KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Transportation topics in KC
User avatar
ShowMeKC
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2260
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 12:57 pm

KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by ShowMeKC »

I was looking at aerials and pictures from cities around the world, and had an idea. However I doubt it'd be popular with many people.

Looking at Paris, and the Boulevards there, why couldn't KC mirror those in our own way?

One idea I came up with... Reducing Main St. (from 31st to the River) to just 2 lanes. In some areas, it is 4 lanes, and in others up to 5 or 6 lanes.

Image

That is a picture in the Crossroads of Main St. and the idea I came up with of revamping it, by taking away 3 lanes, extending the sidewalks and adding a landscaped median (which could be turned to use for transit). In places where the median would not be used by transit, it could give way near intersections for a short left turn lane.

This would also widen sidewalks more than enough for parallel or diagonal parking in cut away sections of the sidewalk. While the parking lots would still be ugly and poor for the neighborhoods, this could also give the area opportunity to develop more and adding the landscaping would help lessen the aesthetic blow the lots cause.

If you have any ideas for Kansas City's Downtown roads, parkways, boulevards, parks, etc... Feel free to post them. Just sharing here.
trailerkid
City Center Square
City Center Square
Posts: 11284
Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2002 4:49 pm

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by trailerkid »

This would be a very good idea for Grand from the River Market to Crown Center.
cdm2p
Western Auto Lofts
Western Auto Lofts
Posts: 664
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:14 pm

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by cdm2p »

There is a streetscape plan for Main Street.
User avatar
ShowMeKC
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2260
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 12:57 pm

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by ShowMeKC »

I know there is, as is many places in Downtown, however I'm suggesting turning some streets away from being dominated by cars.
LenexatoKCMO
City Center Square
City Center Square
Posts: 14667
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Valentine

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by LenexatoKCMO »

I don't know if I would go down to two lanes - but I have often had similar thoughts in terms of going down to four and expanding the medians/sidewalks.  Clearly 7-8 lanes is just not necesary for much of anything other than SW Trfwy. 
User avatar
ShowMeKC
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2260
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 12:57 pm

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by ShowMeKC »

I think some streets ought to be lowered to 2 lanes, but definitely not all of the streets, maybe most of the streets ought to be reduced to 4 lanes.

Something else that I've bene thinking about. Our parks and our city ought to take a lesson from one thing that is good about many suburban developments. That is landscaping.

The one good, and only aesthetic thing about these developments and neighborhoods is the landscaping that is involved. Why not use landscape architects to not only reform our streets, but also our parks and other natural areas Downtown?

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
moderne
Oak Tower
Oak Tower
Posts: 5493
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:50 pm
Location: Mount Hope

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by moderne »

If you want to mirror the Parisian boulevards you would be adding lanes and thousands of automobiles.  Those boulevards function in that city as out freeways do here.
cdm2p
Western Auto Lofts
Western Auto Lofts
Posts: 664
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:14 pm

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by cdm2p »

ShowMeKC wrote: I know there is, as is many places in Downtown, however I'm suggesting turning some streets away from being dominated by cars.
Main is 4 lanes within the loop to 20th Street.  2 of those lanes are dedicated to BRT.  In effect, Main is now 2 lanes.

I don't disagree with the desire to eliminate the excessive number of lanes.  South of 20th, Main is six lanes, with most lanes about 12 to 14' wide.  I could see going to 11' lanes and reducing the number of lanes to 5 (2 each way and center turn lane).  You would gain 17' that you could then distribute evenly on either side of the street for wider sidewalks and trees.  Or you could stripe 2 5' bike lanes and add 3.5' feet to the sidewalk on either side.

The possibilities are endless.
LenexatoKCMO
City Center Square
City Center Square
Posts: 14667
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Valentine

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by LenexatoKCMO »

cdm2p wrote: 2 of those lanes are dedicated to BRT.  In
Yeah right. 
User avatar
ShowMeKC
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2260
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 12:57 pm

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by ShowMeKC »

I'm not saying mirror the Parisian boulevards in function, but rather somewhat in apperance.

