Capping the Loop

[TheUrbanRoo]

KC Biz Journal is making the $31 mil sound as if it was more than expected from MoDot.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... i-670.html

[dukuboy1]

The article seemed to present MODOT as excited to be able to make road improvements but also seemed to take pride in the uniqueness in the overall project. Kind of viewing it as a feather in the cap so to speak. At any rate they appear to be all in

[moderne]

Renderings should now include 4 Light since the design has been revealed. Would look even more exiting.

[moderne]

This would be a great place to resurrect the fabled Christmas crowns that adorned DT of old. We have fantastic displays all over town, but nothing of note in the historic DT loop that was once THE place to be in the holiday season.

[DColeKC]

This would be a great place to resurrect the fabled Christmas crowns that adorned DT of old. We have fantastic displays all over town, but nothing of note in the historic DT loop that was once THE place to be in the holiday season.

Great idea. Matter of fact, this park should be completely decked out for the holidays.

[TheUrbanRoo]

Platt also addressed Kansas City’s “visionary project” of creating a park over Interstate 670—the South Loop park, which he projects to break ground perhaps in March. He also expects that at least two of the four sections of the project will be completed for use by the World Cup, but likely not the full park.

https://www.metrowiremedia.com/news/str ... ty-manager

[DaveKCMO]

Still no environmental clearance... which would have to respond to the official submission from streetcar on how the proposed street closures (do they even know that for sure?) would affect operations.

I will never not post this until that step is complete, regardless of rosier comments ignoring it.

[DMNBT_RCJH]

Still no environmental clearance... which would have to respond to the official submission from streetcar on how the proposed street closures (do they even know that for sure?) would affect operations.

I will never not post this until that step is complete, regardless of rosier comments ignoring it.

What is the streetcars argument regarding NEPA here? The street car might get slower which then might cause more people to drive which then might increase emissions?

Respectfully, NEPA is used as a sword far too often, when I’m not sure that was its intent.

[DaveKCMO]

The argument is to not spend federal money to dilute another federal investment.

[Cratedigger]

The argument is to not spend federal money to dilute another federal investment.

.

[DColeKC]

It would be kind of odd for NEPA to hold up this project.

Let's see;

Negatives:
Could possibly, maybe slow down the Street Car.

Positives:
Noise Pollution Reduction
Improved Air Quality
Stormwater Management
Urban Heat Island Effect Mitigation
Habitat Creation
Community Connectivity
Climate Change Mitigation
Enhanced Aesthetic and Recreational Value
Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals
Positive Economic and Health Impacts

[langosta]

It would be kind of odd for NEPA to hold up this project.

Let's see;

Negatives:
Could possibly, maybe slow down the Street Car.

Positives:
Noise Pollution Reduction
Improved Air Quality
Stormwater Management
Urban Heat Island Effect Mitigation
Habitat Creation
Community Connectivity
Climate Change Mitigation
Enhanced Aesthetic and Recreational Value
Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals
Positive Economic and Health Impacts

Crazier things have held up easier projects

[Anthony_Hugo98]

Negatives:
Could possibly, maybe slow down the Street Car

Let’s not be too disingenuous here now.

Closures of other N-S routes, and frequent closures of Grand would very clearly funnel any North Bound traffic to turn right on Main from Truman, and force most South Bound traffic onto Main as well.

As you’ve already previously stated, the attempt at opening Grand more frequently as of recent didn’t go well, so the likelihood of that occurring going forward is now lower. Couple this with the fact that Truman on the North edge would encounter Main as really the only route North or South and you absolutely have a recipe for degrading overall service patterns and functionality of the Streetcar system.

I mean, there’s already pretty bad service on busy nights when people are trying to get into the Valet on 14th that have dead stopped the streetcar more than once. Now let’s imagine that routing, but basically all the time, and that’s what it would do to the system.

[GRID]

Just make Main Street transit only except turns and move on (allow traffic on Main, but not "through" traffic). Regardless of what people say, there is plenty of capacity in the rest of downtown even if you close streets. Is there ever a time when downtown streets are not totally empty outside the very few blocks that everybody goes to?

Force people to go a block or two out of their way, they will probably find out it's actually quicker and easier.

