's your phone number?
[47:42] >> Uh-oh.
[47:44] » Uh-oh.
[47:44] >> Suzanne, we're getting
[47:45] » Suzanne, we're getting
[47:45] >> Our traffic Our Our traffic engineers
[47:47] » Our traffic Our Our traffic engineers
[47:47] have brought this forward as something
[47:49] to consider. The public has an
[47:51] opportunity to comment. This is not a
[47:54] recommendation. This is a concept, and
[47:56] there are multiple elements here. You
[47:58] may just want bull belts. You may want a
[48:01] turn lane only in one block. You may
[48:03] want which I would question that a
[48:05] little bit, but it's something to
[48:06] consider. You may decide there's one one
[48:09] block that you don't need as much
[48:10] parking.
[48:12] We're just trying to show you the
[48:14] elements of what you can do to help
[48:17] eliminate these conflict points, make
[48:20] the transportation network safer for the
[48:23] walking, biking, and driving public.
[48:26] Okay?
[48:27] So, this shows no parking both sides.
[48:31] And then you have definitely, you know,
[48:34] how many times have you been driving
[48:36] along and somebody opens their car door
[48:38] and then maybe that causes an issue. So,
[48:40] there's lots lots of things to consider
[48:42] when you start looking at no parking in
[48:46] a more
[48:47] Um and Kristen may smack me when I say
[48:49] this, but in a less less rural
[48:52] community, you know, that you wouldn't
[48:54] have parking necessarily downtown. It
[48:56] would be maybe behind the businesses.
[48:57] And then the places that you're going to
[48:59] go in and sit and you might have more
[49:02] tables out front along the sidewalk.
[49:05] That's the
[49:07] the thing that you're looking at within
[49:08] your comp plan. I understand that has
[49:10] been some of the things that have been
[49:11] brought forward for you to consider.
[49:14] Just to consider. These are just
[49:15] options. Okay?
[49:18] Um
[49:20] Here's the up close. So, and the next
[49:24] one is the one you really want to look
[49:25] at. So, here's your cross section for
[49:27] both east and west.
[49:29] And so, you have sidewalk
[49:33] and room for tables, room for people to
[49:35] congregate, and then people can still
[49:38] drive through. You can still get your
[49:40] traffic through.
[49:42] But you would be parking
[49:45] behind instead of along the street.
[49:47] Okay?
[49:52] Okay. Let's move to the next section of
[49:54] Main Street from the tracks south to
[49:57] First Street.
[49:59] Same applicant
[50:01] >> slide.
[50:01] » slide.
[50:02] >> What?
[50:03] » What?
[50:03] >> You skipped the one that shows how many
[50:05] » You skipped the one that shows how many
[50:05] parking spaces we lost.
[50:06] >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, you're right. I
[50:07] » Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, you're right. I
[50:07] did. I don't know what happened. Okay,
[50:09] so here the this shows parking spaces
[50:12] removed under each option. So 2A, when
[50:15] you remove parking on the west side, it
[50:17] gives you by block the number of parking
[50:19] spaces that are eliminated. Total of 50.
[50:22] Okay.
[50:23] For 2B, if you move it remove it along
[50:26] the east side, another total of 50,
[50:28] right?
[50:30] Um
[50:31] the third one where there's no parking
[50:33] on the east or the west, of course
[50:35] you're totaling them and there's a
[50:36] hundred. If you're looking at this map
[50:38] and we didn't get this on here yet, um
[50:41] but the colored dots, so if you're
[50:43] looking at this later, the purple dots
[50:46] um those are
[50:48] the parking that's eliminated during
[50:51] concept three. The green reflects
[50:54] concept 2B and the blue concept 2A.
[50:57] But the numbers tell the story, really.
[50:59] It's just looking at the blocks and
[51:01] where they'd be eliminated. Okay?
[51:03] >> Susan, I might mention too that even if
[51:05] » Susan, I might mention too that even if
[51:05] we just did concept one with the bulb
[51:08] outs, you lose a stall for each one of
[51:10] the bulb outs.
[51:10] >> Yeah.
[51:12] » Yeah.
[51:12] In most of those locations you would
[51:14] lose your full parking spot for those
[51:16] bulb outs.
[51:17] >> 50 sounds like a big number.
[51:19] » 50 sounds like a big number.
[51:19] >> Yes, it does.
[51:20] » Yes, it does.
[51:20] >> I'm afraid we might be run out of town
[51:22] » I'm afraid we might be run out of town
[51:22] for making this
[51:23] >> You might be. But see, you're not making
[51:25] » You might be. But see, you're not making
[51:25] a decision. This is not a
[51:27] recommendation. These are elements to
[51:29] consider.
[51:30] >> just removing parking spaces.
[51:32] » just removing parking spaces.
[51:32] >> Mhm.
[51:33] » Mhm.