One of th emost important things IMO in streetscapes are trees. Sidewalks should IMO be wide enough to accomodate trees. This also provides the width to help make it comfortable for pedestrians.

Trees, in addition to bushes, bollards, on-street parking etc... all can help buffer the street from the sidewalk. Many people I know feel uncomfortable being so close to traffic, especially on sidewalks. It would also be helpful to maybe reduce the speed on some of these streets, especially with eliminating some lanes.
Last edited by ShowMeKC on Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
moderne
Oak Tower
Oak Tower
Posts: 5493
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:50 pm
Location: Mount Hope

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by moderne »

If you look at some of the early 1900s photos of KC boulevards (e.g., Armour)you will see that in may places there were double rows of trees in true Parisian fashion.
User avatar
chaglang
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 4132
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:44 pm

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by chaglang »

ICYMI, Parks and Rec are finally, at long last, working on binding design standards for buildings adjacent to parks and boulevards. Why no one has bothered to protect the city's greatest assets until now, I don't know. But here we are. The first of three public meetings was held last night at Maincor.

Perhaps we can avoid things like this:
http://bit.ly/1uAAyOJ
and this:
http://bit.ly/15ImcFO

It's being approached through a modification to the allowable land uses, and a set of design standards. The new prohibited land uses include pawn shops, payday loans, salvage yards, nonaccessory parking, adult businesses, and day labor places. The full list is almost identical to the uses prohibited under the Troost overlay. At the meeting last night, there were some comments that prohibiting day labor places is discriminatory. It would be a shame if Parks caved on this.

There are also a set of proposed design standards that's too long to list here. They're looking at Site Organization and Setbacks, Parking and Vehicular Uses, Landscaping and Fencing, and Architectural Design. Notably, there isn't any mention Complete Streets.

There are two more public meetings, tonight at 4420 NE Chouteau Trafficway, and February 3 at 9701 Marion Park Drive. Both are at 6pm.

Online: http://preservingcharacter.digicate.com/
User avatar
FangKC
City Hall
City Hall
Posts: 18141
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:02 pm
Location: Old Northeast -- Indian Mound

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by FangKC »

pash
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 3800
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2011 2:47 am

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by pash »

.
Last edited by pash on Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
flyingember
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 9862
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:54 am

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by flyingember »

I am ok with the setback if the setback becomes super nice landscaped areas open to the public. then let the home develop right up to that line

you then take that model and have the street width that fits the needs with cars, bikes, bus and train all mixed in as appropriate.

our boulevards were designed to be leafy green linear parks so let's work within that model again

St. Charles in NOLA isn't this idea exactly but it shows a great mixed use parkway with a strong pedestrian component can work for traffic
pash
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 3800
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2011 2:47 am

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by pash »

.
Last edited by pash on Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
flyingember
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 9862
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:54 am

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by flyingember »

pash wrote:Let me remind you that streets like Broadway through downtown are boulevards.
in name only.
User avatar
chaglang
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 4132
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:44 pm

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by chaglang »

pash wrote:I haven't seen any details, but I have a feeling this project could be a disaster of unintended consequences. The truth is that most our boulevards are built to a mid-century aesthetic, set back behind lawns, etc. That may be just fine for the boulevards that meander through leafy green parks. But we also have several boulevards that are (or should be) active city streets.

Imposing the same design standards on very different sorts of streets is completely inappropriate. Someone please tell me that's not going to happen.
IIRC they have the ability to create subregions that could account for that. Make sure to submit that as a comment.
pash
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 3800
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2011 2:47 am

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by pash »

.
Last edited by pash on Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
pash
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 3800
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2011 2:47 am

Re: KC Boulevards and Parks: Revamp Idea

Post by pash »

.
Last edited by pash on Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Post Reply