The Kansas Department of Transportation is hosting eight regional meeting to discuss how to spend T-WORKS money. T-WORKS was passed by the Kansas legislature in May 201 following a series of public meetings hosted by KDOT. The legislation authorizes KDOT to spend $7.8 billion over ten years.
I have some questions about T-WORKS. Can we use any of this money to save the Southwest Chief? What about improving pubic transportation in Wichita, Topeka, and the Kansas part of the Kansas City metro area? What about adding more bus and train service to better connect small towns in Kansas and support their downtowns.
Well, we are at a second round of public meetings starting next week, so maybe some of these questions can be answered, if enough citizens can ask them.
Monday, September 24
1-4 pm
Kansas Highway Patrol Training Facility
2025 E. Iron Avenue
Salina
Tuesday, September 25
9 am - 12 pm
Kansas Highway Patrol Headquarters
1821 W. Frontier Road
Hays
Wednesday, September 26
9 am - 12 pm
Magouirk Conference Center
4100 SW Comanche
Dodge City
Thursday, September 27
9 am - 12 pm
Ramada Conference Center
1400 N. Lorraine
Hutchinson
Monday, October 1
9 am -12 pm
Holiday Inn Olathe
101 W. 151st Street
Olathe
This is the meeting for the Kansas City metro area, but there does not seem to be any bus service to this location. Am I right? The local bus service website can be reached at http://www.thejo.com/.
Tuesday, October 2
1 pm - 4 pm
Eisenhower State Office Building
700 SW Harrison
Topeka
Wednesday, October 3
1 pm - 4 pm
KDOT District 4 Chanute Complex
411 W. 14th
Chanute
Thursday, October 11
1 pm - 4 pm
KDOT Wichita Metro Hillside Office
3200 E. 45th Street, N
Wichita
I mentioned that it does not appear that there is bus service to the meeting for the Kansas City metro area. Does anyone know if there is bus service to any of these meeting? If not, how are car free people in Kansas going to make sure that their voices are heard?
Showing posts with label public meeting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public meeting. Show all posts
16 September 2012
25 July 2012
Is FasTracks Money Being Used to Fund Highway Expansion?
I don't know that it is. The US 36 project is going to cost $312 million which is not unreasonable. However, I only got the notice of these open houses this afternoon.
Perhaps we will have the opportunity to find out. Starting today, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Ames Granite are holding a series of open houses about construction on US 36 that includes adding an HOV/ BRT lane and a commuter bikeway between Federal and 88th Street. All meetings are from 6:30 to 8:30. There are no presentations, so people can come any time.
Wednesday, July 25
Broomfield High School, Auditorium
1 Eagle Way
Bus: Broomfield Call-n-Ride which must confirm will pick you up on its last run which is at 7 pm. Call 303-434-8989 to reserve.
Thursday, July 26
Hidden Lake High School, Media Room
7300 Lowell Boulevard
Westminster
Bus: 72 although you have to leave before 7:30 if you live east of here.
Wednesday, August 8
West Boulder Senior Center, Creekside Room
909 Arapahoe Avenue
Bus: JUMP
The 204, 205P, 225, DASH, SKIP, AB, all B regional buses run during these times.
It is no surprise that the Boulder meeting is the only one with decent advance notice. Thank you to whoever in city or county staff or local activist who is making sure that people in Boulder can actually be informed. I am going to be traveling from Lakewood to go to that session.
Perhaps we will have the opportunity to find out. Starting today, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Ames Granite are holding a series of open houses about construction on US 36 that includes adding an HOV/ BRT lane and a commuter bikeway between Federal and 88th Street. All meetings are from 6:30 to 8:30. There are no presentations, so people can come any time.
Wednesday, July 25
Broomfield High School, Auditorium
1 Eagle Way
Bus: Broomfield Call-n-Ride which must confirm will pick you up on its last run which is at 7 pm. Call 303-434-8989 to reserve.
