The city of Kansas City, Kansas is making progress on its first bike lanes, with Phase 1 of the Southwest Blvd, Merriam Drive Complete Streets project underway:
Construction began this week on Phase 1 of the Southwest Blvd, Merriam Drive Complete Streets project by the Kansas City Kansas//Unified Government. Phase 1 rebuilds Southwest Blvd from Iowa St (Holy Name Church) west to S 10th Street (the curve at top of the hill where Merriam Drive begins). Bike lanes will be added along with new sidewalks, street lighting, curbs and storm drainage, including through the I-35/Mission Rd interchange area. Construction is planned for a Fall 2013 completion. Please ride and walk carefully through this area as, take extra caution in congested areas. [via KanBikeWalk]
Phase 2 of the project is scheduled to begin in 2014, and there is a public meeting scheduled for April 30th:
A Public Meeting/Open House for Phase 2 of the Southwest Blvd/Merriam Drive corridor improvements (S 10th St west to S 24th St -Lamar) has been announced to discuss the continuation of the Compete Street design now underway in Phase 1.
Phase 2 will include the section along the Boulevard Drive-in Theatre, home of the Bike Week’s Bike-In Movie sponsored by the Rosedale Development Association being held on Thursday, May 16.
All bicyclists and pedestrians who ride and walk this corridor and those who would after the improvements are complete need to attend to speak up for the progressive design being undertaken by the Unified Government of Kansas City Kansas/Wyandotte County.
The project is proposed to include new bike lanes, sidewalks, street lighting, curbs and storm drainage. Some local businesses along the corridor have raised concerns to the project, as it will affect their current unrestricted use of the public right-of-way for parking and drive entrances. This unrestricted use of the public right-of-way has resulted in increased risks to bicyclists and pedestrians who need or want to use the roadway and a rather unsightly streetscape. [via KanBikeWalk]
The April 30th public meeting will take place at Rosedale Development Association, 1403 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103. The public meeting is open from 5pm to 7pm.
Rosedale Development Association was the very first silver-level Bicycle Friendly Business in Kansas, earning that designation from the League of American Bicyclists in 2012.
The public meeting is open to everyone, whether you’re a business owner or resident, or if you work in the area, or travel through the Southwest Boulevard / Merriam Drive corridor.
The Unified Government adopted a Complete Streets resolution in 2011 “as part of ongoing efforts to develop an effective policy that supports the goals of designing, constructing, and maintaining an infrastructure that encourages active living within the City of Kansas City, Kansas.”
The Southwest Boulevard / Merriam Drive corridor project is one of the first in the city to use Complete Streets principles to help ensure that the new roadway is safe, attractive, and more livable and accessible to all users.
The public meeting is a good chance to speak up in support of Complete Street principles, and the planned bike lanes on Merriam Drive.
BikeWalkKC has additional info: Attend KCK public meeting to support bike lanes on Merriam Lane
Post tags: Bike Lanes, Kansas City
