South Lawrence Trafficway
- SLT gets push (09-11-07)
- Sound Off: Has the Federal Highway Administration ever made a decision about whether to allow the South Lawrence Trafficway to be built through the Baker Wetlands? (08-30-07)
- Guidelines may mean more frontage roads (06-12-07)
- Survey: Lawrence residents displeased with transportation (05-05-07)
The Federal Highway Administration has neither endorsed nor is it leaning toward a specific route for the last leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway, a Topeka administrator said.
Last week, following a 2-1 vote, the Douglas County Commission granted a request from FHWA to become a signatory to a four-year-old SLT agreement. That agreement supports mitigation measures for the SLT's completion if it were built through the Baker Wetlands on a 32nd Street route.
At least one commissioner and others attending the meeting said it appeared FHWA was at least leaning toward the 32nd Street route.
"That's not the case," said Wendell Meyer, assistant division administrator for FHWA in Topeka.
The FHWA is still waiting on a study that will determine whether the 32nd Street route "has no feasible and prudent alternative," Meyer said. Alternatives to 32nd Street are an alignment south of the Wakarusa River along 42nd Street or not to build, Meyer said.
The 32nd Street route already has been endorsed by the Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas Department of Transportation, the Douglas County Commission, Kansas State Historical Preservation and Baker University.
By gaining approval to be a signatory on the mitigation agreement, FHWA will be positioned to go forward in releasing federal funds for the highway project. At least three months will have been saved in the processing of the agreement, Meyer said.
If 42nd Street is determined to be a feasible alternative, then the signatory becomes moot, Meyer said.
"The state and local agencies could still build on the 32nd Street option, they just wouldn't be able to use federal funds," Meyer said.
The mitigation agreement was approved in 2003. In 2005, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., secured $1.5 million in federal funds for the SLT project in a transportation bill approved by Congress. For federal funds to be used, FHWA must become a signatory on that agreement.
FHWA initially thought the federal study would be completed at the end of August. It is now being reviewed by attorneys, Meyer said.
"I really hope we can get it out by the end of the month, but I can't guarantee it," he said.
Comments
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Oracle_of_Rhode (anonymous) says…
The idiotic plan to build this monstrosity through wetlands is a crime against nature, culture and common sense. Period.
Baille (anonymous) says…
42nd street bypass. No change in zoning at any intersections with existing roads.
merrill (anonymous) says…
It was a wrong idea not only because of ecological and native american concerns but also on matters of long term growth. There are several alternatives available perhaps one or two would not need expensive bridges and/or new interchanges. One could be improving local county roads which taxpayers will be asked to fund no matter what and one that could divert traffic to an existing K10 interchange.
People are getting where they need to be as it is so why waste tax dollars on a project that is not necessary? We've managed without it for twenty or more years. We do not have to agree that more is needed every time they or our real estate/development industry make the claim.
In a way it proves the need for NO more roads. Sometimes it is known as the "we are not keeping up" argument. Instead note that perhaps we are "keeping up" EXCEPT when maintenance of existing eastern Lawrence roads is put on the table. It does not seem to me the state or city of Lawrence can afford to take on more roads.
We certainly don't need generations long "leases" and eminent domain acquisitions of homes, businesses and farm's for more roads and highways!
The bottom line, thinking of more roads as an economic development tool is erred reasoning.
Thinking of them as an additional cost of living increase is certainly more logical. If a bypass is built no more state tax dollars to maintain 23rd.....that only adds more to the absolute cost of living in Lawrence,Kansas. Yes our local tax dollar needs will increase.
redwingsfan1982 (anonymous) says…
It would be a waste of money to build the SLT. Its will only solve the traffic problems for a short time then traffic will be right back like it is. This has been proven by a study that was done. If people that lived in Johnson County and KC would just take the K-10 connector bus that would solve some traffic problems. Another solution is to make Clinton Parkway/23rd street a 3 lane road each way.
Jean1183 (anonymous) says…
Use 32nd and build it!
orchid (anonymous) says…
Don't Destroy The Wetlands. Are there no protections given to sites that have been designated as a National Natural Landmark?
http://www.sacredland.org/endangered_...
PeteJayhawk (anonymous) says…
Pave the swamp. Progress is on the march (along with freedom)!
Crossfire (anonymous) says…
Build them both.
