Connecting the Katy Multi-Use Path + Mobility Hub
JACKSON COUNTY + MISSOURI STATE PARKS Cover Letter from Missouri Governor Michael L. Parson 2 Project Description 6 Project Location 22 Project Funding 24 Merit Criteria 26 Project Readiness 30
Appendix A: Benefit Cost Analysis Appendix B: Letters of Support
Connecting the Katy Quick Facts Project Type: Multi-Use Path Project Length: 6.85 MI. + 550’ Bridge Urban or Rural: Rural Congressional District(s): MO-4, MO-5 Project Cost: $ 11,441,460 Grant Request: $ 11,049,960
“Where the Tracks Meet the Trail” Missourians are a collaborative bunch. When Pleasant Hill realized that Missouri State Parks would be extending the Katy Trail along the old Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railway from Windsor, Missouri to the Cass County Fairgrounds, the city didn’t hesitate to start building trail connections through their town. Multiple phases of the “MOPAC” trail and the cycle track pictured above were built to connect to the Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail. These already completed facilities will be critical to Connecting the Katy to the Kansas City Region. Project Description
BACKGROUND At 240 miles the Katy Trail is the longest Rails-to- to Kansas City, opening the entire state to the benefits of Trails project in the country, stretching across Missouri this fantastic asset. from Clinton to Saint Louis. For nearly three decades, An economic powerhouse for the State of Missouri, the advocates in Western Missouri have been searching for a Katy Trail sees over 400,000 users per year and generates way to connect this trail to Kansas City, thereby creating over $18 Million in economic activity. One time Rail a statewide trail network connecting communities across towns that have now become Trail towns, and these rural the State. Within the last few years several new projects communities on the Katy see the majority of the economic have brought this dream closer to reality. The completion benefits. A 2012 Economic Impact study found that 67% and opening of Missouri State Parks 47.5 mile Rock of Katy Trail users were non-local, and that users spent on Island Extension of the Katy Trail was a huge, critical step average $45 per day, demonstrating that the Trail funnels in the right direction. Another big development is Jackson people and their money into rural communities. County’s purchase of the Rock Island Rail Corridor and construction of the 14 mile Rock Island Shared Use Path, PROJECT SCOPE set to be completed in late 2019. This project has two major components: the construction of a 6.85-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail, divided into three While critically important to connecting the Katy Trail segments, and the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian to Kansas City, these projects do not complete the bridge. These two components are complimentary in that connection. Two essential pieces of infrastructure remain: without either piece, a gap will remain and the benefits an eight mile trail gap that includes numerous challenging of this proposal will not be realized. In addition to these barriers and an active railroad line requiring a bridge over. two critical components, theis grant requests a modest These missing pieces although relatively incidental in sum for “Mobility Hub” and trailhead infrastructure in cost and scope, have wide ranging negative impacts for downtown Greenwood, Missouri. This key site could be a Kansas City and Rural Western Missouri. The project we catalyst for future economic development in Downtown propose in this document will complete the connection Greenwood. SEGMENT 1: 2.68 MILES EXISTING ROCK ISLAND TRAIL M291
SEGMENT 2: 1.45 MILES
GREENWOOD M150 M i 6.85 MILE TRAIL ss is CONNECTION s ip JACKSON CO p
CASS CO i
SEGMENT 3: R
i 2.72 MILES v Mis e sou r ri River EXISTING MOPAC TRAIL Booneville Machens Kansas i. City m Rocheport Columbia 40 2 - St. Charles k r McKittrick Pleasant Hill te P a ta Marthasville S Ro ail ck I Tr St. Louis sla ty Sedalia nd Ka Sp ur -48 mi. Je erson City Futur Windsor e Rock Is land Trail Rosebud Beaufort EXISTING “MOPAC” Versailles UPRR Freeburg TRAIL PLEASANT Clinton HILL Eldon DETOUR ON STATE HIGHWAY Belle M 58 r CASS COUNTY Harry Truman v r
Ri e e FAIRGROUNDS v
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Booneville Machens Kansas i. City m Rocheport Columbia 40 2 - St. Charles k r McKittrick Pleasant Hill te P a ta Marthasville S Ro ail ck I Tr St. Louis sla ty Sedalia nd Ka Sp ur -48 mi. Je erson City Futur Windsor e Rock Is land Trail Rosebud Beaufort Versailles Clinton Freeburg Eldon Belle Harry Truman v r r
Ri e e v
Reservoir e i
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e ad n o c s G a EXISTING ROCK
ISLAND PATH JEFFERSON ST. JEFFERSON
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C R E E K T R IB.
PARCEL #1 M291
END EXISTING JACKSON CO. ROW UPRR
CULVERT #1 REPLACE 10’ x 8’ x 60’
PARCEL #2 HAMBLEN RD.
C TRIB BIG R EEK .
PARCEL #3 CULVERT #2 EXTEND 2 - 10’ x 8’ x 25’
PARCEL #4
WALL #1 PARCEL #5
TRANSITION TO ONSTREET BICYCLE FACILITY
Overview Map of Segment 1 SEGMENT 1: 2.68 MILES Jackson County, Missouri’s 2016 acquisition of the To save costs, 1.73 miles of this portion of the corridor can Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railroad ended be a crushed rock surface, as opposed to concrete. Based approximately 600 feet short of Hamblen Road. The on floodplain information and preliminary alignments shared use path currently under construction ends at and profiles, 0.94 miles would need to be concrete to Jefferson Street in south Lee’s Summit. Segment 1 will use prevent the crushed rock surfacing from washing away. the remaining distance of the Rock Island Rail Corridor, Additionally, this alignment requires the replacement and transition onto propety acquired from private property of an existing culvert under Hamblen Road in poor owners. The path will follow the outer edge of private condition, and the extension of a second existing double property to minimize right-of-way needs. An estimated box culvert, which is in good condition. 8.45 acres of right-of-way and temporary construction easements from 4 separate owners will be required for this section. Because these are large, rural tracts adjacent to existing right-of-way and/or in floodplain, the cost of right-of-way is anticipated to be relatively low.
