PUBLIC COMMENT WANTED FOR POTENTIAL I-35 RAMP METERING LOCATIONS

OPEN HOUSES, MOBILE MEETINGS & ONLINE TOWN HALL SCHEDULED

#KSI35RampMeters

In response to congestion issues on I-35, especially those caused when large groups of vehicles attempt to enter the freeway at once during rush hours, KC Scout, which is jointly operated by the Kansas and Missouri Departments of Transportation, is continuing to move forward with the I-35 ramp metering implementation project for the area between the Kansas/Missouri state line and I-435. KC Scout and KDOT are hosting a second series of public open houses, mobile meetings, and an online town hall meeting December 1 - 31, 2015 to gather public comment on a refined list of recommended ramp metering locations on I-35 that have northbound and/or southbound on-ramps. Opportunities for community conversations related to the recommendation are scheduled as follows:

During the meetings, the public is encouraged to review exhibits that show the project area and recommended locations for ramp meters along I-35 in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties. The refined list of recommended locations is based on community feedback, available funding, traffic data, detailed engineering analysis, and the long-range vision for the highway outlined in the I-35 Moving Forward plan. Representatives from KC Scout, KDOT, and the consultant team will be present to answer questions and discuss issues or concerns. No formal presentations will be given.

KC Scout and KDOT are developing the project with input from local governments. The planning phase began during the summer with a list of potential ramp metering locations based on an initial analysis of existing conditions (tinyurl.com/KSi35RampMeters). The process will conclude this fall with a final list of ramp meter locations. Construction is anticipated to begin during the summer of 2016. The project is part of a broader vision to address congestion by adding ramp meters and other strategic road improvements along the entire I-35 corridor in the KC Metro Area.

The ramp meters are a cost-effective improvement strategy. They are anticipated to improve the on-ramp traffic that merges onto the freeway during busy, rush hour periods. They create gaps in on-ramp traffic that provide for smaller, more frequent groups of vehicles to enter the freeway during rush hours. The end results of the ramp meter installation project are as follows: smoother and less stressful freeway entries, minimized sudden weaving and braking, more consistent traffic flows, improved freeway speeds, decreased travel times, and reduced rear end and sideswipe crashes.

For more information about the project, visit kcscout.net/rampmetering. Comment online anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at i35rampmeters.mysidewalk.com. You may also contact Mark Sommerhauser, KC Scout Transportation Project Manager, at 816-607-2243 and karsten.sommerhauser@modot.mo.gov.

KC Scout is Kansas City's bi-state traffic management system, designed to lessen traffic jams by improving rush-hour speeds, increasing safety by decreasing the number of rush-hour accidents and improving emergency response to traffic situations by clearing incidents quickly and safely. Scout manages traffic on more than 300 miles of continuous freeways in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.

Learn more about KC Scout at http://www.kcscout.net. Follow KC Scout on twitter at twitter.com/kansascityscout, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KansasCityScout.