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Routes, interchanges and/or intersections:
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Centrally located at the interchange of Intersate-70 (I-70) and Blue Ridge Cutoff (BRC) extending outward at an approximate 1-mile radius of complete street networks and ½-mile radius of focused transit-oriented development (TOD) with regional action and community-focused amenities. Existing streets include those surrounding or connect to Truman Sports Complex (TSC), BRC, E 39th Street, neighborhood local streets, and a portion of Highway-40. Area also includes the extension parking area at Truman Sports Complex.
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Supplementary Project Mode(s):
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* Active Transportation * Freight
* Transit * Other (TOD and EV/AV)
Active transportation– bicycle and walking amenities introduced to the Complete Street right-of-way will directly connect residents, users, and visitors to Eco-Gateway amenities like TOD and TSC; Highway/Roadway– existing infrastructure can be refitted and adapted to incorporate new roadway sections and profiles appropriate for multi-modal types and adjacent property uses; Transit- New sustainable multi-modal TOD with potential for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), park and ride facilities, Electric Vehicle (EV) car sharing, Automated Vehicle (AV) Center, Linwood Streetcar, and Rock Island Rail; Freight– under-developed land at this significant interchange of I-435 (north-south) and I-70 (east-west) positions the location for construction of a future freight distribution/transfer center (FFDTC) for interstation transported goods by EV and AV semi-trucks.
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Project Description: |
Eco-Gateway - Truman Sports Complex and Blue Ridge Cutoff (Eco-Gateway) will transform this regional attraction into a multi-modal, sustainable accommodating infrastructure future transportation BRT, Rail, AV and EV while being TOD at under-developed parcels and TSC.
The area will capitalize on its exceptional highway and transit access to position itself to attract new development and investment. The area will continue to be a regional entertainment hub drawing sports, concerts and other events at TSC.
KCMO’s Blue Ridge Area Plan acknowledges this specific location’s potential, “When the Truman Sports Complex was constructed in the early 1970’s, expectations for development around the stadiums was high. More than 40 years later the commercial development in the area has not materialized as expected and there remain many undeveloped tracts adjacent to the stadiums. There are other under-developed areas where development pressures were once high and have since waned (e.g. 40 Highway) or were once expected but never materialized. Areas with high development potential include those adjacent to major regional attractions (e.g. the Truman Sports Complex), those with interstate highway access and visibility (interchanges on I-70 and I-435 and 350 Highway), and those with access to major vehicular corridors (e.g. 40 Highway, 63rd Street, 23rd Street and 87th Street).” The planning, design, and engineer of Gateway G-TSC will re-examine the types of land uses that are appropriate and sustainable in these areas and includes strategies to proactively attract desired development.
In recent decades, numerous studies for development and transit at this area have been conducted but few have come to fruition. Eco-Gateway is a long-term plan to position the Kansas City Metro as a leader in the design of future interstate transportation services, amenities, and technologies. Transportation on interstates will continue to evolve. Eco-Gateway because of Its proximity will be able to adapt and be a regional and national model for emerging transportation options available in the area and to EV/AV as vehicles increase in operation over the coming decades.
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Scope: |
Eco-Gateway is truly a multi-modal transit center of the future. Planned, on-going and systematic investment will allow the area to adapt and evolve with trends, needs, and advances.
This takes vision and foresight.
Near-term investment in travel modes will incorporate a significant planning exercise to establish the future location of amenity zones and estimate the scale of users and/or vehicles for trip generation and volume of transit riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians. This data will help to determine the appropriate sizing of Complete Streets at BRC and the dedication of modes within the right-of-way. Additionally, the local or neighborhood grid can be adapted to extend Complete Streets into mixed-use, hospitality, and residential areas. A new neighborhood plan for the area should be conductive with extensive community engagement and resident participation.
Mid-term investments will be driven up construction of transit facilities like park and ride, BRT, Streetcar, and Rail, and supported by TOD near existing hospitality zones and at TSC. The timeline of implementation will need to be coordinated to ensure success in use and ridership. For instance, operation scheduling of new transit facilities should align with openings of economic commercial, retail, mixed-use, and residential development. Matching availability with the demand to convert vehicular trip to alternative modes of transit. Additionally, EV and AV infrastructure on various smaller scales will be visible in the area, specifically catering to interstate travelers, TSC guests, regional commuters, and freight.
Long-term investments conceptually include but are not limited to FFDTC, AV Data Centers for Interstate Transport, AV Storage/ Parking/ Maintenance Facilities, and significant solar array footprint at TSC directly charging EV at the facility and generated power for operation of the facility.
Below outlines planning/design/engineering considerations worth further exploration on a local, regional, state, and national level:
• Future Location of Amenity Zones (FLAZ)
• Neighborhood Residential Plan with Complete Street grid
• Complete Street multi-modal design for Blue Ridge Cutoff
• Park and Ride Facility
• Bus Rapid Transit Facility
• Linwood Streetcar
• Rock Island Rail
• EV and AV Interstate Facility for passenger vehicles
• Future Feight Distribution Transfer Center
• AV Data Center for Interstate Transport
• AV Storage/ Parking/ Maintenance Facilities
• Renewable energy solar array at TSC
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