[51:33] >> I mean, it's it's so tight anyway when
[51:35] » I mean, it's it's so tight anyway when
[51:35] you come downtown and people are looking
[51:37] for spaces.
[51:38] >> Mhm.
[51:38] » Mhm.
[51:38] >> Where do they go?
[51:40] » Where do they go?
[51:40] >> Yeah.
[51:41] » Yeah.
[51:41] >> What would be the recommendation about
[51:43] » What would be the recommendation about
[51:43] where they would go? Around the block or
[51:45] side streets or
[51:46] >> Mhm.
[51:47] » Mhm.
[51:47] When you when you go to Walmart, you
[51:49] have to park
[51:51] several parking spaces away sometimes to
[51:53] get in. This would be similar to that.
[51:55] You'd park on a side street or behind
[51:58] and go in a back door.
[52:01] Now, you'll be glad to know that we are
[52:04] taking
[52:06] the similar presentation with these
[52:08] concepts to the public and one of the
[52:10] groups that we have invited all of them
[52:12] Jen has we helped us and we have the
[52:15] downtown group that we'll be speaking
[52:16] with. We're doing a special
[52:18] presentation for that group.
[52:21] So, they'll be able to give all kinds of
[52:22] comment very similar to how we did in
[52:25] the original
[52:26] um
[52:27] community engagement round. So, the
[52:28] purpose is to have people talk, but
[52:30] remember
[52:31] we would not be doing our job when
[52:33] looking at this
[52:36] transportation safety plan if we didn't
[52:38] bring all the options forward. It's okay
[52:41] that you are going to consider other
[52:42] things when looking at them.
[52:45] But, um
[52:47] you could say, "Well, you know what? If
[52:48] we don't have as many parking spaces
[52:50] downtown, the people aren't going to
[52:51] come downtown and we won't have to worry
[52:52] about it cuz there'll be less traffic
[52:54] and we won't but if we didn't provide
[52:57] these things
[52:58] then
[53:01] somebody else is going to say, "Yeah,
[53:02] but everybody keeps getting hit. How
[53:04] come you aren't doing anything about
[53:05] it?" So, we're just trying to find a
[53:06] happy medium here. Okay?
[53:09] All right. I have a couple questions.
[53:10] Yes.
[53:11] If we're talking broad concepts, is it
[53:14] possible to think about rather than
[53:16] going from four to five lanes with a
[53:18] dedicated turn lane is there any
[53:20] possibility to go to three lanes?
[53:23] And
[53:24] like one lane each way and a dedicated
[53:26] middle.
[53:28] Yes. There is, but the thing that you
[53:29] have to remember and I think this will
[53:31] become very evident
[53:35] when you sit downtown in traffic and a
[53:38] train goes by and then you remember uh
[53:41] you've got to have the stacking length,
[53:42] otherwise you're going to back people up
[53:44] clear down south of First Street and
[53:46] clear up to 12th Street. And because of
[53:48] the train the train factor, um
[53:51] >> Yeah.
[53:52] » Yeah.
[53:52] >> I think that it is not good to consider.
[53:55] » I think that it is not good to consider.
[53:55] >> Our our team had thought about that
[53:57] » Our our team had thought about that
[53:57] because that notion of
[53:59] reducing, you know, let's say you had
[54:01] like a four-lane road, you know, two
[54:03] lanes in each direction, you know,
[54:04] reducing that to a three-lane with one
[54:07] lane in each direction with a center
[54:08] turn lane.
[54:09] Um that that has significance. Um I was
[54:12] just looking at the numbers here like 20
[54:14] to 50% reduction
[54:16] in fatal and serious injury crashes.
[54:19] Um you know, that that that has become
[54:21] very popular to handle kind of smaller
[54:25] volume roads or roads where the it can
[54:28] handle that. And we had thought about
[54:30] that, but really this train crossing and
[54:32] the the the stacking up of cars on both
[54:35] sides
[54:36] it just doesn't allow that.
[54:38] >> Yeah.
[54:39] » Yeah.
[54:39] >> Yeah. And
[54:41] » Yeah. And
[54:41] your responses to some of these that you
[54:44] know people are going to be concerned
[54:45] with, they're all good. They're all
[54:47] okay. It actually makes me look good
[54:50] because I've been having these same
[54:52] responses saying, "Hey, people are going
[54:53] to be upset about this, but there's
[54:55] going to be the same amount of people
[54:56] they're going to say, 'Hey, we've always
[54:57] wanted a downtown where you could have
[54:59] more pedestrian room and that kind of
[55:00] thing.'" So,
[55:02] you as elected officials, eventually
[55:04] you'll have some issue brought before
[55:06] you, but encourage people to come to
[55:08] these
[55:09] um
[55:10] to these community engagement um events
[55:13] in these open houses cuz that's where
[55:14] we'll hear
[55:16] what people have to say.
