KCRag Forum

Of all the responses, the comment type that stood out the most is the fear of change, particularly the fear of changing the character of Columbus Park and River Market. There is concern over attracting high-rise development and luxury apartments and loss of history, culture, and community amenities such as the River Market Dog Park. Lowering Route 9 to grade would mean that the highway would be at the same level as front and back yards,
which was a repeated concern from people who do not mind the grade separation. Some respondents even noted that they liked having Route 9 at a higher level because it separates the more intense traffic from the community. There is fear that Route 9 at-grade would look too much like Southwest Trafficway or The Paseo, which are not seen as pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly streets. Several people also expressed concerns for traffic increases throughout the area.

• PEDESTRIAN ENHANCEMENTS $800,000 TO $900,000

• RESTORE INDEPENDENCE AVENUE $6.2 TO $6.8 MILLION

• EAST ALIGNMENT
  $13.4 TO $14.8 MILLION.
  $19.6 to $21.6 million total in conjunction with Restore Independence Avenue

• BOULEVARD ALIGNMENT
  $11.5 TO $16.6 MILLION
  $17.7 to $19.4 million total in conjunction with Restore Independence Avenue

alejandro46 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 1:59 pm Protect our historic elevated highways!

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:07 pm Kansas City, we like highway overpasses cutting through neighborhoods and even though we live downtown we hate density. I give up.

Of course the least amount of change is going to be the most popular, it's something improved so people would vote for it and it's not a dramatic change that "might lose the dog park" so they vote for it too. Not a good way to decide what we actually do though given the Boulevard concept was basically the same approval.

So basically this whole idea is dead except for maybe we'll add 3 more lights underneath the underpasses? Who is going to lead the next steps that we can help influence?

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:17 pm God forbid we lose a dog park that's just wasted highway land. Like don't you think we'd replace that with this extra land?

I guess I get the point that an at grade 9 highway could be a lot of traffic like a SW Trafficway if it's not done right and given our history it wouldn't be. I had an optimistic view of what we could do by bringing this down to grade but it could easily be done wrong.

normalthings wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 1:47 pm Final report published. The most popular concept amongst the public was to not restore Highway 9 to grade. Blvd was second most popular

Of all the responses, the comment type that stood out the most is the fear of change, particularly the fear of changing the character of Columbus Park and River Market. There is concern over attracting high-rise development and luxury apartments and loss of history, culture, and community amenities such as the River Market Dog Park. Lowering Route 9 to grade would mean that the highway would be at the same level as front and back yards,
which was a repeated concern from people who do not mind the grade separation. Some respondents even noted that they liked having Route 9 at a higher level because it separates the more intense traffic from the community. There is fear that Route 9 at-grade would look too much like Southwest Trafficway or The Paseo, which are not seen as pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly streets. Several people also expressed concerns for traffic increases throughout the area.

• PEDESTRIAN ENHANCEMENTS $800,000 TO $900,000

• RESTORE INDEPENDENCE AVENUE $6.2 TO $6.8 MILLION

• EAST ALIGNMENT
  $13.4 TO $14.8 MILLION.
  $19.6 to $21.6 million total in conjunction with Restore Independence Avenue

• BOULEVARD ALIGNMENT
  $11.5 TO $16.6 MILLION
  $17.7 to $19.4 million total in conjunction with Restore Independence Avenue

https://www.downtownkc.org/hwy9/#updates--resources

dukuboy1 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:56 pm I guess they just push forward & ignore what people’s opinions are. I mean everyone expressed what a terrible design is slated for the new Buck O’Neil bridge but MODOT & others said “too bad, so sad” this is what we have the cash for. Couldn’t they basically do that again

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Thu Apr 15, 2021 10:16 pm Seems like a good job for Bunch but being a junior councilperson he'll just be shushed by the Loar faction.