The M-291 Highway & U.S. 40 Highway Transit Center project would construct a transit center and Park & Ride facility near the intersection of M-291 Highway and U.S. 40 Highway in southeast Independence. This project will provide a critical link in the regional transit system with enhanced service connections to the Independence Transit Hub, Eastern Jackson County, and downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
General statement: The M-291 Highway & U.S. 40 Highway Transit Center, supports various policy goals outlined in Transportation Outlook 2040. The project emphasizes accessibility by adding transit service to the area to maximize mobility for all area residents. The transit center will also have an effect on climate change and energy use as promoting transit service decreases the use of fossil fuels through reduced vehicle travel demands. Economic vitality will be supported by allowing increased travel to and from this activity center. The area of Interstate 470/M-291 Highway and U.S. 40 Highway is home to regional shopping and entertainment. The Independence Events Center, now home to a minor league Hockey Team the Missouri Mavericks, is located on the northeast corner of this intersection. These businesses, entertainment, and residential areas will be supported by increased transit use and pedestrian traffic. This project supports the environment by emphasizing air quality with high efficient buses and proactive promotion of ridership. Place Making goals will also be addressed as this transit center will be located near the Little Blue Trace Trail, a MetroGreen Priority Greenway. The proposed 40 Highway Corridor MetroGreen Greenway is also located in this area. The transit center will include sidewalk connectivity to the corridors allowing increased access to the Greenways. This project also supports Creating Quality Places principles of Transit-Supportive Development and Air Quality by creating a viable alternative to automobile use. The project will support public health by promoting alternative modes of transportation. The transit center will increase system performance by reducing transportation demand for low occupancy vehicles creating more efficient options.
Does this project improve access to/from environmental justice tracts?
Yes - The transit center will include two or three local routes that improve access to and from two environmental justice tracts located in Independence. These increased transit routes provide a quality of life improvement by allowing residents in those tracts the same ability to access entertainment and shopping as other residents. Businesses in these tracts are also benefited by the increased mobility of workforce using transit services.
Does this project reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the use of carbon-based fuels?
Yes - The transit center will provide fixed route services that will assist in reducing dependence on the automobile as transportation mode, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Does this project serve a regional activity and/or employment center?
Yes - This project provides access to a major inter-city bus route serving downtown Kansas City and the transit hub at Independence Square in downtown Independence. The transit center will be located in an activity center area that will need increased service with development. The Independence Shopping Center, Bass Pro Store, and the Independence Events Center will all provide strong local and regional demand for transit access.
Does the project have elements that improve freight movement?
No
Does this project preserve or restore environmentally sensitive lands, cultural resources and/or agricultural lands?
Yes - The project will minimize use of environmentally sensitive lands. If possible, the transit center/park and ride will make use of existing developed property. As an attractive alternative to the automobile, it should lessen the need to convert other land to automobile usage, lessen the need for additional automobile use and parking downtown and, thereby help preserve the existing environment.
Does the project include an environmental impact mitigation plan?
Yes - The project would be subject to all regulatory environmental permits through the Corps of Engineers and the Department of Natural Resources. A 106 Clearance would also be obtained through the Historic Preservation Division.
Does the project implement or connect to MetroGreen?
Yes - Place Making goals will also be addressed as this transit center will be located near the Little Blue Trace Trail, a MetroGreen Priority Greenway. The proposed 40 Highway Corridor MetroGreen Greenway is also located in this area. The transit center will include sidewalk connectivity to the corridors allowing increased access to the Greenways.
Regional plans that support or include the project:
Clean Air Action Plan, Creating Quality Places, MetroGreen, Regional ITS Architecture, Smart Moves Regional Transit Vision - The transit center will support the Clean Air Action Plan by emphasizing the local government commitment to reducing emissions voluntarily to improve air quality in the Kansas City Region. High efficiency buses will be used to encourage ridership and improve travel times. Place Making goals will also be addressed as this transit center will be located near the Little Blue Trace Trail, a MetroGreen Priority Greenway. The proposed 40 Highway Corridor MetroGreen Greenway is also located in this area. The transit center will include sidewalk connectivity to the corridors allowing increased access to the Greenways. This project also supports Creating Quality Places principles of Transit-Supportive Development and Air Quality by creating a viable alternative to automobile use. The transit center will support Smart Moves Regional Transit Vision by providing additional routes of service, increasing metro-wide connectivity, and expanding the Bus Rapid Transit network. Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems will also be used in some of the buses using the transit center. Bus Rapid Transit networks are typically equipped with these systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Local land use plans that support or include the project:
N/A N/A
Creating Quality Places factors supported by the project:
Homes Neighborhoods: Linkages, Reinvestment, Pedestrian/Bike Friendly Commercial Development: Transportation: Multimodal, Transit-Supportive Development Environmental Quality: Water and Air Quality
Does this project have elements that will encourage non-motorized travel?
Yes - The transit center will provide connections through densely populated areas of Independence. Pedestrian access will be improved to and from these centers to encourage non-motorized travel. The project will also promote ridership and decrease low vehicle occupancy.
Will this project use strategies to reduce ozone-forming emissions?
Yes - By providing public transportation along with pedestrian access to local services, this will provide residents with non-automobile options for the necessary trips of everyday life.
Will this project improve safety at this location?
Yes - The transit center/park and ride itself will be designed with security in mind. Lighting will be provided and, as appropriate, security cameras. Removing automobiles from the travel stream should also reduce accidents.
Categories from MARC's Congestion Management Toolbox (pdf) that will be deployed as part of this project to help reduce traffic congestion: Transit Strategies, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and Transportation System Management
Explanation:
This transit project will be implemented to provide an alternative to automobile travel potentially reducing peak-period congestion and improving mobility and access for commuters. This project increases bus route coverage and makes transit more attractive for use. The BRT network also incorporates advanced traveler information systems. These systems provide an extensive amount of data to travelers such as real time speed and transit vehicle schedule progress.
Will the project reduce traffic congestion?
Yes - This transit project will be implemented to provide an alternative to automobile travel potentially reducing peak-period congestion and improving mobility and access for commuters. This area of Independence is heavily traveled for local and regional shopping and has high peak-period and seasonal congestion.
Is the project part of the current Congestion Management System network?
Yes - The project is located near Interstate 70 and Interstate 470/M-291 Highway. The implementation of a transit center should alleviate traffic congestion on these corridors.
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