32nd Street (west bound)
47th Street (east bound)
No speed limit.
Just the first phase in the SLT Autobahn.
Pave the earth.
One world ~ One road.
Crossfire (anonymous) says…
btw
In 1967 all of this was farm land only been wet for about 30 years.
Might be a nice place for hovercraft racing. (Big as NASCAR in KCK?)
dorothyhr (Dorothy Hoyt-Reed) says…
Crossfire - I realize you are arrogant enough to think the world didn't exist before you came along, but if you had paid attention in school instead of telling your teachers you already knew everything, you would have learned about a subject called "history". You would have found out that the world existed before you were born. I know it's shocking, but you can deal with it.
***Now listen carefully. The wetlands were once farmland, because farmers and the children forced to go to school at Haskell many years ago, a long,long time before 1967 in a century (100 years) called the nineteenth century (this is the 21st, and 1967 was in the 20th) drained the orignal wetlands to use as farmland, because it provided rich soil for crops. After 1967, the land was allowed to go back to what it was originally. You would be totally amazed about the things that took place before you were born. Do you know there was once no country called Iraq. It was created be the League of Nations. Get off the forum and buy some books.
monkeywrench1969 (anonymous) says…
Doro those are man made wetlands to "restore it to what it was." As far back as 1988 when I jogged 31st street and biked the loop around what is now the wetlands it was dry and and appeared to be "field like."
Any one can go backin time far enough to justify something. Since you brought up the middle east Why not go back 2000 years to when the now called Israel was ruled by the jews, were the majority and controled it for 1000 years until the forced expulsions by everyone and their grandmother over the last 1000 years. The Name was changed to Palestine aftert he forced explusions.
I am sure if the history for the Wetlands was not somewhat favorable to this fight to save it you would be complaining history is conformed to the victor.
dorothyhr (Dorothy Hoyt-Reed) says…
Regardless, there is no reason not to build this road south of the river, except there are a few influential people with McMansions on the other side who don't want the road too close to them. For people who want growth, south of the river would be logically, because it would allow more growth south of the river. Why are all the pro-growth people so against it? The eastern half could be rebuilt south of the river too, and the present leg could be turned into a 45mile/hour road, so the athletic field participants will be safer. Those who own land around the wetlands, and are waiting to develop, can take the loss on their taxes, then buy land south of the river to develop. They won't be out much money, and they already have more money than they need anyway.
Why ruin a beautiful place full of wonderful birds and other animals for a route that isn't logical?
kawryan (anonymous) says…
I second what Oracle_of_Rhode says.
Horace (anonymous) says…
We're going to put the highway way out in the middle of nowhere to appease a bunch of tree huggers and indians?
Yikes.
Crossfire (anonymous) says…
The hook is irony.
The bait is sarcasm.
The fish is Dorothy.
situveux1 (anonymous) says…
Beautiful place??? Dot, what are you smoking???
Build the SLT, expand K-10 to 6 lanes from Lawrence to KC, expand 23rd to 6 lanes, expand 19th to 4 lanes. It all needs to be done. Lawrence treehuggers must not get out much or else they'd know that KC has BETTER traffic than Lawrence.
The K-10 Connector is a good idea but will never fly when you have to drive to the bus stop to catch it. The problem with public transportation in Lawrence (& elsewhere for that matter) is that you can only go certain places in town. Anywhere else, tough luck. Who's going to use a service half the time when they can and then still have to own and maintain an automobile for the rest of the time when public transit doesn't work?
Do public transit...fine...I'll support it...but do it right.
Crossfire (anonymous) says…
This is America. We are Americans.
We have a history of displacing indigenous persons and developing wetlands.
Washington DC for one.
Was it a wetland or a swamp?
KsTwister (anonymous) says…
The only reason they want it through the wetlands is so they develop all the real estate close to it. Close to other retail establishments which is a STUPID reason(except for the ones who will profit-i.e. developers) to hold up this bypass. Build it. Three miles further South if you have too. Just build it.
