SLT topic of online chat / LJWorld.com

Archive for Tuesday, December 13, 2005

December 13, 2005

The South Lawrence Trafficway should have no stoplights. It should be four lanes all the way through. And the eastern leg should be completed within five years.

Those were some recommendations given Monday afternoon during an online chat by Les Hannon, a retired engineer who has been working on a 25-year plan that envisions Lawrence with population 140,000.

"I believe there should be no traffic lights or level crossings at the SLT," Hannon said during the chat on the Journal-World's Web site, ljworld.com.

"All connections should be over or under with ramps, so that traffic flow is not impeded on the SLT once it is completed," he said.

Hannon said the SLT should be finished relatively soon, "certainly in the next five years."

To get the SLT built, city leaders should use the $1.5 million in federal funds earmarked for the project to begin preliminary planning on the four-lane eastern leg.

Chat with Les Hannon about mapping Lawrence's future (12-13-05)

"Following that, we should plan for the extra two lanes on the western leg so that it is four lanes right through," he said.

To read the entire chat transcript, go to http://www.ljworld.com/future on your favorite Web browser.

Discussion

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13 December 2005
at 5:52 a.m.

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merrill (Anonymous) says…

Wetlands Saves Tax Dollars:
Economical and Fiscal
* Pollution Control Wetlands filter water for free and thus lower the need for, or the loadings into, wastewater and drinking water treatment plants. Further loss of wetlands will lead to increased need for treatment plants and clean-up strategies.
* Water Supply Wetlands and major retention basins, providing large quantities of clean water for municipalities. Wetland losses will lead to loss of quality water supplies, requiring costly searches for new sources of water.
* Flood Control Wetlands help control flooding, and thus prevent the need for costly flood control projects. A one-acre wetland holds 330,000 gallons of water if flooded to one foot.
* Shipping By filtering tributaries and runoff, wetlands hold back vast amounts of sediment that would fill up navigation channels, saving hundreds of millions of tax dollars in dredging costs.
* Property Protection By preventing flooding and by acting as wave barrier to prevent coastal erosion, wetlands prevent loss of property.
* Property Values By serving as scenic open space and ad visual and sound buffers, wetlands enhance a community's amenities and therefore its property values.
* Tourism and Recreation By producing so much wildlife and fish, by serving as scenic open space, and by protecting water quality, wetlands greatly benefit businesses based on fishing, boating, hunting, swimming, and sightseeing, including the lodging, restaurant and service sector.
* Food Wetlands produce much of the fish harvested by the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries, and are the only place where cranberry, wild rice and other wetland crops can be grown.
* Natural Resources Wetland produce most of the furbearers for the trapping industry. Forest wetlands can be an important source of timber when managed properly.
* Fiscal and Tax Savings By performing all the above benefits for free, wetlands save billions of tax dollars by avoiding the need for costly flood, erosion, pollution control, dredging and water supply projects. They bring in fiscal revenues by supporting the recreation, tourism, food and service industries. By enhancing residential property values, they maintain higher tax revenue
13 December 2005
at 6 a.m.

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merrill (Anonymous) says…

Why would anyone choose an environmentally sensitive area in Lawrence, Kansas to build an unecessary freeway? That choice was DOA, illogical and obsolete from day one. The wetlands route is not the only option available. This matter could be tied up in court many more years. I-70 connectors going north off K10 could accomplish the same goals.

The wetlands route will affect the Prairie Park Nature Center to some degree in which more than a million total tax dollars were initially spent. Why wreck this beautiful educational venture and waste tax dollars at the same time?

There is a less expensive and more logical option that has not been put on the table. The current plan going through a flood zone requires elevation which is a costly endeavor. Staying SOR and completly out of the wetlands/flood zones requiring fewer bridges and connecting to an existing interchange(#1057) could save a few million.

Taking the SLT south of the river to interchange 1057 and K10 could take traffic north to I 70 as well.

This accomplishes many things.
A. Services JOCO and Douglas County traffic going to NW Lawrence or Topeka
B. Services the Eudora Business Park east of 1057
C. Services East Hills Business Park and the SE Work Center area west of 1057
D. Diverts traffic out around the city as it should
E. Keeps the SLT entirely out of the wetlands
F. HNTB has researched SLT/1057 option but was never put on the table
H. Reduces traffic substantially on 31st
I. Services Tonganoxie
Working with the Kansas Turnpike Authority could save Douglas County taxpayers untold millions of dollars.
Building this road at any cost at this point in time is simply not prudent use of Douglas County tax dollars.

