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Project Number:
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54
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Organization:
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Kansas City, MO
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Project Name:
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd Complete Streets
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City(ies), County(ies), State:
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Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
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Routes, interchanges and/or intersections:
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The prrimary right-of-way of Dr. Marting Luther King, Jr. Blvd/ Highway 56 (MLK Blvd) extending from I-435 interchange on the east to Brookside Blvd intersection on the west. Focused improvements at intersections along this 5-mile corridor from east to west include: I-435, Eastwood Trafficway, Sni-A-Bar Road, Hardesty, Elmwood Ave, Kensington Ave, Cleveland Ave, Swope Parkway/Benton Blvd, Agnes Ave, Prospect Ave, Highway-71, Woodland Avenue, The Paseo, Troost Ave, Rockhill Road, and Brookside Blvd. Presently, the route is a significant east-west for local and regional vehicular traffic with intermittent bus route connections, and extremely limited pedestrian facilities. The southern boundary is a diverse combination of activity nodes and the northern boundary is Park & Recreation land along the Brush Creek (west and central) and less dense development (east).
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Primary Project Mode:
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Highway/roadway
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Supplementary Project Mode(s):
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* Active Transportation
* Transit )
MLK Blvd Complete Streets is long-term investment incorporating several transportation modes along the corridor. Utilizing the existing right-of-way, coordinated planning, design, and engineering will define incremental steps to implement a new road cross-section and enhanced intersections will connect residents, transit users, and vehicular drivers to circulation. The project plan will seek to facilitate better-quality vehicular flow, increase pedestrian activity and accessibility, and improve roadway safety. Some synergistic opportunities include, KCATA’s Route 47 bus route service change, the City’s on-going replacement of sidewalks and ADA curbs at crossings, and on-going enhancement of landscape to meet Parks & Recreation Departments Parkway & Boulevard Standards. Presently, KCMO and MARC are working closely on a PSP project focused specifically on MLK Blvd between Prospect Ave and Elmwood Ave which will set an implementation framework for pedestrian facilities.
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Project Purpose:
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* System preservation, rehabilitation or replacement * System operations and management
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Project Description: |
The intent of the project is to invest in MLK Blvd for all present and future users, as well as make infrastructure design decisions that foster long-term sustainable use by those individuals.
Motorists will experience better aligned street grades at non-signalized intersections, traffic calming measures which will mitigate speeding, and see a reduction in barriers that currently limit driver visibility.
Pedestrians will experience significant improvements by eliminating the gaps in pedestrian sidewalks that presently exist on the western half of the project area. They will also have more continuous pathways when connecting from transit to activity nodes, developments, and neighborhoods.
Transit ridership will increase as more economic opportunities, jobs, and households are slated for development along MLK Blvd. In the past three months, construction activities have begun at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and The Rochester (64-unit residential near The Shops). Additionally, the Overlook District’s demolition and site grading will be starting in Fall 2021 with $5M in funding from KCMO’s Central City Economic Development (CCED) – removing significant blight/under-utilized properties/vacant buildings and offering Class A office and mixed-income residential housing to MLKD Blvd between College Ave and Chestnut Ave. These projects as well as other pipeline development will increase the ridership demand, as jobs, residents, and guests will have trips generated to these locations. MLK Blvd will accommodate multi-modal options benefiting and supporting the neighborhoods, residents, developments, and guests to the corridor.
Bicyclist will benefit from improved connection to existing trail and bike networks along the Blue River and Brush Creek as well as to Rockhill Road and Benton Blvd (major north-south bike thoroughfares). Additionally, the existing road section will be able to accommodate bike paths and potential dedication bike lanes as previously studied in the 2017 Swope Parkway/ Blue Parkway Redevelopment Feasibility Study.
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Scope: |
MLK Blvd presently has very limited travel modes available. It is predominantly utilized by vehicles travelling east-west, with a portion stopping and utilizing the existing activity nodes. KCATA bus route services are limited, and bus stops are only available between Highway-71 and Eastwood Trafficway, leaving approximately half of MLK Blvd disconnected from east-west public transportation.
MLK Blvd is envisioned to be a bright and vibrant corridor exemplary honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., building on assets and leveraging opportunities to strengthen the success of activity nodes.
The total length of project is approximately 5-miles. It’s generous right-of-way width accommodates 4-6 travel lanes for vehicles, and in many locations a sizable median for trees and plantings. It can readily accommodate a new roadway section that incorporates, vehicle lanes, pedestrian paths, bicycle pathways, and bus share, as planning for potential ride share/EV share locations. Upgrading the traffic signals along this corridor will improve traffic safety and bike/ped safety. Enhancements to the existing buffers and grass areas can be converted to high-performance open space and stormwater management zones.
This major work will bring vibrancy, visibility, and attract sustainable growth, economic opportunity, and social justice to MLK Blvd, as this investment will support economic development on vacant land, attract new housing and workplace opportunities in low-income and underserved neighborhoods at the middle and eastern portion of the project.
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Funding Source:
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MO Local
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Total Budget in 2019 Dollars:
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$20,699,800
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Decade:
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Illustrative
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Application Score:
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130
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Constrained / Illustrative:
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Illustrative
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Priority:
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High
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Adds Capacity:
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No
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