KsTwister (anonymous) says…
For the wear and tear on our city streets and truck congestion is enough reason even though personally I will rarely have to use it.
tuschkahouma (anonymous) says…
As usual, more uneducated voices proclaiming no knowledge of U.S. environmental law,
Indian Law, or the federal court system. If the courts do what they did in 1997 again,
the uneducated will proclaim activist judges were involved. This cop-out explanation
comes from average joes, the politicians they vote for, and the television personalities
they watch. It's a shame that none of them do any research and yet they complain like
they know something. Where's Peter Griffin's opinion in this discussion. Oops, I think
I've heard it a couple of times already
cowboy (anonymous) says…
If these faux wetlands were not continually redammed as was done just a couple months ago , they would be drylands within a couple years. So give up the natural wetlands argument , that has not been the case since Clinton Reservoir was built .
dorothyhr (Dorothy Hoyt-Reed) says…
Even KDot admits that the 23rd street traffic won't change. If you still drive the full length of 23rd street you must be new to town or tunnelvisioned. I can get almost anywhere without going the full length. You're probably one of those people who insist on turning left on 23rd when you could turn right and slip around the block. Or the nutcases who try to turn left in Dillons parking lot! There's a side street that will take you to a light that will allow you to turn left in half the time. It's so funny that the progrowth people are against building this road across the river, where there is plenty of land waiting to be developed? Can someone tell me why? Oh by the way, you'll widen 23rd over my dead body. You would be coming into my back yard, literally. If you can't deal with living in a city with traffic, move to western Kansas. People who move to a city, then complain about traffic, are just wierd. Oh, but then, you will tell me that Lawrence is a podunk town, not a city. And then I'll be laughed at on other issues for wanting to keep Lawrence homey, and not turned into a cold impersonal city, and you'll tell me that Lawrence isn't a small town anymore and get over it. Is this hypocritical or just dumb.
You can't have it both ways. If you're for growth, why wouldn't you want the city to jump the Wakarusa? It just makes sense, or maybe that's the problem.
Oh by the way, how many people spend big money creating a water garden in their backyards, but then they want to destroy the cities water garden. If you don't think the wetlands aren't beautiful, either you have never been there (especially when the lillies bloom) or you find parking lots attractive and have lousy taste.
tuschkahouma (anonymous) says…
If the area in question wasn't wetlands, why don't all of these knowledgeable non-native
experts? ask the descedants of the Haskell students who drained the area in question
in 1905 at the behest of WHITE Bureau of Indian Affairs officials for farming if the area in
questions wasn't wetlands then? Leave it to a Euro-American to destroy something natural
in the name of teaching a skill that indigenous people had for thousands of years before
Massasoit and Metacomet, Wampanoag leaders, taught a bunch of hapless Europeans
off the boat how to fertilize the ground with dead fish and grow maize. These tribal peoples
already knew how to grow crops and thrive on this continent. Cultural arrogance by Americans almost destroyed this skill. And yet knowledgeless people argue now.
none2 (anonymous) says…
Anonymous user
situveux1 (Anonymous) says:
"Beautiful place??? Dot, what are you smoking???
Build the SLT, expand K-10 to 6 lanes from Lawrence to KC, expand 23rd to 6 lanes, expand 19th to 4 lanes. It all needs to be done. Lawrence treehuggers must not get out much or else they'd know that KC has BETTER traffic than Lawrence.
The K-10 Connector is a good idea but will never fly when you have to drive to the bus stop to catch it. The problem with public transportation in Lawrence..."
==================
I don't think the problem is so much on the Lawrence side. I'm not a fan of the emp-T, but I would think for the most part during the hours that it runs one could probably get to where the K-10 connector takes off by riding the emp-T. After all, you see these emp-T buses all over town. However, you are correct on the other end -- the KC Metro area. I seriously thought about taking the K-10 connector. However, I'd either have to walk or bike a few miles or have umpteen bus changes on that end to get to where I need to go because the "JO" (as they call their public bus system) routes are horrible. Once the JO gets their act together, then I might seriously take the emp-T to K-10 connector.
thebigspoon (anonymous) says…
Dorothyr, you have jsust stepped directly into one of the strongest arguments for the 32nd st. alignment:
The land was originally wet (ie, unusable) but was drained for a specific group's use, then returned to its original condition. What is the difference between using the land for a small group's edification and using it for a larger group's needs? What the heck is wrong with using the land for a purpose that would suit a large part of the driving population and giving the smaller group an even larger area upon which nothing happens, as well as a research station, as has been proposed already?
