Central business district traffic circulation study: Kansas City, Missouri

Institute of Transportation Engineers. ITE Journal, Feb 2001 by Meredith, Jere, Prem, Clyde

THIS FEATURE DESCRIBES THE PROCESS USED TO DEVELOP AND EVALUATE USER-FRIENDLY" TRAFFIC CIRCULATION PLANS FOR THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OF KANSAS CITY BY ELIMINATING ONE-WAY RESTRICTIONS WHEREVER APPROPRIATE.

BACKGROUND

The Public Works Department of the City of Kansas City, MO, USA, hired the services of the firm of Bucher, Willis and Ratliff Corp. (BWR) to develop a "userfriendly" circulation plan for the Central Business District (CBD). The primary objectives of the project were to make it easier for motorists to circulate in the CBD and more easily obtain access to major parking facilities by evaluating the feasibility of eliminating one-way restrictions wherever appropriate. Downtown interests indicated that moving vehicles through the CBD in an efficient manner should no longer be the sole objective of the transportation system and that the reduction of driver confusion by providing more direct travel routes should be examined. The consultant was required to determine the consequences of implementing the recommendations of the study, which included defining and measuring road user benefits and costs. Factors such as travel times, delays, accidents, improved circulation and effects on traffic progression were analyzed.

The study area and the various districts within the CBD are shown in Figure 1. This area is just over one square mile in size. Within the CBD there are 55,100 jobs and 3,850 residents. The current retail activities are mainly located along Main Street and Walnut Street. Each district has its own character defined by specific land uses and buildings located within. Each district has its unique circulation and access needs, which have been considered in completing this project. The current circulation pattern is shown in Figure 2.

The main tasks performed included the following:

Inventory existing street system, traffic control devices and transit routes;

Gather traffic volume, travel time, roadway geometrics and other pertinent data;

Analyze existing operating conditions;

Prepare future land use scenarios for the CBD;

Determine travel demand forecasts;

Determine traffic operating conditions and performance measures for the existing street system using future travel demand forecasts;

Develop alternate scenarios for a CBD circulation plan;

Determine traffic and transit operating conditions and performance measures for the proposed alternate circulation plans under existing and future travel demands;

Summarize road user benefits and costs; and

Recommend changes in the CBD street system.

Changes in the CBD circulation system were evaluated in terms of impacts to on-street parking, loading zones, retail activity, truck deliveries, transit operations, safety, intersection capacity, vehicle miles of travel (VMT), vehicle hours of travel (VHT), access to primary destinations, and road user and project costs.

Strong impetus and funding support for the project was provided by the Kansas City Downtown Council (DTC). Other agencies that contributed funds for the study included the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and the Missouri Department of Transportation. A policy level review was provided by the DTC and the project was guided by a technical advisory committee (TAC) that included staff members from the above mentioned agencies, DTC, the Department of Public Works and City Planning and Development.

EXISTING TRAFFIC OPERATIONS

The potential trade-offs between efficient and safe traffic operations provided by a one-way street system and the improved convenience of two-way street operation were determined by examining existing conditions. This information was not only helpful in identifying current problem locations, but also provided valuable information in assessing the impact a particular strategy had on traffic operations.

To determine existing operating conditions, information on traffic volumes, turning movements, travel times, accidents, transit routes, including location of bus stops and shelters, on-street parking spaces, loading zones and other factors were gathered and analyzed. A capacity analysis of intersections and roadway sections was conducted and accident rates for intersections comprised of two one-way streets, two-way and oneway streets, and one-way and one-way streets were determined. In addition, a survey of downtown and DTC employees was also conducted to determine their perceptions of the street system.

The major streets that are used by motorists to enter the CBD during the morning peak period include Broadway, Main Street, Walnut Street, Locust-Oak Street, Charlotte Street and 13th Street. To exit the CBD during the evening peak period, motorists used the following major streets: Broadway, Main Street, Walnut Street, Grand Avenue, Oak-- Locust Street, 9th Street, 10th Street and 12th Street. Portions of these streets carry traffic volumes exceeding 1,000 vehicles per hour. An analysis of the traffic data showed that a majority of the streets within the CBD are operating at good levels of service (C or better). However, poor levels of service (D or worse) were observed on streets such as Broadway, Main Street, Grand Avenue, 13th Street and at a few isolated intersections.