[55:17] >> something [snorts] that you probably
[55:18] » something [snorts] that you probably
[55:18] should arm yourself and I would have
[55:20] appreciated having for this meeting is
[55:23] the number [clears throat] of parking
[55:24] spots
[55:26] that are within one block
[55:28] of
[55:30] >> I think we may have that.
[55:32] » I think we may have that.
[55:32] >> Rich, I think we have that cuz we looked
[55:34] » Rich, I think we have that cuz we looked
[55:34] at them.
[55:35] >> Not the not the bigger one that that
[55:37] » Not the not the bigger one that that
[55:37] counts all the way over, you know, two
[55:40] blocks away or whatever. Um
[55:43] >> even though it's heart healthy to walk
[55:45] » even though it's heart healthy to walk
[55:45] that far. It's just a reality. We need
[55:47] to know that information. And the other
[55:49] was
[55:52] um
[55:53] I don't know. It'll come to me.
[55:55] >> Okay. When you were saying that I I was
[55:58] » Okay. When you were saying that I I was
[55:58] thinking probably would also be helpful
[55:59] to have just like the number of total
[56:01] spaces. So, we're saying we're removing
[56:02] 50
[56:03] >> That's That's the other half of how
[56:05] » That's That's the other half of how
[56:05] >> how many.
[56:05] » how many.
[56:05] >> Cuz we're move we're losing 100 on Main
[56:08] » Cuz we're move we're losing 100 on Main
[56:08] Street, but how many would we still
[56:10] have?
[56:11] >> elsewhere
[56:12] » elsewhere
[56:12] >> elsewhere
[56:13] » elsewhere
[56:13] >> we have those numbers cuz we went
[56:14] » we have those numbers cuz we went
[56:14] through and looked at
[56:16] parking lots. So, if not, that's
[56:18] something we can look at.
[56:20] >> Did On any of these did you look,
[56:21] » Did On any of these did you look,
[56:21] especially the when you're removing
[56:25] parking on one side or both sides, did
[56:26] you look at integrating a bike path or I
[56:29] mean a dedicated bike lane? Is that a
[56:34] » We talked about that.
[56:35] >> Is it possible, I guess, is what
[56:38] » Is it possible, I guess, is what
[56:38] >> Well, it would be possible, of course.
[56:40] » Well, it would be possible, of course.
[56:40] >> Okay.
[56:40] » Okay.
[56:40] >> Um
[56:41] » Um
[56:41] >> I mean, there's that's additional space.
[56:43] » I mean, there's that's additional space.
[56:43] >> It is. And the reason There's multiple
[56:46] » It is. And the reason There's multiple
[56:46] reasons that we didn't look at it on
[56:48] K-15 directly. Um over the years, the
[56:52] the bicycling group in town definitely
[56:56] has called out other areas, um other
[56:59] roads that were off of the main drag
[57:01] because there's so much vehicle traffic
[57:03] on K-15 on Main Street that they have
[57:06] their bike route goes, um you know, to
[57:09] the east or the west of Main Street. And
[57:11] so,
[57:12] if you're looking to make this a more
[57:14] pedestrian-friendly
[57:16] area, keeping your bicycles in the other
[57:19] area, we're just trying to separate out
[57:21] things and make remembering the safety
[57:23] aspect, too.
[57:24] >> Yeah.
[57:25] » Yeah.
[57:25] >> Yeah, but And that's a great question.
[57:26] » Yeah, but And that's a great question.
[57:26] One of our activities um in these
[57:28] upcoming open houses is it's called a
[57:30] design charrette, and we're going to you
[57:32] know, be able to take a just an example
[57:36] stretch of of roadway, and it's say it's
[57:39] it's this wide, and you know, and then
[57:41] we have little little cutouts where you
[57:43] can say you can have two lanes that are
[57:45] 12 ft wide, and you can have a bicycle
[57:47] lane that's 3 ft wide, or you can have a
[57:49] sidewalk that's this wide, and just you
[57:52] can kind of play around and see what
[57:53] fits. You know, do you want to have four
[57:55] lanes of car traffic? Do you want to
[57:57] have two lanes of car traffic, a turn
[57:59] lane, and then a and a bicycle lane on
[58:01] both sides? Um so, it just it's sort of
[58:03] it's a tangible way to sort of see we
[58:06] have set curb lines, and we're we're not
[58:09] going to move those. Um so, kind of what
[58:12] can fit what kind of configuration can
[58:14] fit in between.
[58:15] >> My last question is whether if there are
[58:17] » My last question is whether if there are
[58:17] pros and cons to angle versus parallel
[58:19] parking safety-wise and otherwise.
[58:22] >> Mhm. There are lots of studies that show
[58:25] » Mhm. There are lots of studies that show
[58:25] that angle parking you have more
[58:27] accidents when you have angle parking.
[58:30] The the width that we have downtown plus
[58:32] the train there makes it difficult to
[58:34] have angle parking. Keep the number of
[58:37] lanes you need to um
[58:40] to be able to move traffic through after
[58:42] a train. It's It would be difficult to
[58:45] do that.