Hamblen Road Looking North Toward Segment 1 RANSON RD. RANSON
James A. Reed Wildlife Area
HAMBLEN RD. HAMBLEN UPRR SPEED TABLE
SPEED TABLE
BIKE LANES & SIDEWALK 2x 1,370 LF GAMBRELL ST.
RANSON RD. RANSON MOBILITY HUB & TRAILHEAD BUFFERED PARCEL #6 BIKE LANES 2x 3,790 LF EXISTING MODOT BRIDGE OVER UPRR & BIG CREEK SPEED TABLE ADJUST 586 L.F. OF GUARDRAIL NEW SIGNAL REPLACE 890 L.F. JERSEY BARRIER M150 / MAIN ST. MH
GREENWOOD ELEMENTARY INSTALL PROTECTED SEGMENT 3 CYCLE TRACK & SIDEWALK RESUME OFFSTREET
1,300 L.F. 2
ALLENDALE LAKE RD. LAKE ALLENDALE FACILITIES
ND
AVE.
B I
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C R E EK UPRR
Overview Map of Segment 2 SEGMENT 2: 1.45 MILES Segment 2 connects the Rock Island Corridor and the Hamblen Rd. and Gambrell Street would use buffered Katy Trail to the heart of Greenwood. In studying multiple bike lanes, which can be accommodated within the routes to Pleasant Hill, there were a number of alternatives existing curb-to-curb width. Both Hamblen and Gambell that circumvented the City of Greenwood entirely. But also have sidewalks on at least one side of the street. without making this connection, a key population and Wayfinding signage would also direct pedestrians and activity center would have been left out of the system. A cyclists through the route and indicate that it is a part burgeoning antique district on Greenwood’s Main Street, of the larger Katy Trail system. Ranson Road would an elementary school, a playground, and a number of use traditional bike lanes and/or sharrows, which are single family homes will all be connected to the Katy Trail. appropriate for its low traffic volumes. New sidewalks would also be constructed along Ranson Road. Because Segment 2 travels through a more urbanized setting, right-of-way acquisition for a separate trail Traffic calming measures would be used throughout facility would be difficult. But because of the relatively the route to ensure safe speeds for intermingled bicycle low traffic volume on residential streets, and the room for and pedestrian traffic. Three speed tables at Hamblen, improvement on Greenwood’s Main Street (i.e. M-150), Gambrell, and Ranson in advance of the route are one on-street facilities are a cost effective way to provide measure to slow traffic. Additionally, the proposed project a bicycle connection. Pedestrians would be served by budget includes chicanes and miniature traffic circles, existing and new sidewalks installed along this route. which are known to slow traffic speeds, improve safety, and create aesthetic value for neighborhoods.
View Looking West on Gambrell Street Encroachment and Access Management Issues on M-150 / Main Street
Greenwood’s Main Street is M-150 Highway, maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). The right-of-way is 60 feet wide at a minimum and the road is only two lanes, but poor access management and encroachments on the right-of-way lead to less than ideal conditions. By providing better access management and better defining parking areas and rules, the right-of-way could accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic. This activity would be an economic generator for the cluster of antique stores, and also provide consistent, reliable parking and a safer driving environemnt.
Segment 2 also makes use of an existing road bridge over the Union Pacific’s Sedalia Division main line and Big Creek. Of all the alternatives studied, using this existing bridge was the most cost effective way to connect to the Rock Island Spur trail in Pleasant Hill. In order to provide sufficient width for a shared bicycle and pedestrian facility, an existing jersey barrier and guardrail would need to be relocated. Subject to further design review, MoDOT’s Area Engineering is supportive of these improvements within MoDOT ROW.
M-150 Guardrail and Barrier to be Relocated Greenwood Main Street: Existing Condition M-150 Highway, known as Main Street in Greenwood, faces challenges with access and right-of-way management. A lack of clearly-delineated public space leads to the chaotic, inefficient, and unsafe use of the existing right-of- way.
60’ Right-of-Way (Typ.)
Sidewalk Cycle Track Parking Drive Lane Drive Lane Sidewalk
6’ 4’ 10’ 2’ 7’ 11’ 11’ 4’ 6’
Greenwood Main Street: Proposed Typical Section. The right-of-way along M-150 / Main Street is 60 feet wide at a minimum. With better management of the existing ROW, there is room to safely accommodate all modes and provide dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facilities that provide similar benefits to trails. MOBILITY HUB & TRAILHEAD Although it is a relatively minor cost, the trailhead and mobility hub in Downtown Greenwood could provide significant transportation value. As the region begins to explore on-demand mobility options and “mobility as a service” under the RideKC brand, urban clusters like Greenwood will have new choices as to how they move throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan area. A space for mobility services such as ride share, bike share, electric car charging stations, carpool parking, or demand- response transit service would be a valuable amenity in the heart of Downtown Greenwood. Additionally, this site could serve as a future development area with retail or multi-family that complements existing momentum in Downtown Greenwood. Revenues from this development could support operations of the multi-use path and/or mobility providers.
RIGHT: Mobility Hubs in the Kansas City Smart Moves 3.0 Plan
BELOW: Program Concept for vacant lot in Downtown Greenwood, Missouri
Vacant Lot (1.85+/- ac.)