There is no reason the road should not be built other than reactionism. If reason were applied then the road would have been finished by now.
toefungus (anonymous) says…
Git-R-Done
none2 (anonymous) says…
I tend to be anti-32nd street because I tend to prefer to use what one already have: 31st & the country roads that already run south by the Wakarusa. It makes sense to me to just widen 31st for the first round, and then the other existing roads if 31st widening doesn't fix the problem. Right now, I don't find any traffic as bad as some in Johnson county, so it amuses me that people complain about traveling 31st street as being so horrible...
Nevertheless, there IS one thing that I recently found out about that does concern me about having wetlands so close to town. A friend of mine pointed out that malaria used to be an issue in many parts of the US. (I've always thought it was just something that affected areas of Africa, tropical Asia, and Central America. I had forgotten that it also affected non-tropical countries. For instance, Italy where the disease got its name "mal aria" -- bad air.) My friend knew about malaria in the US not from being a scientist, historian, or doctor; but rather because he collects coins. As he explained, the Philadelphia mint would close down in the warm, wet months of summer to protect its employees from the outbreak of misquotes and the risk for malaria. Philadelphia fixed the problem by the filling of its swamps/wetlands.
If we are ever at risk for Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever (or for that matter West Nile) due to the presence of these wetlands so close to town, then perhaps we should consider draining the wetlands. Though I love the environment, I despise, pests such as the mosquito. They not only are bad for humans, they also carry diseases like heartworm (affects dogs) and of course West Nile which kills birds and other animals.
The only good use I have seen for them is that when I see them hatch in some water I have, I take the disgusting little swimmers and feed them to the fish we have in the aquarium. If we are to keep the wetlands, we need to make sure there are plenty of predators there to eat mosquitoes in both the larvae (aquatic) and adult stages.
thebcman (anonymous) says…
just pave the mosquito-infested man-made-swamp and get it the hell over with already !!!!!
somebodynew (anonymous) says…
I have refused to blog about this issue for a long time - and I am sure a lot of people will think I should have stayed with that stance when I am done today.
I am a VERY firm believer that this should have been done years ago, the way it was planned. We should not have let this thing drag on for 20+ years.
But we have, so let us look at some facts. When this thing was planned it was a good plan for the time. It is now 20+ years later. Why can't people see that things have changed in Lawrence???? While I do not buy into any of the arguments that seem so rampant about the swamp, I am trying to look just from a changing perspective.
Not trying to compare or confuse the issue, but would we have wanted to go to war in Iraq with the weapons and tatics of WWII ??? (well, OK Bush might have) The city has changed, traffic patterns have changed, and development has occurred (a lot of it).
Why does everyone think the BEST plan is to stick to a 20+ year old plan ????? Can't we update just because the situation is not the same as when this was planned?? Can no one see this ??? I have always been a supporter of this and truly wish it had been built WHEN it was planned, but it wasn't - can anyone spell adapt ????
doc1 (anonymous) says…
Pave the swamp. Progress is on the march (along with freedom)!
erod0723 (anonymous) says…
doc1,
What would we pave with? Cement or asphalt? Asphalt requires less labor but uses more petroleum, and cement is less taxing on natural resources (unless we run out of rocks!) but requires more manual labor. I think that decision alone will take 5 or 10 years, so we better get a commision formed to study both! ;)
matahari (anonymous) says…
what? and be the very first city ever to re route traffic not thru the main business district? and these people are the same ones complaining that downtown lawrence is a dead place...
I have no trouble with the traffic on 31st or the dead animals that lie there OR the ducks I see swimming about...what I do have trouble swallowing is the 'preserve history' folk that refuse to see the big picture~You can't have your cake (or pie) and it it too, and it's sure making you all a bit testy~
storm (anonymous) says…
23rd Street should be the route for the South Lawrence Trafficway. It's the most logical connection to K-10. Make it like Kellogg in Wichita - buy the curb cuts, relocate the businesses. Say yes to 23rd Street.
compmd (anonymous) says…
blah blah K-10 blah blah numbered streets blah blah wetlands blah blah traffic blah blah finish it blah blah commuters blah blah topeka blah blah johnson county blah blah city commission blah blah federal funding blah blah blame boog blah blah blah...
I just looked at my "Nuke The Whales" sticker and smiled.
lounger (anonymous) says…
Think of the animals. Dont be so out of touch. GRow up and leave the wetlands alone.
Shalom