[58:46] And then you look at angle parking. You
[58:49] have it on some of the side streets, but
[58:51] that's lower volume on the side streets
[58:53] um than the traffic on Main Street.
[58:56] >> I just I was recently in Lawrence and
[58:57] » I just I was recently in Lawrence and
[58:57] noticed that on Mass Street they have
[58:59] all angle parking.
[59:00] >> Mhm. Yes.
[59:01] » Mhm. Yes.
[59:01] >> Two lanes, I think maybe three two and a
[59:03] » Two lanes, I think maybe three two and a
[59:03] dedicated turn and then angle parking.
[59:05] >> Mhm.
[59:06] » Mhm.
[59:06] It's a little bit different because they
[59:07] have a lot bigger town with a lot more
[59:10] side streets, a lot other places that
[59:12] are happening, so.
[59:14] Okay. Um
[59:16] BNSF to First Street on Main Street.
[59:18] Same thing. Um concept one would be to
[59:21] do the bump-outs, right?
[59:23] >> And this is really a continuation of
[59:25] » And this is really a continuation of
[59:25] north
[59:26] >> It is.
[59:26] » It is.
[59:26] >> north of the the tracks.
[59:28] » north of the the tracks.
[59:28] >> And then the design the concept design
[59:31] » And then the design the concept design
[59:31] 2A
[59:32] same thing.
[59:33] You have the bump-outs on one side, you
[59:35] eliminate parking on one side, add your
[59:37] turn lane. Okay?
[59:40] And then 2B flips it to the other side.
[59:46] three
[59:48] eliminates
[59:50] all of the parking
[59:51] leaves the turn lane
[59:53] and
[59:55] widens the sidewalk space. Okay?
[1:00:01] It's very It's It's just like the piece
[1:00:03] to the north. Okay?
[1:00:04] >> Mhm.
[1:00:05] » Mhm.
[1:00:05] >> Okay.
[1:00:08] » Okay.
[1:00:08] There is a
[1:00:10] the slide must have got eliminated, but
[1:00:13] there's a we can get it for you that
[1:00:15] shows the number of parking spaces for
[1:00:16] this section, too. I don't know what
[1:00:18] happened there.
[1:00:19] Um okay, Washington Road.
[1:00:24] The the concept design one, um this is
[1:00:27] from Southeast 10th to Southeast 8th.
[1:00:31] Um
[1:00:33] again, the reason that we are looking at
[1:00:35] different areas is because there are
[1:00:37] there were accidents and crashes at all
[1:00:39] of these intersections. And due to the
[1:00:42] sight distances, when you're coming when
[1:00:44] you have multiple legs
[1:00:46] of an intersection in this instance, you
[1:00:48] know, you've got five
[1:00:50] as they are today, and you have vehicles
[1:00:53] coming up to that intersection. The
[1:00:55] sight distance for somebody that's
[1:00:56] looking clear back, say you're pulling
[1:00:59] up there on Pine Street and you're
[1:01:00] looking trying to look north on
[1:01:02] Washington, it's difficult to see
[1:01:04] um
[1:01:05] for multiple reasons. Um Walnut, same
[1:01:09] same thing at Southeast 10th and Walnut.
[1:01:12] The sight distances, the points of
[1:01:14] conflict, and crossing multi-lane
[1:01:17] facilities here
[1:01:18] are the
[1:01:21] several of the reasons that we have
[1:01:22] accidents at these locations. So, what
[1:01:25] we looked at was
[1:01:29] trying to put a cul-de-sac and dead end
[1:01:31] one road that had another way out
[1:01:34] to eliminate one of the legs of the
[1:01:35] intersection.
[1:01:37] And we also have an element, remember,
[1:01:41] multiple elements. The other is turning
[1:01:44] this roadway into a three-lane facility
[1:01:47] so that you have the dedicated left turn
[1:01:49] lane that would be running
[1:01:51] the distance here.
[1:01:53] Cuz right now you've got four lanes, but
[1:01:54] boy, those are narrow little boogers,
[1:01:56] right? Um
[1:01:58] and so this turns it into three with the
[1:02:01] the third lane for the turning.
[1:02:05] There are multiple locations at these
[1:02:07] intersections where we are looking at
[1:02:10] and giving an option. These are not
[1:02:11] recommendations, these are for talking
[1:02:13] about. Um
[1:02:15] the cul-de-sacs. And you look here at
[1:02:19] Pine,
[1:02:20] Indian Lane doesn't have another way
[1:02:22] out.
[1:02:23] So, they still come out, right? Pine,
[1:02:27] you can go
[1:02:29] back to the north here by the ballpark
[1:02:32] and get out, and of course to the south
[1:02:34] Pine ties into the other cross streets,
[1:02:36] and you could get out.
[1:02:38] So, that's concept one.