Trailhead Parking Future Parking (40 spaces) + Mobility As A Service Future Amenities Development
Main Street / M-150 Cycle Track
60’
7th Avenue 6th Avenue WALL #2 WALL #3
M150 CULVERT #3 EXTEND 10’x8’x25’ PARCELS PARCEL
79 #10
2
ND AVE. UPRR PARCEL #11
PARCEL RD. SMART #12
PARCEL #13
JACKSON CO
CASS CO B
I G PARCEL
C R #14 PARCEL #15 EEK UPRR
CULVERT #3 NEW 3-10’x8’x35’ PARCEL #16 159TH ST.
CONNECT TO MOPAC TRAIL
Overview Map of Segment 3 SEGMENT 3: 2.72 MILES Segment 3 begins at the eastern approach of the M-150 A large triple 10’x8’ box culvert will be required to bridge over Big Creek and the Union Pacific Railroad. The cross a tributary of Big Creek and meet FEMA No path follows M-150 right-of-way to the east. However, Rise requirements. This segment will be predominately additional temporary easements and permanent right-of- concrete with some short sections of crushed rock surface way are required to meet ADA standards (< 5% incline). due to grades and drainage that could lead to higher long- Two retaining walls are required to prevent grading onto term maintenance costs on a crushed rock trail. the M-150 roadway. Additionally, an existing culvert Segment 3 will terminate at Smart Road and 159th Street, under M-150 must be extended to accommodate the trail. where the City of Pleasant Hill’s most recent extension of Additional right-of-way is required on 10 separate parcels. the MOPAC trail will be complete. With the completion owned by 7 different property owners. Jackson County of these three segments, there will be a continuous trail has been engaged with a number of these property from the Truman Sports Complex (the home of the Chiefs owners, including the developer of a large subdivision and the Royals) to downtown Pleasant Hill, and beyond. known as Woodland Trails. Mr. Riffe’s letter of support is attached. The trail would travel along the outer edge of most parcels, and through a reserved recreational area of the Woodland Trails subdivision. PLEASANT HILL PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE While the northern trailhead of the Rock Island Spur of provides a minimum clearance for double-stack freight the Katy Trail terminates near Downtown Pleasant Hill, trains. In order to meet a maximum 5% grade for ADA and the MOPAC trail and cycle track provide access purposes, a bridge spanning 550 feet, plus 400 feet on to this location, very few people begin their Katy Trail MSE retaining wall and 270 feet on embankment are journey in Pleasant Hill. Because an active rail line crosses required. perpendicular to the Rock Island Spur, trail users must While the cost of a bridge is expensive (in excess of $3 detour onto M-58, a two-lane state highway with narrow million), it would provide significant benefit. First, there shoulders and high traffic speeds. While this creates a will be a significant improvement to safety to current significant safety issue even for confident cyclists, it also trail users who begin their journey at the Pleasant Hill creates a significant deterrent to use the trail facilities in trailhead. Second, there will be a benefit to Downtown Pleasant Hill, or patronize the business in that city. It will Pleasant Hill, which many people are deterred from also create a significant barrier to accessing the rest of the visiting because of the inconvenient and unsafe detour. Kansas City metro from the Katy Trail system. Third, once the fullConnecting the Katy Multi-Use path Missouri State Parks has been in conversations with the and Rock Island Corridor Shared Use path are complete, Union Pacific Railroad, owner of the railroad crossing, there will be a benefit to all of metropolitan Kansas City, regarding their requirements for trail access across the as this will be the region’s principal connection to the tracks. The railroad is requiring grade separation that Katy Trail system.
M-58 Detour Narrow shoulders, two sets of railroad tracks, high-speed traffic, and commercial trucks pose a significant risk to bicyclist and pedestrian safety. EXISTING
UPRR “MOPAC” TRAIL PLEASANT HILL
DETOUR ON
M 58 STATE HIGHWAY CASS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS & TRAILHEAD M 58 NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER UPRR ROCK ISLAND SPUR
UPRR OF THE KATY TRAIL
M 7
Location of Detour, Proposed Pleasant Hill Bridge in relation to Downtown Pleasant Hill The existing MOPAC Trail and Cycle Track wind through the heart of Downtown Pleasant Hill to the Rock Island Spur trailhead at the Cass County Fairgrounds. A new bridge would allow for a safe, direct connection.
Pleasant Hill Bridge Schematic Drawing (TWM, Inc.) The proposed bridge contains 5-110’ prefabricated steel pedestrian trusses to meet a 24’-4” minimum vertical clearance required by the railroad.
Aerial View of UPRR Crossing of Rock Island Tracks The clearing in the center of the photo is the approximate location of the crossing of the Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railway right-of-way. METRO KANSAS CITY: JACKSON COUNTY’S ROCK ISLAND AND METROGREEN The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) has connecting the Katy Trail to the overall MetroGreen invested significant planning resources in coordinating system. Once completed in 2020, Jackson County’s Rock Local, State, and Federal capital dollars allocated for trails. Island Corridor Shared Use Path will be a connection to a This plan, known as MetroGreen, has helped to build out number of other trails that connect to the heart of Kansas 195 miles of trails throughout the region. City, Missouri and the Kansas side of the metropolitan area. This connection will increase the base of Katy Trail Because it is a rail trail that navigates several watersheds, users, and therefore increase the economic benefit to every the Rock Island Corridor is an instrumental part of community in rural Missouri along the existing trail.
