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G8.1 Project title:
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Greenwood Connector: Jefferson to Curtis Drive
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G8.2 Project description: |
This project will serve as phase one of the Greenwood Connector Trail, a project that connects Jackson County’s Rock Island Shared Use Path to the MOPAC Trail in Pleasant Hill. The north terminus is at the intersection of SW Jefferson Street and the Rock Island Corridor in Lees Summit. The south terminus is along Hamblen Road at the same latitude as Curtis Drive in Greenwood. The proposed alignment follows the Rock Island right of way until Hamblen Road and will then travel south as a side path along Hamblen to the southern terminus. The entirety of this phase will be off-street and will accommodate all bicycle and pedestrian user types. This trail will be built in a consistent manner as the Jackson County Shared Use Path. We will include at least one trailhead to be developed at a midpoint location.
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G8.3 Project contact: |
Matt Davis, Program Coordinator Rock Island Rail Corridor of Jackson County, MO. dmdavis@jacksongov.org 816-503-4849
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G1. Project Type: |
Non-Motorized Transportation - Recreation Trails
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G2. Funding Stream: |
STP TAP
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G3. TIP Number: |
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G4. State: |
Missouri
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G5. Project county: |
1. Jackson
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G6. Project municipality: |
1. Lees Summit 2. Greenwood
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G7. Multiple agencies / jurisdictions?
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No
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G8.4 Purpose and need:
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The requested project is part of a four-project strategy to connect the Rock Island Shared Use Path with the MOPAC Trail, thereby connecting Kansas City with the KATY Trail and providing a connection between Kansas City and St. Louis. This goal alone will have immense economic and tourism value to communities in our region and across the state. Additionally, as there is no current trail connection, people attempting to connect through these trail systems are forced onto narrow, high speed rural roadways. We feel that this is unsafe, and we aim to create an amenity for users of all ages and abilities. Furthermore, the city of Greenwood currently lacks any dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facilities outside of their system of sidewalks. Through this project we will connect Greenwood residents to a wider system of trails opening the possibility for active transportation and healthy living.
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G9. Origin and ending
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Route:
From:
To:
Length (Miles):
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Rock Island ROW and Hamblen Road ROW
Rock Island and Jefferson Road
Hamblen Road and Curtis Drive
2.74 miles
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G10. Functional Classification:
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Not Applicable
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G11. In Transportation Outlook 2040?
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Yes
Decade:
--Select--
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G12. Muli-Agency Plan?
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Yes
The Rock Island Corridor to Pleasant Hill (through Greenwood) is included in the MetroGreen plan and Regional Bikeway Plan.
A conceptual design for this project was included in a MARC CSP plan related to the Rock Island Corridor for 2013.
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G13. Included in a CIP?
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Yes
It is included in Greenwoods 2008 Comprehensive Plan, in the 2008 Lees Summit Greenways Master Plan and was identified in approved voter initiatives in Lees Summit for Parks and Public Works.
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G14. Planning stage:
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Conceptual Plan
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G15. Reviewed by state DOT?
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No
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G16. Right-of-Way acquisition: |
In process
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G17. ROW by local public agency process manual?
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Yes
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G18. Other unique local goals and objectives?
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Yes
While it supports many Transportation Outlook 2040 goals, this project is significant because it is one of the final links connecting the statewide KATY Trail system, which has been a particular focus of the region for over 20 years (including advocacy and planning led by the Rock Island Corridor Coalition at MARC).
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G19. Transportation Disadvantaged Population:
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This project will provide non-motorized mobility to those living in south eastern Jackson County, allowing them to connect to the greater Kansas City bicycle and pedestrian network and through future phases, the KATY Trail. The ability to provide this connection through off-street facilities allows users of all ages and abilities an efficient and protected method for access to jobs, services and recreation throughout the region.
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G20. Relevant Public Engagement:
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This project was previously identified through the 2013 Creating Sustainable Places (CSP) process, which provided concept level planning for the corridor. Public meetings were held twice during the study process, in which participants were able to discuss the trail development and plans for trailheads.
Through the development of the Rock Island Shared Use Path in 2016 and 2017, public meetings were held at two times during the design process that included information about the KATY Trail connection, where staff were able to meet with residents and receive public comment. One such meeting was held within one mile of the northern terminus of this project. The overwhelming opinion was that the route to the KATY should be as direct as possible and go through Greenwood.
The Rock Island Rail Corridor Authority held additional stakeholder meetings in 2017 to identify best routes, partnerships and funding strategies.
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G21. Planned Public Engagement:
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Public engagement will be included as part of the design process for this project, as well as during the design and planning for the other phases of the project. The Rock Island Corridor also has a strong following on social media and will use Facebook and twitter as a method for providing information and seeking feedback.