Turnpike fees could pay for the road which is far better than my tax dollars. It is my understanding that Douglas County taxpayers will bear the lions share of this project which is why I suggest bringing in the KTA.
13 December 2005
at 7:44 a.m.

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neopolss (Anonymous) says…

I agree Merrill. The logic is flawed as well. The claim is that traffic going through Lawrence adds to congestion. I say this is not true. I have known enough route drivers to know that they avoid 10 highway if they are going to Topeka or KC. It's simply easier to use I35 or I70. The backup traffic is caused by commuters from Lawrence, in which case the SLT doesn't help a lot. In fact, it would take most people further out of their way to getting home.

Mark my words, if they build through the Wetlands, it will only cost future dollars when they have to repair sinking structures. Just look at Broken arrow park. Half of the time it is underwater.
13 December 2005
at 9:55 a.m.

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blue73harley (Anonymous) says…

I hope Hannon's efforts brings results. Ya gotta give the guy an “A” for effort. It is refreshing to see someone that obviously cares for the future of Lawrence and isn't in it for the money.
13 December 2005
at 12:20 p.m.

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merrill (Anonymous) says…

Rush hour traffic is a bitch just about anywhere. However if some commuters would get get off at interchange 1057/1900rd then to 1000 rd then to 59 Hwy to 31st&Iowa it would be a bit less difficult. All very good road surfaces. It avoids 23rd and 31st congestion. It is quicker than you might think.

Reverse the above when going to Kansas City.
13 December 2005
at 1:06 p.m.

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leftwingfarmboy (Anonymous) says…

NO SLT (or, as i like to call it, The Highway to Nowhere)! Even if we build south of the river think of all the wildlife that wants to survive by getting a drink of water. They will now get to cross all that Johnson County traffic. The only thing we need is a bridge across the Kaw on Noria Road. It makes sense. Topeka (yikes, for once they outsmart us) built a new bridge east of town with little harm to the environment. It connects Highways 40,335,70,470,4 and 24. That is effecient. Besides we have only one bridge to cross the Kaw. If you think this is nothing but a developers wet dream then you are not seeing the big picture.
Thank you Merrill and all the others that have given the johnson county people alternative routes to take. Now go be adventuresome and use them.
13 December 2005
at 2:07 p.m.

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blue73harley (Anonymous) says…

I've followed Merrill's advice. It adds about six miles round-trip to my commute…so no thanks. It definitely is not practical when it snows because these rural highways do not get cleared like K10 and 59 do.

And the problem is not “johnson county people”. It is Lawrencians like me who need to get to our jobs. It is truck traffic that is trying to get across town. This includes Lawrence area constuction vehicles, farm vehicles, semi-traffic going to Ottawa, etc. The amount of west-bound trucks using K10 to 31st Street is increasing. I see it every stinkin' day.

And with the all the developement along east 23rd/K10, we will soon have the same traffic mess that exists along the business section of 23rd. We need the SLT.

13 December 2005
at 3:02 p.m.

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merrill (Anonymous) says…

It may add six miles however it likely does not take as long.

Where ever a bypass might be constructed all of the Lawrence real estate companies will begin building more housing which will add hundreds to thousands of cars…we will be back to square one. They have their claims staked out as of now.

Taking a bypass to interchange 1057 is a long term practical approach. Louie McElheney,Jere's father and former county commissioner, is talking about a second bypass in addition to the wetlands route south of the river.
We need only one if any and that should be south of the river or use I-70 connectors off K-10 east of Eudora at the 1057 interchange.
13 December 2005
at 3:40 p.m.

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blue73harley (Anonymous) says…

Merrill, The time is about the same, on the average, so I choose to drive into and out of Lawrence to save a little wear-and-tear on the vehicle. If I am coming into town later than usual (around 5pm) it is quicker to go the long way around. In order to avoid traffic in the morning, I leave my house at 5:30am which allows me to leave my job a little earlier in the evening…but it also makes me grumpier about not having an SLT. And as I have replied to your posts before, connecting east K10 with I-70 offers no traffic relief to us that have to go South and West.