Platte
Leavenworth
Clay
Wyandotte
Jackson Cass
Johnson Miami
0 5 10 20 miles Project Location The project described in this document is located in rural The bridge component of this project is located in western Missouri, specifically southern Jackson County rural western Missouri, specifically south and east of and Northern Cass County. The proposed project is Pleasant Hill, Missouri, one-half mile directly west of split between Missouri’s 5th Congressional District the intersection of Highway 58 and Highway 7. This held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, and Missouri’s 4th bridge will cross the Union Pacific railroad line at this Congressional District held by Rep. Vicky Hartzler. location. This bridge would connect the existing Rock The project encompasses two distinct components: Island Extension of the Katy Trail State Park to its trail a bicycle and pedestrian trail and a bridge. The trail head at the Cass County Fairgrounds and subsequently to component will begin approximately one mile south downtown Pleasant Hill. of the 50 Highway and 291 Highway interchange in A 0.5 mile section on the northern end and the 1.75 Southern Lee’s Summit on the Rock Island Rail Corridor mile portion of the trail within Greenwood, Missouri are Right of Way. The trail then heads south and east through the only pieces of this project within an Urbanized Area downtown Greenwood, Missouri, then continuing a (“Lee’s Summit Urban Area 48826”) representing about similar path south and east until it reaches its terminus 33% of the trail length. The remainder of the project, near Pleasant Hill Lake in northern Cass County. including the Pleasant Hill Bridge, is outside of a Census- designated Urbanized Area or Urban Cluster.
Proportion of Project in Rural vs. Urban Areas Urban Rural (Length) (Length) Urban (Cost) Rural (Cost) Total Cost Trail 2.25 mi 4.60 mi. $ 2,700,941 $ 5,521,924 $ 8,222,865 Pleasant Hill Bridge $ 2,818,380 $ 2,818,380 Mobility Hub $ 400,215 $ 400,215 Total $ 3,101,156 $ 8,340,304 $ 11,441,460 Percent 33% 67% 27% 73% LEE’S SUMMIT LEE’S SUMMIT SEGMENT 1: 2.68 MILES EXISTING ROCK ISLAND PATH
LEE’S SUMMIT, MO UPRR URBAN AREA SEGMENT 2: M7 48826 1.45 MILES
MH M150
SEGMENT 3: M291 2.72 MILES OPTIONAL MOBILITY HUB AND TRAILHEAD GREENWOOD MO 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DIST. JACKSON CO REP. EMANUEL CLEAVER II CASS CO MO 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DIST. REP. VICKY HARTZLER
UPRR PLEASANT HILL, MO URBAN CLUSTER 70210
EXISTING MOPAC TRAIL
PLEASANT
HILL M7
DETOUR ON STATE HWY.
M58
M58 NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER RR
UPRR
EXISTING ROCK ISLAND SPUR OF THE KATY TRAIL Location Map of the Connecting the Katy Multi-Use Path Project Funding
Jackson County, Missouri State Parks, other local Both Missouri State Parks and Jackson County will communities, and philanthropic donors have made commit its resources to the survey and preliminary significant investments in the statewide Katy Trail System. engineering of the project. Jackson County will also lend Because of the size of these investments, the rural nature its staff resources in the development of environmental of this project, and the modest request for funding relative and permitting materials, design-build procurement, and to the total amount appropriated, Jackson County and administration, inspection, and materials testing of the Missouri State Parks are respectfully requesting that the construction projects. maximum Federal share of 80% be waived for this project.
PROPOSED SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3 Trail Subtotal Mobility Hub New Bridge Project Total Survey, Prelim. Eng.* $ 330,000 $ 16,500 $ 20,000 $ 366,500 Right-of-Way** $ 25,835 $ - $ 64,301 $ 90,135 $ 121,000 $ - $ 211,135 Final Design $ 360,000 $ 18,000 $ 400,000 $ 778,000 Construction $ 1,735,698 $ 2,058,831 $ 2,971,589 $ 6,766,118 $ 222,468 $ 2,180,345 $ 9,168,931 Contingency (10%) $ 173,570 $ 205,883 $ 297,159 $ 676,612 $ 22,247 $ 218,035 $ 916,893 Total $ 1,935,103 $ 2,264,714 $ 3,333,049 $ 8,222,865 $ 400,215 $ 2,818,380 $ 11,441,460 Federal Request $ 1,910,103 $ 2,264,714 $ 3,333,049 $ 7,892,865 $ 383,715 $ 2,798,380 $ 11,049,960
*Jackson County and the State of Missouri will pay survey and preliminary engineering costs. **The Rails to Trails Conservancy has granted Jackson County $25,000 for the acquisition of Right-of- Way. This has been deducted from the total Federal request. Totals may vary due to rounding. PREVIOUS LOCAL, STATE, PRIVATE, AND FEDERAL SPENDING ON THE KATY TRAIL SYSTEM Local/State Private Federal Total RI Path (Jackson County) Right of Way $ 50,095,000 $ 50,095,000 Survey and Design $ 2,465,000 $ 2,465,000 Construction $ 5,000,000 $ 10,000,000 $ 15,000,000
MOPAC Trail (Pleasant Hill) Construction $ 900,000 $ 1,100,000 $ 2,000,000
Rock Island Spur (MO Parks) Construction $ 14,000,000 $ 14,000,000 Right of Way From Ameren Lawsuit Settlement
Katy Trail* Acquisition (Ted Jones) $ 2,200,000 $ 2,200,000
Subtotal $ 72,460,000 $ 2,200,000 $ 11,100,000 $ 85,760,000 Percent 84% 3% 13%
Connecting the Katy $ 366,500 $ 25,000 $ 11,049,159 $ 11,049,960 Grand Total $72,826,500 $2,225,000 $22,149,159 $ 97,201,460 Percent 75% 2% 23%
*Full costs for the 240 mile Katy Trail are not reflected in these figures. The Katy Trail was constructed over many years with a combination of local, private, and state funding. Merit Criteria
SAFETY Safety of Katy Trail users one of the primary reasons crossing passes underneath an existing highway overpass we are seeking the BUILD Grant, and is central to our on Jackson County’s Rock Island Corridor Right of Way, vision for this project. Trails attract users precisely because avoiding any interaction with automobiles or trucks. they are safe for bicyclists, walkers and other trail users Both the Union Pacific Sedalia Subdivision and Big Creek when compared to streets without bicycle or pedestrian will be avoided by using an existing MODOT bridge on infrastructure. Research has shown that users are more M-150 Highway. This bridge has room for bicycles and likely to ride longer distances and be more willing to pedestrians and would only require minimal alteration. commute to work when they use a protected or off street This crossing is critical as it is the only opportunity in the 1 facility . Additionally, a 2012 Economic Impact Study project area to avoid an at-grade crossing of the railroad and related survey noted that safety from automobile and track. Avoiding interactions with the rail road is a major truck traffic was a primary reason for visiting and using safety component of this project and greatly benefits all the Katy Trail. trail users and the railroad. The Missouri & Northern The Connecting the Katy project seeks to close an eight Arkansas Railroad currently forces Katy Trail users onto mile gap in a 290 mile state wide trail system where the M-58 for approximately 1,600 feet, a dangerous and only current alternative is for users to go on local streets non-ideal situation for cyclists and pedestrians. The