[1:02:42] This kind of gives you an aerial view so
[1:02:45] that you
[1:02:46] you know what it would look like.
[1:02:50] They're just kind of fun when you can
[1:02:51] see a
[1:02:53] a concept there.
[1:02:55] Adding in cul-de-sacs.
[1:02:57] Okay?
[1:03:00] Okay.
[1:03:01] Then Washington Road from 5th to 1st.
[1:03:06] Same thing.
[1:03:07] Just at Allison we'd be looking at
[1:03:09] putting in a cul-de-sac.
[1:03:13] And then from
[1:03:14] Southeast 3rd north to 1st Street, so
[1:03:17] that's the bottom picture here.
[1:03:20] Uh we'd be adding in that protected
[1:03:22] left-hand turn and still necking down to
[1:03:26] only one lane in each direction with
[1:03:28] that protected turn.
[1:03:33] And in this area, the width would
[1:03:35] support those three lanes plus keeping
[1:03:38] some parking along the side.
[1:03:41] We wouldn't show the elimination where
[1:03:43] there is parking today. I believe you'd
[1:03:45] be able to keep it. But if this was
[1:03:47] selected, we would definitely look at
[1:03:49] that in more detail.
[1:03:50] Okay.
[1:03:54] All right. That's all of this Those were
[1:03:56] the city concepts. We can quickly will
[1:03:58] will talk to you about the ones that we
[1:04:00] are proposing for in the county to be
[1:04:02] considered. And these will be available
[1:04:04] for people to look at at the open houses
[1:04:06] because the open houses are open to
[1:04:07] everybody. Um so, the first one um is at
[1:04:11] Hesston and Hoover Road.
[1:04:13] So, Hesston Road, you know, that's old
[1:04:15] 81 that goes out of Newton up to
[1:04:17] Hesston. And there are multiple
[1:04:20] intersections that have skewed
[1:04:22] crossings. Um
[1:04:24] And they are not just crossing Hesston
[1:04:26] Road, but they're also crossing the
[1:04:28] railroad that's on the north.
[1:04:29] >> Like not at a 90°.
[1:04:31] » Like not at a 90°.
[1:04:31] >> Right. If they're skewed, they're not at
[1:04:33] » Right. If they're skewed, they're not at
[1:04:33] a 90°, which is the preferred method for
[1:04:36] traffic and transportation safety so
[1:04:38] that you can see
[1:04:40] um so that you have good sight distance.
[1:04:42] And
[1:04:43] so if I'm going to if I'm going to
[1:04:45] rebutt this and say, "Well, why would we
[1:04:46] spend the money to do this?
[1:04:49] Why don't people just pull up here to
[1:04:51] this intersection and square their
[1:04:53] vehicle?" Well,
[1:04:55] why don't people just drive the speed
[1:04:57] limit? Why don't people do all kinds of
[1:04:59] things? But we implement
[1:05:01] traffic safety measures
[1:05:04] so that we are helping uh to address
[1:05:07] those conflicts that occur on the
[1:05:10] transportation systems. And so there
[1:05:13] would be uh some right-of-way that have
[1:05:15] to be uh purchased. And this application
[1:05:18] at Hesston Road, there are multiple
[1:05:20] crossings that could this could be
[1:05:22] addressed um on Hesston Road at all of
[1:05:26] those crossroads
[1:05:28] to square it up, if you will.
[1:05:30] Okay?
[1:05:33] Then, the next one is at um it's down by
[1:05:38] Sedgwick. This is Ridge Road and 84th
[1:05:40] Street. And if you've been on Ridge
[1:05:42] Road, you'll recall it, I'm sure. Um
[1:05:45] where you're coming up Ridge Road and
[1:05:46] then you do There's you do an immediate
[1:05:49] um
[1:05:51] right turn, a 90° turn, and then a
[1:05:53] another one back the other direction.
[1:05:55] There's accidents that occur in this
[1:05:56] area frequently. Um and that's what
[1:05:59] popped it up, plus people commented
[1:06:02] about this one in our community
[1:06:03] engagement. And so, concept one for this
[1:06:06] location, it's the full bore. Look at it
[1:06:09] and straighten out the roadway. So,
[1:06:11] there would be um right-of-way
[1:06:13] acquisition, and then uh the road as it
[1:06:15] sits today for those that access and
[1:06:18] live along there, this would come in
[1:06:20] then at a 90
[1:06:22] to the new Ridge Road, so that we don't
[1:06:25] create another problem, right?
[1:06:27] Um
[1:06:28] and
[1:06:29] stop signs here at this intersection.
[1:06:32] And that takes care of those oddball
[1:06:37] 90° turns.
[1:06:40] Now, there's another option.
[1:06:42] Concept design two. This doesn't This
[1:06:45] doesn't straighten it all out, but this
[1:06:47] puts in um this puts in signage. It's um
[1:06:52] it really improves
[1:06:54] the signage at this location. It is
[1:06:56] called enhanced signage, and we have a
[1:06:58] bunch of these chevrons that So, these
[1:07:00] little arrowy-looking signs that would
[1:07:02] have LED lights on them.
