31st Street Improvements Survey          

This survey was prepared to assist the community with providing input on the two (2) roadway alignment options developed during the Conceptual Plan phase of the project.  Your answers from this survey and any additional comments will be considered in the selection process for the Preferred Alignment Alternative.  Please complete this survey and return it to the City.

 

          You can either mail the form to:                Or you can e-mail the form to:                 

                    Chuck Soules, PE                                   csoules@ci.lawrence.ks.us             

                                                          Director of Public Works

                    P.O. Box 708                                       

                    Lawrence, Kansas 66044                                          TOTAL SURVEYED = 39

 

Statement

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly

Disagree

Traffic Considerations

The 31st Street corridor is a vital link in the future roadway system for the community.

20

11

2

3

 

Limiting the amount of access points (i.e. intersections, driveway connections) is important to the safety of the corridor.

18

17

2

1

 

The main function of the future 31st Street corridor is to provide an east-west access route for traffic.

15

14

4

2

 

The use of roundabouts at major intersections is a preferred alternative over stop signs or traffic signals.

10

11

6

7

3

The City’s Transportation 2030 Plan recommends that the posted speed for a 4-lane arterial roadway be set between 35 mph and 45 mph.  The County’s design standards for principal arterial roadways is 50 mph.

35 mph

40 mph

45 mph

50 mph

55 mph

What should be the posted speed limit for the proposed 31st Street between Haskell Avenue and O’Connell Road?

4

11

18

3

1

What should be the posted speed limit for the proposed 31st Street between O’Connell Road and County Road 1057?

1

3

20

13

3

 

Roadway Section and Alignments

The proposed 31st Street roadway should be constructed with only 2-lanes to serve the current traffic needs, but have flexibility to add lanes if traffic volumes increase.

8

21

6

2

1

A straighter alignment option is preferable to a more curvilinear alignment option to reduce right-of-way costs, construction costs, and impacts to the area regardless of potential impacts to the terrain.

5

9

5

11

9

The 31st Street corridor should be constructed more like a parkway or boulevard with green space and landscaping than the typical arterial street.

15

14

5

5

 

The installation of street lights on 31st Street is important to the safety of motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

11

16

8

4

 

Connectivity

The proposed 31st Street corridor should provide for a multi-use path opposed to a dedicated bicycle lane adjacent to the driving lanes similar to the bicycle lanes on O’Connell Road.

16

11

7

2

2

Multi-use path amenities such as rest areas with benches, water fountains, shade, and trash receptacles are important for the enjoyment of the users.

11

15

8

3

2

Connecting to other area multi-use paths and bike lanes, facilities, and residential areas is important.

11

20

6

1

1

 

Water Quality

This roadway corridor is located north of the Wakarusa River.  Therefore, the collection of storm water and removal of sediment before releasing into the local streams is a vital element in the design of the roadway to protect our natural streams.

13

21

4

 

 

Storm water facilities should be used for interpretive and educational opportunities for the nearby Prairie Park Nature Center.

11

12

12

3

 

Roadside ditches used as bio-linear retention swales for storm water treatment are unsightly and should not be used on the project.  Underground collection and treatment structures are a preferable alternative to use.

7

7

11

9

3

Aesthetics

A “theme” should be developed to give this new 31st Street corridor its own identity that is separate from the South Lawrence Trafficway.

6

15

11

4

2

The use of landscaping, site amenities, and/ or hardscape materials is not an important element for consideration along this roadway.

2

6

9

13

7

If hardscape materials are found to be necessary, locally obtained and sustainable materials are desired.

12

19

7

 

 

Sculpture/ art elements would compliment the aesthetics of the area and the City.

3

12

11

5

7

Native plant materials such as trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers are pleasing to experience as part of a roadway corridor.

18

14

5

2

 

Additional Comments:

 

·         Roundabouts are just great!

·         Make sure lights are focused downward.

·         Could this be a major route for bike riders?

·         Yes! Bio-swales!

·         The natural world out there will be pretty enough if allowed to shine.

·         Water quality is important.

·         Get the county to do 11 foot lanes.

·         Speed limit should be safe for kids.

·         Signalization at 31st & Haskell is long overdue.

·         Every effort must be made to discourage heavy truck traffic down this roadway, for the benefit of local residents.

·         I am very concerned that if 31st is opened between Haskell and O’Connell that O’Connell will become a major traffic thoroughfare.  Many people will use it to go from K-10 down to 31st Street and to South Iowa.  It is not intended for that amount of traffic and will be very disruptive to the surrounding neighborhood.

·         Roadway should have curb & gutter.

·         The road would be good for local traffic with controlled entry & exit.