new and rural highways. These roadways are narrow, lack Pleasant Hill Pedestrian Bridge contained in this project shoulders, are high speed and have poor sightlines. They would pass over the active Missouri & Northern Arkansas are not appropriate for cyclists or walkers and put simply, Line, thus avoiding a conflict with the railroad and are unsafe for anything but automobiles and trucks. eliminating the need for the highway detour. The typical result of this detour is that users will start and end their A lack of safe infrastructure is central to why Katy Trail time on the Katy Trail outside of Pleasant Hill in an effort users currently don’t continue their journey westward avoid this dangerous situation. When this occurs, Pleasant into the Kansas City region, and why those from Kansas Hill sees less visitors and less economic impact from trail City don’t venture east to the Katy trail. The intrepid users than it should. This is a critical safety feature of this cyclists and walkers who do attempt to ride or walk in project and also one that will have a notable economic this location do so at their own peril, and most choose not impact to the City of Pleasant Hill, MO. to take the risk at all. The lack of safe infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians in the project area either forces STATE OF GOOD REPAIR users onto unsafe roads, or results in a choice to not make This project will utilize existing and new infrastructure the trip at all. to cross multiple challenging barriers to cyclists and pedestrians seeking to connect through the project area. Another safety issue in the project area are the major Building high quality bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure barriers at Missouri Route 291, the Union Pacific Sedalia is our goal and keeping this asset in a state of good repair Subdivision, Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad will be our priority. As the owner of the Connecting (owned by the Union Pacific) and Big Creek. Our proposal the Katy trail system, Jackson County is committed to for the Connecting the Katy uses existing infrastructure to operations and maintenance of this new asset. Missouri avoid 291, the Union Pacific Sedalia Subdivision and Big State Parks will manage operations and maintenance for Creek. The grade crossing at the Missouri & Northern the new Pleasant Hill Railroad Bridge. Arkansas Railroad will be managed with a new bridge included in this proposal. The Missouri Route 291 Much of the existing infrastructure in the project area is currently in disrepair and will be upgraded to meet 1 NCHRP Report 552; p.39 AASHTO and Jackson County design standards. A towns they love and call home. portion of the trail will be built on an out-of-service It is well established that trails positively impact local railroad corridor recently purchased by Jackson County economies, benefit businesses and increase property values. that has seen no maintenance for over 35 years. This As part of the larger Katy Trail system through Missouri, defunct railroad corridor is blighted and through this the Connecting the Katy would be a small piece of one project will be restored to a valuable community asset. of the longest contiguous trail systems in the Country. A Downtown Greenwood, Missouri currently has no 2012 economic impact analysis of the Katy Trail noted pedestrian infrastructure of any kind. Missouri Highway that the trail sees 400,000 users per year, generates an 150, which also doubles as their Main Street, has a wide economic impact of $18,491,000.00 and supports 367 uneven gravel swath for the length of their downtown jobs with an annual payroll of 5,128,000.00. The report adjacent to an elementary school and their business also notes that trail users spent $45 per day on average, district. Our proposal would install pedestrian and bicycle and that 67% were non-local. Trail systems like these friendly infrastructure and delineate space for cars, bicycles bring in tourism dollars, create jobs and are ultimately and pedestrians. This will create an environment where transformative for the small towns that they touch. people can bike and walk safely, access their downtown, Communities that build trails see an increase in property and their elementary school while improving automobile values. Various studies have shown that trails can add a circulation and parking. This will also create an economic premium to nearby homes; in Indianapolis homes near a advantage for downtown Greenwood allowing business to “high profile” trail project saw an 11% premium, and in grow and thrive. Austin, TX homes near trails saw increases from 6-20%. Moving farther east, a MODOT owned bridge would The bottom line is that people want to live near high- take trail users over the Union Pacific Railroad allowing quality trail amenities and are willing to pay extra to do them to cross this barrier safely and easily. Through this so. This will benefit Pleasant Hill and Greenwood by proposal the bridge would be improved to allow for spurring development near the trail and raising their tax bicycles and pedestrians to access businesses and homes base. on both sides of the railroad tracks. East and south of this ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION location, new trail infrastructure would be constructed. The Connecting the Katy will be designed and built to Through actions taken by our County Legislature we maximize opportunities for environmental protection. have ensured that financial commitments to this project Throughout the length of the corridor an ecological buffer are secure and that the project is appropriately capitalized will be kept on the sides of the trail right of way, helping up front. In order to ensure we maintain this asset to wildlife move within developed areas and retaining the fullest extent possible, we will utilize existing asset habitat. Tree and vegetation removal will be kept to a management plans for Jackson County parks and trails. minimum and throughout the lifecycle of the project Through both our Rock Island Rail Corridor Authority invasive species management will occur. and our Parks + Rec Department Jackson County has well Protection of water quality will be a priority throughout established asset management plans and procedures to lean the project through stormwater best management practices on. Additionally, all Jackson County capital asset needs are and runoff mitigation. We will enhance or repair existing tracked through our five year Capital Improvements plan, culverts where necessary to ensure proper movement of this new trail system would be no different and operations water and reduce flood risks. Where new stream crossings and maintenance costs would be accounted for. are necessary, we will retain a riparian buffer to the fullest ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS extent possible to prevent bank erosion and to enhance The Katy and Rock Island Trail system is already having existing streams and wetlands. We will design the trail to an impact on the economy of