The Brookside and U.S. 24 Highway Transit Center project would construct a transit center and Park & Ride facility near the intersection of Brookside and U.S. 24 Highway in western 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. This facility would be located at an area in Independence that currently requres transit busses to pull off and park along U.S. 24 Highway.
General statement: The Brookside and U.S. 24 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. 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 proposed 12th Street Corridor/Truman Road MetroGreen Greenway. The transit center will include sidewalk connectivity to the corridors allowing increased access to this Greenway. 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 be located directly in a Low Income environmental justice tract and will improve access to and from this area in western Independence. These increased transit routes provide a quality of life improvement by allowing residents in this tract the same ability to access education, entertainment, and shopping as other residents in the area. Businesses in this tract 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.
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 atrrative 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 proposed 12th Street/Truman Road Corridor MetroGreen Greenway. The transit center will include sidewalk connectivity to the area corridor allowing increased access to the Greenway.
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 proposed 12th Street/Truman Road Corridor MetroGreen Greenway. The transit center will include sidewalk connectivity to the corridor allowing increased access to the Greenway. 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:
US 24 Highway Corridor Study Great Northwest Independence Neighborhood Initiative The US 24 Highway Corridor Study was adopted by the City of Independence City Council in 2006. The study recommends making the corridor more pedestrian and transit friendly by connecting the neighborhoods on the north and south sides of U.S. 24 Highway. The Great Northwest Independence Neighborhood Initiative was an innovative process whereby residents of the district created a vision for their area to ensure that these neighborhoods are great places to live, work, and raise families. Action plans created by this process stressed walk-ability and transit use in the area.
Creating Quality Places factors supported by the project:
Homes Neighborhoods: Linkages, Pedestrian/Bike Friendly Commercial Development: Walkability Transportation: Multimodal, Bicycle/Pedestrian Access, 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.
Is the project part of the current Congestion Management System network?
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