·         I prefer the green alignment.  I believe it is more aesthetically pleasing than the pink line and will serve the same purpose.

·         The use of roundabouts at major intersections depends on amount of traffic.

·         The proposed 31st Street roadway needs 4 lanes.

·         The 31st Street corridor constructed more like a parkway or boulevard with green space and landscaping is nice, but is it practical?

·         Absolutely the installation of street lights on 31st Street.

·         Very interesting, glad to see Mary’s Lake survived – in past there had been talk of draining it.

·         The use of roundabouts at major intersections - only if constructed large enough.

·         The installation of street lights on 31st Street – but not so much street LIGHT!

·         I encourage you to use alignment #1 in the section east of E 1700 all the way to Noria Road.  This would take less right-of-way and not bi-sect the land for their property owner. 

Otherwise I prefer the alignment #2.  It is better for the residents on South side of N 1300 Road and will also make for a much more attractive roadway!

·         I am Alice Eisele.  I own the farm at 1289 on 1750 Rd.  I feel the 31st Street is further south than is necessary.

·         The extension of 31st Street eastward is a quick fix for the SLT and should not happen.  I am concerned for Mary’s Lake and the Prairie Park Nature Center and also the impact on the school and neighborhood.

·         The 31st Street corridor is to provide east-west access route for traffic – unless the traffic way goes thru.

·         I would like to see a berm topped with a dense band of evergreen trees to keep noise pollution from adversely affecting people fishing at Mary’s Lake.

            The Haskell Rail-Trail is going to be extended from 29th Street South to the Baker      

            Wetlands, so a way to cross 31st Street safely has to be identified.

·         The By-pass as it was originally presented should be south of Wakarusa and then 31st Street corridor would do what it should, and 2 lanes with a really good, very wide multi-lane path beside should be quite fine. 

·         31st Street corridor and/or 32nd Street SLT, as a trafficway for routing all southern bypassing traffic, would be a major disservice to Lawrence, the county and especially to the environment.

·         If roundabouts, etc. are used it is important that they not completely obscure opposite direction views.

·         The second alignment option is my choice.

·         I like the second alignment option the best!

·         I am entirely opposed to the plan to make 31st Street a traffic corridor because of the negative impact this will have on the Baker-Haskell Wetlands.  The wetlands should be preserved and protected, and increased traffic will diminish the animal life there and make visiting the wetlands much less enjoyable.  I know that traffic always follows access, and that development always follows traffic.  If you believe that a traffic corridor through or next to the wetlands is a sound idea, I believe that you are short-sighted and dramatically underestimating the value of the wetlands.  Build a corridor elsewhere.

·         Curve around hill; avoid wetlands, then straight as possible.

·         Prefer multi-use trail if bikers would actually use them.

·         I like option 2 from 1600 to 1700 East but don’t see a need to swing South of 1300 North from 1700 to 1750 East.

·         (1) Option 2 is better than option 1.  (2) Leave as many trees along path as possible.  (3) Bike path should be North side.  (4) Make sure water flowing to the South does not flood properties, waterways should be established and maintained or underground.  (5) No development between 31st and N. 1300 Road.  (6) Straighten 31st along Eisle property.

·         We need this to alleviate traffic on 23rd Street.  Build soon!

·         Since we don’t know how long before work begins on the South town freeway, a good job should be done on the 31st Street corridor.

·         Concerns about the close proximity of the two highways 31st Street and SLT.

      Concerns with the increase in traffic that will become a burden on 1600E.

            As traffic increases additional traffic control devices need to be installed to make entrance/exit from

            the current K-10 onto 1600E a safe intersection.

            Alleviating traffic congestion in southeast Lawrence should be a priority however.

            Prefer to have a straighter alignment for the corridor project.  It would be better in the sense that it

            would  destroy less land and natural habitat, therefore reducing costs for the project, and causing

            less harm to the environment.

·         If proposed route must be South of Mary’s Lake I’m in favor of the loop staying South of Goodell Court and Tim and Donna Thomas’ property.  With the available green space south of their property I believe this route would be less intrusive for property owners and provide a roadway with more gradual curves.  Once East of O’Conner Road, I’m in favor of a straight (alignment #1) plan as long as it too has minimal impact on property owners.

·         Would like to see a visual and sound barrier of some sort be constructed, whether it be a berm, a row of cedar / evergreen trees, or both to help block the noise and lights of the continual passing traffic.  If possible, moving the road south, say 100’ or excavating to have the road at a lower deviation than Goodell Court would help.

·         More money spent up front will save money down the road.  I suggest a concrete roadway over an asphalt one.  Build it right the first time!