Rural Western Missouri, utilize a crushed limestone trail surface, reducing runoff yet this impact is muted by the many trail users choosing and helping to recharge groundwater. When concrete is not to complete their journey through the project area. necessary, we will use permeable concrete, reducing runoff Completing this trail system will greatly magnify the and assisting with groundwater recharge. economic competitiveness of small towns in western The project will improve air quality by reducing vehicle Missouri and the Kansas City Region. This will allow miles traveled in the project area. This new bicycle people to start or grow their businesses and to stay in the and pedestrian infrastructure will offer residents an opportunity to ride their bikes or walk to work, school or A study of three trails in rural northern and eastern church, therefore reducing the need for short automobile Nebraska and western Iowa, found that 74 percent of trips. By providing a new connection to a local elementary respondents indicated that they used the nearby trails for school, Greenwood children will now be able to ride safely recreation daily, weekly or occasionally. Sixty-eight percent to school, reducing the need for parents to pick them up said the trails had a positive impact on their community3. and consequently idling as they wait. Additionally, this This demonstrates the power of trails to positively affect project will provide direct connections to both downtown communities by improving the quality of life for residents Greenwood and downtown Pleasant Hill, allowing who live there. residents to access businesses, restaurants, schools and INNOVATION government buildings. Though this is a bicycle and pedestrian oriented project, QUALITY OF LIFE we will utilize innovative technologies and existing Trails greatly contribute to the quality of life in a partnerships to leverage technology based solutions community by offering opportunities for recreation, throughout the project. Throughout the length of the exercise, and transportation choice. Many studies cite trail project we will institute innovative design. This will trails as a reason why people love the places they live, and especially true on residential streets and at intersections as a primary reason they choose to stay there. Additionally, within the town of Greenwood Missouri. Additionally, trails are a public health benefit and a powerful weapon in this corridor will be available to Broadband companies the fight against obesity. All of these quality of life benefits wishing to extend broadband services to rural Missourians. are profound, long lasting and deeply meaningful. Revenues from these agreements would be used to pay for operations and maintenance of the facility resulting Pedestrian and bicycle safety improves the quality of life in innovative financing arrangement and a win-win for in rural western Missouri. The Connecting the Katy Trail all parties. will pass by Greenwood’s elementary school, creating a safe, comfortable way for children to walk or bike from Through Jackson County’s existing partnership with the their neighborhood to their school. Currently, there are Kansas City Area Transportation Authority we will work no sidewalks in the location of our proposed trail, so to identify how to include a Mobility Hub Concept into children or others coming to school from the North or our design. As the goal of this project is not only to spur East are forced onto high-traffic roadways. In this case, a tourism and economic development, but also create trail will allow children to do something once considered transportation choice and job access for residents near the normal for small town life: walking and biking to school. trail, the Mobility Hub concept is critical to this project. Developed as our region’s 20 year transit and mobility Improved connectivity is an important benefit of this plan, SmartMoves3.0 incorporates Mobility Hubs into project. Through this trail system, rural Missourians will activity center planning. have a new connection between nearby towns and cities. This will allow rural residents to walk or bike from their Innovation will also be incorporated into project delivery homes to activity centers, government services, hospitals for Connecting the KATY. We envision a Design-Build and other important nearby locations. approach allowing for efficient and cost effective process through all project phases. This also lowers the risk to Studies bear out the impact that trails have on their Jackson County, MO, State Parks and DOT as the design communities. A study of trails near Bloomington, and construction firm or team is unified, reducing the Indiana surveyed residents about the benefits of trails likelihood of conflicting concepts. Multiple studies have in their city and among the most common responses shown that design-build is faster and more cost effective were: convenience and access to recreation, physical than the more traditional design-bid-build concept. fitness, social connection, and connection to the natural environment2. While it is difficult to put a monetary value on these benefits, it’s not difficult to understand how they PARTNERSHIP improve the quality of life for residents. The Connecting the Katy Project is a superb example of partnerships across municipal, county and state 2 https://headwaterseconomics.org/trail/32-multiuse- organizations working together to find a solution to a trails-benefits-and-concerns/ 3 https://headwaterseconomics.org/trail/5-nebraska- rural-trails/ challenging problem. This problem – an eight mile gap gotten us to this point. The Katy Trail itself could not between existing trail systems, and a large trail bridge - have been possible without Ted and Pat Jones, who impacts communities across Missouri, but that impact is donated $2.2M toward acquisition and development of magnified locally where the gap exists. The counties and the Katy Trail between 1980 and 1990. municipalities in that locality are now working with the In 2008, Ameren, a utility company operating in Missouri, State of Missouri to find and implement a solution. donated a 47.5 mile railroad right of way to the state of In early 2017 Jackson County, Missouri convened a group Missouri that is now the Rock Island Extension of the of local stakeholders to begin planning the Connecting KATY Trail. This connects the Katy Trail at Windsor to the Katy Trail project. This included: Jackson County’s Pleasant Hill. To this date, MO State Parks has invested Rock Island Rail Corridor Authority, Jackson County $14M on this project and since February 2017 it has seen Parks + Rec, Lee’s Summit, Greenwood, Cass County, over 15,000 visitors. Pleasant Hill (Cass County), Missouri Department of More recently, Jackson County, MO issued $52M in Conservation, the Mid America Regional Council, Private bonds to acquire the 17.7 mile Rock Island Railroad sector developers and local landowners. This group met Corridor. The vision of this corridor is not just to construct over the course of nine months and worked on