Enhancing Safety and Accessibility in Urban Infrastructure
Project Overview
In a collaborative effort spearheaded by the City of Westwood and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, the 47th Street corridor has been transformed into a safer, more accessible, visually appealing thoroughfare. This $2.1 million project aimed to rehabilitate and enhance the stretch from Mission Road to Rainbow Boulevard, focusing on space equity for active transportation, improved safety features and overall quality of life enhancements for this key commercial corridor. This project won a local Project of the Year award through the American Society of Civil Engineers KC Section.
Key Improvements:
- Road Diet: The existing four-lane road was reduced to three lanes to improve traffic flow and safety.
- Active Transportation: The project introduced striped bike lanes, making cycling safer and more accessible.
- Pedestrian Enhancements: Two pedestrian crossing locations equipped with Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) and pedestrian-scale lighting were installed, along with ADA-compliant pushbuttons at the 47th Street & Mission Road traffic signal.
- Streetscape Upgrades: New sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes were designed to be easily traversable by people of all ages and abilities, including installing pedestrian refuge islands based on feedback from a visually impaired user.
- Aesthetic Enhancements: Decorative lighting and a blend of landscape and hardscape aesthetics were installed, including built-in irrigation for plantings.
Collaboration and Partnership:
This project exemplified successful collaboration between the City of Westwood and Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas. GBA navigated the complexities of working across county lines, ensuring all plans adhered to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) standards. Funding came from federal aid, KDOT funds and the Johnson County Assistance Road System Project (CARS) program.
This project was prioritized based on a 2018 planning study by BikeWalkKC and incorporated insights from two Master Plan documents. A multi-year pilot project tested the road diet concept before committing to permanent changes. This iterative and collaborative approach ensured all project goals were met, including managing a tight right-of-way, avoiding existing utilities and staying within budgetary constraints.
Innovative Features:
- Transit Enhancements: Green pavement markings enhanced cyclist safety at shared bus/bike zones.
- Access Management: Adjustments to commercial driveways improved traffic flow and access, incorporating geometric alignment and signage as needed.
- Construction Sequencing: Innovations in construction sequencing allowed active transportation improvements to be made without closing the road to traffic.
- Sustainable Landscaping: An irrigation system was installed to support a diverse range of vegetation, promoting rapid growth of a healthy tree canopy and other plantings. The project included planting 62 street trees featuring species such as Pacific Sunset Maple, Kentucky Coffeetree, Afterburner Tupelo and Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress.
Completed in December 2023, the revitalized 47th Street corridor stands as a testament to thoughtful planning, collaboration and innovative design. It enhances the local environment and sets a precedent for future urban infrastructure projects.