Thursday, July 26
Hidden Lake High School, Media Room
7300 Lowell Boulevard
Westminster
Bus: 72 although you have to leave before 7:30 if you live east of here.
Wednesday, August 8
West Boulder Senior Center, Creekside Room
909 Arapahoe Avenue
Bus: JUMP
The 204, 205P, 225, DASH, SKIP, AB, all B regional buses run during these times.
It is no surprise that the Boulder meeting is the only one with decent advance notice. Thank you to whoever in city or county staff or local activist who is making sure that people in Boulder can actually be informed. I am going to be traveling from Lakewood to go to that session.
05 July 2012
In 2000, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), decided to widen I-70 to support the tourism industry. They would say that they wanted to widen the highway to relieve congestion, but usually widening a highway increases congestion. They would also have said that most people supported the highway widening, but somehow there was great public outcry against the highway people. Environmentalists did not want the destruction that highway widening would entail; local residents did not want there towns torn up; tax payers did not want their money wasted, and some people wanted buses and trains instead.
Between 2000 and 2004, citizens worked to stop the highway widening. This led to the creation of the Collaborative Effort which led to more planning, another PEIS, and an agreement that CDOT could only widen the road if other alternatives were seriously considered. So right now, a group of consultants is asking private industry how they would bring rail to the mountains. (This is the AGS study.) There is also going to be a study into bus service throughout Colorado that may lead to better service in the mountains.
So CDOT has signed an agreement to not widen the highway at least until the current mountain rail study has been completed.
So it is interesting that I just got a notice from CDOT that included these words: "widening the interstate".
CDOT is planning to widen I-70 between Idaho Springs and Floyd Hill including enlarging the eastbound bore of the Twin Tunnels. The purpose of the project is to improve traffic flow and address safety concerns even though improving traffic flow usually makes things more dangerous.
There is going to be a public meeting about this project at the end of July.
Twin Tunnels Environmental Assessment Public Hearing
Wednesday, July 25 at 5:30
Clear Creek County Schools District Office
320 State Highway 103
Idaho Springs, CO 80452
There will be an open house from 5:30 to 6:30, then an informational presentation with public comments starting at 7:00.
There will also be a comment period that will last from July 5 to August 4. Comments can be submitted to David Singer either via email (david.singer@dot.state.co.us) or by mail to Colorado Department of Transportation, 425C Corporate Circle, Golden, CO 80401.
According to someone who has been active with a local environmental group for many years, this project violates at least three federal laws, so hopefully citizens will look carefully at how their tax dollars are being spent.
Between 2000 and 2004, citizens worked to stop the highway widening. This led to the creation of the Collaborative Effort which led to more planning, another PEIS, and an agreement that CDOT could only widen the road if other alternatives were seriously considered. So right now, a group of consultants is asking private industry how they would bring rail to the mountains. (This is the AGS study.) There is also going to be a study into bus service throughout Colorado that may lead to better service in the mountains.
So CDOT has signed an agreement to not widen the highway at least until the current mountain rail study has been completed.
So it is interesting that I just got a notice from CDOT that included these words: "widening the interstate".
CDOT is planning to widen I-70 between Idaho Springs and Floyd Hill including enlarging the eastbound bore of the Twin Tunnels. The purpose of the project is to improve traffic flow and address safety concerns even though improving traffic flow usually makes things more dangerous.
There is going to be a public meeting about this project at the end of July.
Twin Tunnels Environmental Assessment Public Hearing
Wednesday, July 25 at 5:30
Clear Creek County Schools District Office
320 State Highway 103
Idaho Springs, CO 80452
There will be an open house from 5:30 to 6:30, then an informational presentation with public comments starting at 7:00.
There will also be a comment period that will last from July 5 to August 4. Comments can be submitted to David Singer either via email (david.singer@dot.state.co.us) or by mail to Colorado Department of Transportation, 425C Corporate Circle, Golden, CO 80401.
According to someone who has been active with a local environmental group for many years, this project violates at least three federal laws, so hopefully citizens will look carefully at how their tax dollars are being spent.
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