issues such a bicycle and pedestrian trail connecting to the Katy, as route planning, funding and implementation strategy. but also to preserve this land for a transit corridor and During this time a working plan emerged and we have to create economic development opportunities. Jackson taken the vision forward. County’s partner in this endeavor, the Kansas City Area The 2018 BUILD Grant opened the door to another Transportation Authority is in the process of hiring a unique partnership: Jackson County and Missouri State Master Developer charged with finding opportunities for parks. Before this opportunity arose, Jackson County the private sector to invest in and around this community had a trail project and MO State Parks had a bridge asset. project. As standalone projects, these would have made These investments demonstrate the immense size and interesting BUILD applications, but together we felt they scope of investment in this project from multiple state were more compelling. Understanding that neither of our and local agencies. Our local communities are working to projects would finalize the connection to Kansas City, complete this project but a small, challenging gap remains. our organizations agreed to work together to apply for a Solving this challenge through BUILD is our proposal. BUILD Grant. These unique partnerships between local, county, state and federal organizations can be a catalyst to complete some of the most challenging infrastructure issues our Country faces. NON-FEDERAL REVENUES Several proposals for new sources of revenue related to transportation infrastructure are currently being vetted by several agencies locally and at the state level. While it is currently unknown if these will be successful, both local and state agencies are doing due diligence to raise funds for infrastructure needs. In May of 2018, Missouri lawmakers passed a bill allowing a ballot measure to increase the gas tax in Missouri by ten cents over four years. Headed to the ballot in November, this measure would supply $123 Million annually to local governments for road construction and maintenance. In addition to future revenues that could be created by innovative financing measures there has been significant public and private investment in the projects that have Project Readiness
TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY Range Transportation Plan and Creating Sustainable The project proposed in this document consists of two Places plan. Our Local Public Agency contact at MoDOT components: a 7 mile bicycle and pedestrian trail and a is currently exploring our likely NEPA classification and pedestrian bridge. Both components have undergone believes that the appropriate classifcation would be a some level of preliminary design and costing. This provides Categorical Exclusion. Environmental concerns for this a high level snapshot of project feasibility, depicting a project have been provided to MoDOT in the form of a project that lacks major challenges. memo and are noted below. The trail component of this project will be designed A majority of right of way for the trail component is under adhering to AASHTO design standards, as well as design control by local jurisdictions. Currently 4.2 miles of the standards consistent with other Jackson County, MO 6.8 mile route is owned by Jackson County, Greenwood trails. Route alternatives were explored with project or MoDOT, and we have a letter of intent from a local partners as noted in the Partnership section of this landowner for an additional 1 mile. Approximately 18.10 application with the proposed route being the consensus acres of ROW or permanent easement are required, preferred alternative among project partners. Currently and 4.78 acres of temporary construction easement are we have reached an advanced conceptual level design required from 16 tax parcels owned by 12 separate owners. for the trail, which provides project feasibility as well as The trail alignment could require the purchase of some cost estimates. Nothing in this design indicates a major economic remnants of land (although the existing parcels challenge to construction of the trail project. in question are currently land locked, and the shared use path does not create this condition) totaling up to 36.9 The bridge component of this project has undergone acres. preliminary design, preliminary geotechnical and a cost estimate has been provided. This work was done by The Rock Island Rail Corridor, purchased in 2016 for a Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen, Inc (TWM) for Missouri 15 mile trail project (17.7 mile long corridor in total) was State Parks in 2017. In addition TWM provided a letter over 347 acres. 1.4 miles of segment 1 are within existing outlining future work required to advance the bridge ROW owned by Jackson County, and an additional 1.45 component to a construction phase. Relevant documents miles use only existing public ROW. Finally, parcel 6 will be provided upon request. Again, there is nothing (1.85+/- ac.) owned by Gibson Roger J – Trustee is a large in these documents indicating that this bridge is not a tract within Downtown Greenwood that could be used reasonably straightforward construction project. for an optional trailhead and mobility hub. Upon award, Jackson County will undertake legislative PROJECT SCHEDULE action appropriating funds for a design-build project for Pre-construction activities for this project have begun and the trail component as described in our Innovation Merit have in fact been underway for some time. Upon award, Criteria. Jackson County will manage procurement for we will work with our MPO, the Mid America Regional both project components. Council, amending the TIP to include this project. Formal Local approvals will follow the award of the design- TIP Amendments are done on a quarterly basis in our build contract and, as these approvals will be from region and would be done as soon as possible. Additionally, project partners they will be accommodated without the project is already included in our MPO Region’s Long 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASOND JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASOND Planning & Engagement Stakeholder Meetings Alternative Identified Conceptual Design & Estimate Public Hearing Open House (CE2)
NEPA/Permitting Draft Categorical Exclusion Document Section 106 Report Wetlands Review Endangered Species / Bat Habitat Survey CE2 Approval USACE Permits Local Floodplain Permits
Preliminary Design Survey Preliminary Design ROW Plans & Legals
Right of Way A-Date Obligation Request (ROW) Appraisals Acquisition
