Project Overview

Background

U.S. Highway 24/40 provides Leavenworth County, KS, with east-west mobility, and traffic along the corridor is steadily increasing. Over time, the Kansas Department of Transportation has invested significant public funds in widening U.S. 24/40 to four lanes.

Currently, there is no I-70 interchange in Leavenworth County, which would provide additional east-west mobility. The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) is studying the feasibility of adding a Leavenworth County interchange on I-70 that would intersect with U.S. 24/40 near County Rd. 1 (Honey Creek Rd.). This proposed interchange would provide travelers with a convenient link between U.S. 24/40 and I-70.

Leavenworth County and the cities of Tonganoxie and Basehor are feeling the pressure of growth and development along the corridor and they — along with KDOT and MARC — are interested in protecting mobility and the traveling public's safety along the U.S. 24/40 corridor. Development in the corridor poses challenges in integrating land-use with transportation demands.

The U.S. 24/40 Corridor Study will develop a 30-year corridor master plan for current and future land use and transportation integration along an initial two-mile-wide corridor in Leavenworth County, KS, beginning at the interchange of Kansas State Route 7 (K-7) and U.S. 24/40, continuing west through Basehor and Tonganoxie, and terminating one mile south of Tonganoxie at the junction of County Road 1 and U.S. 24/40. The study’s is expected to be completed in 12 months.

This study and the I-70 interchange feasibility study are progressing at the same time and will affect each other.

Partners

The study is a cooperative effort between the cities of Basehor and Tonganoxie, KS, Leavenworth County, KS, the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Mid-America Regional Council.

Study Objectives

• Focus on corridor mobility by integrating current and future land uses associated with continued area growth
• Establish a realistic corridor plan for mobility, land use, corridor identity that results in a coordinated and sustainable partnership between KDOT, MARC, Leavenworth County, Tonganoxie and Basehor
• Develop a 30-year corridor master plan that will address KDOT’s transportation corridor management requirements, a land-use and identity plan, an access/traffic management plan, and coordination of planning and zoning regulations between jurisdictions
• Create a public involvement/visioning plan that will achieve informed consent among the public and other stakeholders