State Avenue BRT

[KCMax]

Wyandotte County putting stimulus money toward a rapid transit bus line on State Avenue

Wyandotte County is taking a big step toward starting a high-tech, express bus service between downtown Kansas City and the Village West entertainment complex.

The county has about $12 million in federal stimulus money to put toward a State Avenue line that would be 30 percent faster than existing bus service.

The goal is to take riders from downtown to Village West in 42 minutes. Now it takes 58 minutes.

[DaveKCMO]

still no operational funding. based on reardon's comments, not 100% sure they will pay for it out of the general fund while they wait for regional funding to come along. regardless, this is a much-needed project (even though it duplicates one leg of mike sanders' commuter rail plan).

[enough]

you can't "duplicate" something (i.e., wyco rail line a la sanders) that has no chance of being implemented.  state avenue brt "duplicates" the existing state avenue bus route with some relatively minor routing changes.

[dangerboy]

Cooper should have asked him why transit wasn't included in the sales tax that voters just approved.

[justin8216]

still no operational funding. based on reardon's comments, not 100% sure they will pay for it out of the general fund while they wait for regional funding to come along. regardless, this is a much-needed project (even though it duplicates one leg of mike sanders' commuter rail plan).

I wouldn't worry about the "operational funding". I'm sure they will find it. This is scheduled to begin service in 2012, the same year the casino opens. The casino means $8 million dollars of new revenue (3 percent mandated by the state legislation and additional 1% negotiated by the UG with the developer) will begin flowing into the Unified Government not to mention the property taxes on the 600K square foot Cerner Campus and the casino. The sales tax is just to buy the  UG time until the other anticipated revenues come online.

[enough]

state avenue is getting new curb and median between 47th and 69th.  that'll be a nice complement to the new transit centers at 7th and 47th, and the other brt related improvements to be made with the $10 million tiger grant.

[DaveKCMO]

the proposed wyco budget cuts don't bode well for expanded bus service in any corridor at this point, let alone a boost to MAX standards.

[DaveKCMO]

State Avenue Connex Making Progress

The State Avenue Connex bus route is moving ahead with citizens providing comments on everything from station design and transit centers to the logo.

In June, about 60 people took part in an open house. The next public meeting focusing on 47th & State Avenue will be held late this summer.

The Kansas City Area Transit Authority and Unified Government secured federal funding to improve the Minnesota/State Avenue transit corridor. Improving State Avenue transit by upgrading it to a Metro Connex route supports the regional vision for enhanced and expanded regional transit, as described by Smart Moves, the metropolitan transportation plan.

State Avenue Connex will include new transit centers at 7th & Minnesota and at 47th & State. Both transit centers will be custom-built with improved passenger waiting areas and amenities such as real-time passenger information.

The enhanced transit project is 25% through the Preliminary Design Phase, with construction slated to begin in the spring of 2012. State Avenue Connex will be complete in 2013.

Other State Avenue corridor Connex stop improvements include bus passenger shelters and benches; bus stop platforms; landscaping and environmentally friendly features; and improved pedestrian connections.

[chingon]

"State Avenue Connex"????

Jesus, Mary & Joseph.

[grovester]

sounds like a wyandotte county swingers club

[GRID]

so it's not a max line anymore?  don't tell me it's a downgrade from max.  yikes if so.

[DaveKCMO]

so it's not a max line anymore?  don't tell me it's a downgrade from max.  yikes if so.

it is a downgrade. i think because it will not meet the headways (10min peak) or hours of operation (~20x7) of the two existing MAX lines. wyco needs dedicated funding for transit.

[DaveKCMO]

State Ave. Connex Open House-AUG 10

Attend the second open house for the State Avenue Connex Transit Improvement Project and learn about the exciting transit improvements being made.

Where: Unified Government Neighborhood Resource Center (4601 State Avenue, Suite 84) in Kansas City, KS. The center is located in the lower level of Indian Springs Mall. Access is available from the southeast entrance.  (Route information to the open house)

When: 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10, 2011

[DaveKCMO]

pix from today's open house:

[DaveKCMO]

next public meeting is oct. 20:

http://www.kcata.org/news/final_open_ho ... rovements/

The meeting will allow area residents, businesses and commuters to review project exhibits and provide comment. KCATA and UGT staff, along with the consultant design team, will be on hand to answer questions and discuss details. Displays will provide information about the overall design of the corridor plus specific plans for two new MetroCenters: Midtown KCK (47th and State Ave.) and Downtown KCK (7th and Minnesota Ave.). Both transit centers will be custom-built with improved passenger waiting areas and amenities, such as kiosks that provide real-time passenger information. Other State Avenue | KCK Connex stop improvements include bus passenger shelters and benches, bus stop platforms, landscaping, environmentally friendly features and improved pedestrian connections.

[kboish]

Here is an update of what i've seen on this.

They have been working on creating the mini-transit center at 7th and Minnesota for some time now. Minnesota has been closed from 7th to 8th street for over a month. Looks like they have been putting in new utilities and sewers in addition to the transit center.

The padding and benches for Max stops have been installed along State (the bus comes in along minnesota from the viaduct then does one zag over to state) to at least 47th street...and major rebuilding of curbs and stops was going on from 47th street out to the speedway/soccer stadium, but haven't been out there in awhile to see how far it is going. It looks like they still need to install the covered waiting areas as well as the electronic kiosks.

Edit: and the 47th street terminal (indian springs) has had lots of construction going on for the last several weeks as well. Can't tell how much they've got done yet though or what it will look like.

[DaveKCMO]

UG really needs a dedicated transit tax soon to take full advantage of this federal investment, relieve overcrowding, and expand coverage.

[justin8216]

[DaveKCMO]

state avenue connex service started sept. 29: http://www.kcata.org/rider_bulletins/kc ... e_changes/

[swid]

For purely selfish reasons (that go into effect a month from now), I wish this route was faster and more frequent between downtown and the Legends.

Oh well...I still plan on trying it out.