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G22. Sustainable Places Criteria:
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----Active Transportation/Living-------Compact, Walkable Centers---
Complete Street Design---------------
------------Integrated Trail System---
------------Pedestrian-Oriented Public Realm---
------------Strong Suburban Downtown---
-----Unique Community Characteristics
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G22.1. Describe CSP relationship:
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The Greenwood Connector will be integrated into a larger regional network of trails, supporting active transportation and living. When this project is completed, users on the Brush Creek Trail, Blue River Trail, Indian Creek Trail, Trolley Trail, Little Blue Trace Trail, Rock Island Shared Use Path and the Lees Summit Greenway system will all be able to connect to Greenwood and the KATY Trail.
The full Greenwood connector route runs through Downtown Greenwood, contributing to a pedestrian-oriented public realm. It will support existing small businesses in downtown Greenwood by providing a constant flow of trail users. Downtown Greenwood is a traditional downtown area with a burgeoning antique district and unique character that will be supported through the extension of the KATY Trail.
Currently, Downtown Greenwood lacks sidewalk and bicycle facilities on its Main Street, which includes an elementary school. This project will help to make Main Street a Complete Street.
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G23. Implements Sustainable Places Initiatives?
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Yes
This project is recommended in the 2013 Creating Sustainable Places plan which focused on the Rock Island Corridor at large. The final plan recommends using the Rock Island Corridor to build an extension to the KATY Trail (p. 16, p. 19). Additionally, the segment of the completed plan which deals with downtown Greenwood explicitly mentions the KATY Trail connection to the Kansas City region as a preferred concept (p. 58-59). We will be following this application for funding with an application to the 2018 Planning Sustainable Places program when the call for projects opens.
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G24. Serves Regional Activity Center?
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Yes
High-Intensity and More_Walkable Centers
This project directly serves the activity center of downtown Greenwood, provides increased connectivity to and from the activity center, and contributes to a healthy environment for the activity center.
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G25. Environmental justice tracts?
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Yes
This project is within Census Tract 135.04 which is identified as an EJ tract. This project will connect to the Rock Island Shared Use Path which is within and adjacent to many environmental justice tracts. This project will connect residents in those tracts to a wider system of trails and greenways allowing improved public health benefits and job access.
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G26. Reduces greenhouse gas emissions?
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Yes
This project will provide a way for individuals to travel to and from job centers via active transportation. Due to the many linkages between trail, greenway, and bicycle networks, individuals will have a new alternative to driving.
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G27. Natural Resource information:
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The Rock Island Rail Corridor has seen significant overgrowth in its 40 years of inactivity. Through this project we will minimize the impact on the trees and other brush that have grown in the corridor right of way, therefore keeping habitat intact and providing value as a wildlife corridor. This will mitigate some of the impacts of habitat fragmentation occurring as a result of urbanization in this part of our region.
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G28. Community Links at Watershaed Scale:
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This corridor is within the Big Creek watershed. The project will be designed to mitigate the amount of runoff and maintain or improve water quality. The intended trail surface is primarily crushed limestone, which is semi-permeable. Additionally, this trail will connect people to nature. The trail will also be near the James A. Reed Wildlife Area. The Rock Island Corridor is also one of two projects that was selected for the MARC Green Infrastructure Playbook. We believe that building this trail will further support those efforts.
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G29. Explain local land use or comprehensive plans:
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This project was included in Greenwoods 2008 Comprehensive Plan. The plan also calls for a Downtown Redevelopment Area that would be supported by this projects future phases. Additionally, the future land use map shows mixed use and commercial uses adjacent to the route, indicating policy support for trail-oriented development. This project was included in Lees Summits 2008 Greenway Master Plan. It was also included in MARCs 2002 MetroGreen Plan.
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G30.1 Complies with MARC’s CSP?
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Yes
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G30.2 Exception to the MARC CSP?
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No
This project will comply with MARCs Complete Streets Policy and follow the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities and KC-Metro APWA specifications.
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Traveler Type (All Ages & Abilities)
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Pedestrians:
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Mobility Aids:
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Bicyclists:
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Transit Riders:
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Not Accommodated
This is a bicycle and pedestrian corridor.
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Cars:
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Not Accommodated
This is a bicycle and pedestrian corridor.
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Trucks:
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Not Accommodated
This is a bicycle and pedestrian corridor.
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Motorcycles:
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Not Accommodated
This is a bicycle and pedestrian corridor.
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Buses:
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Not Accommodated
This is a bicycle and pedestrian corridor.
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Green Streets:
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