[1:07:04] And when you light that stuff up at
[1:07:05] night, and we put in a bunch more
[1:07:07] signage that helps it be more visible to
[1:07:09] the driving public. Um just trying to
[1:07:12] light up this area so that people don't
[1:07:15] miss it at night, cuz a lot of times
[1:07:16] they happen at nighttime.
[1:07:18] And so this would be concept design,
[1:07:20] too.
[1:07:22] And we would have people comment on
[1:07:24] these and the different elements of
[1:07:26] um
[1:07:27] options at the
[1:07:29] community engagement.
[1:07:32] Questions on those?
[1:07:34] Okay.
[1:07:36] All right. Kristen?
[1:07:37] >> Okay. We'll wrap us up here with the
[1:07:39] » Okay. We'll wrap us up here with the
[1:07:39] next steps. So, like Suzanne had
[1:07:41] mentioned, um we do have several
[1:07:43] engagement opportunities coming up.
[1:07:45] We've got on the slide here, and I also
[1:07:47] brought up a few flyers.
[1:07:49] Um if you're interested, so you can see
[1:07:51] we're having one with the
[1:07:53] the list of the stakeholders, so like
[1:07:56] that the stakeholder groups we had
[1:07:57] originally. So, we're having one just
[1:07:59] for them uh on the 20th, and then we,
[1:08:02] like Suzanne mentioned, we're having a
[1:08:04] separate meeting with the Connect
[1:08:05] Downtown group, uh just with that group,
[1:08:09] uh with the downtown business owners on
[1:08:10] the 27th. And then we've got some open
[1:08:13] houses, um I guess that same week,
[1:08:16] taking place uh across really here
[1:08:18] within the city of Newton at the Rec
[1:08:20] Center, uh the Harvey County Courthouse,
[1:08:22] and the at the library. So, those are
[1:08:25] coming up. Um we will have some um
[1:08:29] like I mentioned that design charrette,
[1:08:31] where you can kind of practice,
[1:08:33] you know, trying to fit different things
[1:08:35] in a set volume. That's just kind of a
[1:08:37] fun thing and sort of a learning
[1:08:38] opportunity that, you know, we we can't
[1:08:41] have everything, that there there are
[1:08:43] constraints. And so we'll see some
[1:08:44] property lines on there, and um so just
[1:08:47] an opportunity for people to sort of
[1:08:49] experience trying to do this with
[1:08:51] constraints. Um then we'll have some
[1:08:53] information about uh all these concepts,
[1:08:55] as well as some of the information about
[1:08:57] what we've learned previously, and and a
[1:09:00] way to kind of confirm we we've heard
[1:09:02] we've heard correctly of some of the
[1:09:04] main themes coming out of that that
[1:09:06] first session or that first engagement.
[1:09:10] Uh and then just really wanted to share
[1:09:11] these next steps. Um
[1:09:14] you know, we are in the study phase,
[1:09:16] this very very first step where we're
[1:09:18] kind of getting ideas, we're talking
[1:09:20] about what are the problems, talking
[1:09:22] about some initial concepts. And
[1:09:25] so, you know, we expect that to wrap up
[1:09:28] this this initiative to wrap up early
[1:09:30] next year. Um and then you can see
[1:09:32] there's sort of two paths. So, one would
[1:09:33] be
[1:09:34] that top path is going through this
[1:09:36] capital grant application. That's really
[1:09:38] been the goal for this project all
[1:09:40] along, the goal from this original grant
[1:09:42] application from three or four years ago
[1:09:45] was to be able to set the city and the
[1:09:47] county up should they choose to to apply
[1:09:49] for a capital grant through this Safe
[1:09:51] Streets for All program. Uh so, that
[1:09:53] application would likely come open in
[1:09:55] the spring. Um and then probably be
[1:09:58] another year uh to have engineering and
[1:10:01] then probably another year plus for
[1:10:02] construction. So, we're this is a long
[1:10:05] timeline. So, just want to reassure
[1:10:07] everyone this nothing's going to happen
[1:10:09] tomorrow.
[1:10:10] Um and then also kind of that second
[1:10:12] tier is to be able to go through the the
[1:10:14] city's budget process and should the
[1:10:16] city decide to implement some of these
[1:10:17] countermeasures or some of the low-cost
[1:10:19] things,
[1:10:20] that that would be another avenue for
[1:10:23] for this to move forward.
[1:10:27] That's it. Uh we are happy to answer any
[1:10:30] questions. I know we've talked through
[1:10:31] some in between in in during the
[1:10:33] presentation, but happy to answer any
[1:10:36] that you might have.
[1:10:37] >> So, tell us how that grant application
[1:10:39] » So, tell us how that grant application
[1:10:39] works.