[DColeKC]

Negatives:
Could possibly, maybe slow down the Street Car

Let’s not be too disingenuous here now.

Closures of other N-S routes, and frequent closures of Grand would very clearly funnel any North Bound traffic to turn right on Main from Truman, and force most South Bound traffic onto Main as well.

As you’ve already previously stated, the attempt at opening Grand more frequently as of recent didn’t go well, so the likelihood of that occurring going forward is now lower. Couple this with the fact that Truman on the North edge would encounter Main as really the only route North or South and you absolutely have a recipe for degrading overall service patterns and functionality of the Streetcar system.

I mean, there’s already pretty bad service on busy nights when people are trying to get into the Valet on 14th that have dead stopped the streetcar more than once. Now let’s imagine that routing, but basically all the time, and that’s what it would do to the system.

There was some slight sarcasm there. I absolutely don’t want anything done to purposely have a negative impact on such a vital asset like the street car. All of us that work or live downtown have had to deal with the pain of the construction process and see its benefits.

I just feel it’s being made a bigger deal than it is and it’s clear to me that the project leaders will clearly take this all into consideration and do what’s right to not hurt the streetcar.

[Anthony_Hugo98]

Negatives:
Could possibly, maybe slow down the Street Car

Let’s not be too disingenuous here now.

Closures of other N-S routes, and frequent closures of Grand would very clearly funnel any North Bound traffic to turn right on Main from Truman, and force most South Bound traffic onto Main as well.

As you’ve already previously stated, the attempt at opening Grand more frequently as of recent didn’t go well, so the likelihood of that occurring going forward is now lower. Couple this with the fact that Truman on the North edge would encounter Main as really the only route North or South and you absolutely have a recipe for degrading overall service patterns and functionality of the Streetcar system.

I mean, there’s already pretty bad service on busy nights when people are trying to get into the Valet on 14th that have dead stopped the streetcar more than once. Now let’s imagine that routing, but basically all the time, and that’s what it would do to the system.

There was some slight sarcasm there. I absolutely don’t want anything done to purposely have a negative impact on such a vital asset like the street car. All of us that work or live downtown have had to deal with the pain of the construction process and see its benefits.

I just feel it’s being made a bigger deal than it is and it’s clear to me that the project leaders will clearly take this all into consideration and do what’s right to not hurt the streetcar.

I hope you’re right, but I’ve encountered similar attitudes of a sort of laissez-faire to this issue, and a reluctance to ever directly address it by project champions or stakeholders.

[KCPowercat]

Just make Main Street transit only except turns and move on (allow traffic on Main, but not "through" traffic). Regardless of what people say, there is plenty of capacity in the rest of downtown even if you close streets. Is there ever a time when downtown streets are not totally empty outside the very few blocks that everybody goes to?

Force people to go a block or two out of their way, they will probably find out it's actually quicker and easier.

This is definitely true with the caveat that KCMO still causes chaos letting streets randomly drop with no big picture plan of overall impacts. it's typically utility work and it's only been getting worse. The city alongside this cap (and Royals stadium!) needs to come up with a downtown traffic management plan and understand impacts of random drops prior to allowing the permit. Right now it is the wild west.

They aren't going to make Main transit only though in no way. Probably the biggest change they may be willing to do with this cap is make both Trumans two way? That could help divert traffic to other streets better.

[DMNBT_RCJH]

The argument is to not spend federal money to dilute another federal investment.

But is that the purpose of NEPA? Again, it’s used as a sword for purposes that are arguably outside of the scope of the act.

Your concerns are valid 100%, but using regulatory machinations to achieve the goal is far too common.

[moderne]

Public meeting and open house 2/13 5:00-7:00 at the Kirk YMCA

[Cratedigger]

Public meeting and open house 2/13 5:00-7:00 at the Kirk YMCA

https://kcsouthloopproject.org/ea/

Environmental assessment for the cap. Don’t know if a Q1 groundbreaking is still in the cards… but great to see this continues to progress.

While the alternative that kept all four streets open to traffic was not selected, I don’t know if that’s necessarily a bad thing. There are other things that can be done to make sure there aren’t detrimental impacts to the streetcar while still making sure that we truly activate the park.