[1:10:40] After all the studies are done and maybe
[1:10:44] picking out some of the concepts to
[1:10:45] pursue and putting a price on them and
[1:10:47] all that. Then
[1:10:49] then do you go to the federal government
[1:10:51] and say, "Okay, this is going to cost,
[1:10:53] let's just say $7 million." And And is
[1:10:55] it a is it a 90/10 split? Is it an 80-20
[1:10:58] split? What
[1:10:59] >> Good question.
[1:10:59] » Good question.
[1:10:59] >> look like?
[1:11:00] » look like?
[1:11:00] >> It's an 80-20 split. So, it's um that's
[1:11:03] » It's an 80-20 split. So, it's um that's
[1:11:03] pretty common with federal grants. Here
[1:11:04] in Kansas, we're very fortunate because
[1:11:06] the state has allocated uh some of their
[1:11:10] ARPA money. Uh well, I think they
[1:11:12] switched out their ARPA money and
[1:11:13] anyways made a pot of money available
[1:11:15] they call Build Kansas. And they will
[1:11:17] offer to
[1:11:19] provide 15%
[1:11:21] of that 20% match requirement. Uh and
[1:11:25] so, that's a really great opportunity. I
[1:11:27] think we're the only state in the whole
[1:11:28] country that that has that available.
[1:11:30] Otherwise, you know, the individual city
[1:11:31] would have to come up with the whole
[1:11:32] 20%.
[1:11:33] >> that means we'd be responsible for the
[1:11:35] » that means we'd be responsible for the
[1:11:35] 5%.
[1:11:36] >> Correct.
[1:11:37] » Correct.
[1:11:37] >> Whatever that Yeah.
[1:11:38] » Whatever that Yeah.
[1:11:38] >> Uh and I think that
[1:11:40] » Uh and I think that
[1:11:40] not just the [clears throat]
[1:11:42] SS4A type funds could you utilize your
[1:11:45] plan.
[1:11:46] Um there's other grants that are
[1:11:48] available that you could say, "Hey,
[1:11:50] look, we've had" cuz this is this is an
[1:11:52] engineering study, if you will. And you
[1:11:54] can say, "Hey, this is what this study
[1:11:56] came up with." And not just that grant
[1:11:59] application, but then the city could
[1:12:00] look at other other grants that might be
[1:12:03] available for some of the the pieces of
[1:12:05] the project as well.
[1:12:08] And those those matches may be
[1:12:10] different.
[1:12:11] >> Mhm.
[1:12:17] » Any other questions?
[1:12:23] » Do
[1:12:24] And I thought
[1:12:26] I may be confusing something. I thought
[1:12:28] there was also
[1:12:29] an idea of
[1:12:31] SS4A and traffic signals. Is that not a
[1:12:35] Is that something separate?
[1:12:37] >> Depending on Main Street.
[1:12:37] » Depending on Main Street.
[1:12:37] >> No, to depending on the project that we
[1:12:40] » No, to depending on the project that we
[1:12:40] did, we could uh look at doing that.
[1:12:42] >> Okay.
[1:12:43] » Okay.
[1:12:43] >> That's one thing I did neglect to
[1:12:44] » That's one thing I did neglect to
[1:12:44] mention in those concepts. So, those
[1:12:47] Main Street concepts
[1:12:49] >> It would would include some of the
[1:12:49] » It would would include some of the
[1:12:50] >> Um we would suggest
[1:12:52] » Um we would suggest
[1:12:52] if you only chose the elements of the
[1:12:54] bulb outs,
[1:12:56] we would request funding for additional
[1:12:59] signals.
[1:13:00] >> Okay.
[1:13:01] » Okay.
[1:13:01] >> It might not qualify for just bulb outs,
[1:13:03] » It might not qualify for just bulb outs,
[1:13:03] but if you did some of the others, it
[1:13:06] definitely would because you have to
[1:13:08] change up your protected laps and
[1:13:10] everything. Um
[1:13:12] but I think we could probably justify
[1:13:14] that on any of those. So, along with
[1:13:16] those physical
[1:13:18] >> Yeah.
[1:13:18] » Yeah.
[1:13:18] >> um
[1:13:19] » um
[1:13:19] things on the roadway itself, we would
[1:13:21] be looking at signals as a part of that.
[1:13:24] >> Okay.
[1:13:29] So, then is it that
[1:13:32] after going through
[1:13:33] all the next sessions with the public
[1:13:35] and
[1:13:37] is it that whatever that comes back to
[1:13:41] are the ones that you're going to pursue
[1:13:43] to get
[1:13:44] put the put all the costs together to
[1:13:46] what that's going to cost? In other
[1:13:48] words, not every one of these ideas is
[1:13:50] going to come with somebody putting a
[1:13:52] price tag on it.
[1:13:53] >> Right.
[1:13:54] » Right.
[1:13:54] >> Only the ones that
[1:13:56] » Only the ones that
[1:13:56] this whole community decides might be
[1:13:58] feasible.
[1:13:59] >> Yeah, well, we will include cost
[1:14:01] » Yeah, well, we will include cost
[1:14:01] estimates, at least planning level cost
[1:14:03] estimates for these five concepts. So,
[1:14:06] whatever the five end up being, I mean,
[1:14:08] we've got our five locations pretty much
[1:14:10] locked down, but the option within each
[1:14:13] five locations is not. So, that's kind
[1:14:16] of the purpose of this next round is
[1:14:18] we'll kind of hear from the public, take
[1:14:20] it for kind of final vetting with the
[1:14:22] with the city and the the staff team,
[1:14:25] um and then bring it back for final
[1:14:26] adoption. But, all whatever those five
[1:14:30] final concepts will be, we'll have
[1:14:31] planning level cost estimates. And then,
[1:14:33] of course, as it moves forward, those
[1:14:35] will continue to be refined as more
[1:14:37] information is known.
[1:14:43] » Awesome.
[1:14:44] Okay. Any other questions?
[1:14:46] >> Thanks.
[1:14:46] » Thanks.
[1:14:46] >> Okay. I guess probably
[1:14:48] » Okay. I guess probably
[1:14:48] >> The only last thing is we'll be back
[1:14:49] » The only last thing is we'll be back
[1:14:49] maybe later
[1:14:51] later this year with uh a draft plan. Is
[1:14:54] that
[1:14:55] >> Yeah, you will need to adopt a plan. So,
[1:14:58] » Yeah, you will need to adopt a plan. So,
[1:14:59] a plan will be brought to you by staff
[1:15:00] for you to adopt that then gets turned
[1:15:03] in as the final.
[1:15:05] And it will have concepts in it.
[1:15:08] >> And can no action be a plan selected?
[1:15:12] » And can no action be a plan selected?
[1:15:12] >> What do you mean no action? Like not
[1:15:14] » What do you mean no action? Like not
[1:15:14] adopting it or not having concepts or
[1:15:17] >> Not adopting. Say we choose not to do
[1:15:20] » Not adopting. Say we choose not to do
[1:15:20] anything in that area.
[1:15:22] >> Of the
[1:15:23] » Of the
[1:15:23] >> We're not obligated to take up any of
[1:15:25] » We're not obligated to take up any of
[1:15:25] the plans.
[1:15:26] >> Correct. No, you're approving a plan,
[1:15:28] » Correct. No, you're approving a plan,
[1:15:28] not a construction project. Correct.
[1:15:30] Yeah.
[1:15:31] Correct.
[1:15:34] >> So, it's more of receiving a plan more
[1:15:36] » So, it's more of receiving a plan more
[1:15:36] so than than actually approving for
[1:15:38] action.
[1:15:39] >> They want them to approve it. That's
[1:15:41] » They want them to approve it. That's
[1:15:41] That's my understanding from the grant
[1:15:42] dollars. They want you to This is our
[1:15:45] our transportation plan, but you don't
[1:15:46] have to say in it what year you're going
[1:15:48] to accomplish these things.
[1:15:50] Um you're going to work towards things.
[1:15:54] And
[1:15:55] I think that's simple enough to do.
[1:15:58] Especially because I think in your minds
[1:16:00] you're thinking about all these
[1:16:02] capital things. There's going to be
[1:16:04] countermeasures throughout. Um you know,
[1:16:07] if
[1:16:08] I would
[1:16:09] >> We We could go benign and just adopt all
[1:16:11] » We We could go benign and just adopt all
[1:16:11] the countermeasures as part of our plan
[1:16:13] with nothing that has a capital
[1:16:15] >> Yeah. to it. But then you wouldn't need
[1:16:16] » Yeah. to it. But then you wouldn't need
[1:16:16] to apply for a grant. So, yeah. But
[1:16:19] >> But we would be But we would be
[1:16:21] » But we would be But we would be
[1:16:21] fulfilling the obligation of the grant
[1:16:24] that we received to have the study done.
[1:16:25] >> Yes, absolutely.
[1:16:27] » Yes, absolutely.
[1:16:27] I don't know why somebody why you and
[1:16:30] the county wouldn't approve
[1:16:33] in your plan one of the things that you
[1:16:35] want to do moving forward is to promote
[1:16:37] use of seatbelts.
[1:16:38] >> Right.
[1:16:39] » Right.
[1:16:39] >> And how much that decreases uh
[1:16:42] » And how much that decreases uh
[1:16:42] fatalities and severe accidents. I mean,
[1:16:44] just putting out some uh
[1:16:47] you know, public information about that.
[1:16:49] That would be something that should be
[1:16:50] in your plan.
[1:16:51] >> Mhm.
[1:16:53] » Mhm.
[1:16:53] Cool.
[1:16:53] >> Okay.
[1:16:54] » Okay.
[1:16:54] >> All right. Thank you.