Design-Build Request Obligation Procurement & Award Design & Geotechnical Construction issue. Similarly, as these activities will be occurring Office (MoSHPO) to resolve an adverse effect finding within jurisdictions of project partners, implementation related to the removal of existing rail and ties. Jackson agreements will be completed without issue. County and Missouri State Parks have both completed or While an agreement with the railroad is not yet in place, are in the process of completing the required mitigation, discussions between Union Pacific and MO State Parks and this project will not require additional mitigation for have been underway and Jackson County’s positive removal of rail and ties. Jackson County will consult with relationship with Union Pacific will be helpful to this MoSHPO for any additional cultural resources studies process. At this stage of pre-construction activities there that need to occur. are no significant known challenges to this project and Section 404/401: Jackson County will also work with therefore no expected delays. MoDOT, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Missouri Department of Natural Resources on any potential wetlands or riverline (section 404) or water quality REQUIRED APPROVALS Environmental Permits and Reviews: Jackson County (section 401) that are required. has worked closely with MoDOT’s Kansas City office Threatened and Endangered Species:Jackson County’s and Environmental divison on a number of Federal-aid initial query of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s IPaC projects before. In consultation with environmental staff system identified four threatened and endangered species, and the district office, it was determined that the NEPA including three species of endangered bat. Jackson County classification is likely to be a Categorical Exclusion. will conduct a survey of potential bat habitat, and as with MoDOT has a separate class of Categorical Exclusion other projects, pledges only to clear potential bat habitat called an Open Ended Categorical Exclusion, or “CE2”, trees during non-roosting winter months. which requires a written report and approval from MoDOT Floodplain: Four creek crossing are anticipated with the and review by the Federal Highway Administration. A current design (one is an existing bridge that will not letter from the MoDOT Area Engineer is attached to this impact Big Creek). With each new culvert or culvert grant application in the “Letters of Support” appendix. extension, Jackson County will design to FEMA No Rise Additionally, because much of this work will happen in Criteria. MoDOT right-of-way, district design staff will be closely engaged starting with preliminary design to make sure A full listing of environmental issues is contained as an that MoDOT standards are followed. attachment memo to MoDOT’s letter of support. Section 106: The portion of the trail on the former Public Involvement: The community has been engaged Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railroad (including in planning around the Rock Island Corridor since parts of Segment 1 and the Pleasant Hill Bridge) was the 2011, with the Jackson County Commuter Corridors subject of an existing Memorandum of Agreement with Alternatives Analysis1. In 2013, in coordination with FHWA and the Missouri State Historic Preservation the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), a land use and transportation study of the Rock Island Corridor, 1 http://www.kcsmartmoves.org/projects/ jacksoncounty-documents.aspx including sections of Greenwood, Missouri that are the is likely our biggest challenge. However, 48% of right of subject of this grant, were also studied with significant way is under control by a project partner (MoDOT, City public input2. More recently, in March 2017 Jackson of Lee’s Summmit, or City of Greenwood). We have been County conducted two rounds of public hearings for its provided a letter of intent by a landowner to cooperate recent Rock Island Corridor Shared Use Path project. on an additional 1 mile or 14% of needed right of way. Of the 200+ attendees, many shared comments about Additional right of way needs will be negotiated according several alternatives to connect to the Katy Trail, and most to Uniform Relocation Act rules and regulations, with attendees state a preference for the most direct route guidance from MoDOT. possible.3 Finally, after several months of stakeholder The Jackson County Legislature has expressed support for involvment (including the City of Lee’s Summit, City this project on multiple occasions including Resolutions of Greenwood, Pleasant Hill, MoDOT, KCATA, and 19783 and 19921 (see attached in Letters of Support). BikeWalkKC), a direct alignment was chosen as this group’s preferred alternative. This alignment is reflected The NEPA review process is also unlikely to disrupt this in this grant application. project as we believe a Categorical Exclusion will be the determined classification. Jackson County has experience State and Local Approvals: This project is included working with MoDOT to develop all materials required in the Long Range Transportation Plan for the Kansas for their “Open-Ended Categorical Exclusion/CE2” City Region and will be included in the TIP and STIP process. once funded. Jackson County has worked closely with many Missouri regulatory agencies and will follow state Finally, Missouri State Parks is still negotaiting with the approval processes outlined above in the Environmental Union Pacific Railroad for final approvals to construct Permits and Reviews section. It will also work with local a bridge on its right of way. While existing agreements Floodplain managers on any work occurring in the govern the Rock Island Right of Way at the Union Pacific floodplain or regulatory floodway. Right-of-Way, the Union Pacific is likely to cooperate if its design concerns are met. Additionally, Jackson County has experience in negotiating with railroads, have acquired PROJECT RISKS & MITIGATION STRATEGIES the Rock Island Corridor from the Union Pacific in 2016. Risks to this project include: right of way acquisition, Jackson County legislative approval for design/build, and the NEPA review process. We believe these risks to be relatively minor and unlikely to delay this project, however we are prepared to confront these issues should they arise. Jackson County recognzies that right of way acquisition
2 http://www.marc.org/Regional-Planning/pdf/Rock- Island-Final-Report091513.aspx pp. 56-59 3 http://www.jacksongov.org/DocumentCenter/ View/3595/Rock-Island-Corridor-Open-House-Boards?bidId= p. 5 Appendix A: Connecting the Katy Benefit-Cost Analysis
Introduction and Problem Solution:
In addition to the economic and safety impacts noted in the Merit Criteria of this application, are societal benefits also examined in this BCA. These include Recreation benefits, Mobility benefits, Health benefits, real estate values, and decreased auto use.
This project will complete a connection from the Katy Trail to Kansas City through the construction of two project components: an eight mile bicycle and pedestrian trail and bridge. The requested $11 Million BUILD grant will cover the costs of construction for both project components. Through this BCA we will demonstrate that the project benefits greatly outweigh the cost.
Benefit Cost Ratio: 5.04
Net Present Value: $45,239,458.91
Baselines / Alternatives
As noted elsewhere in this application, Connecting the Katy replaces or redesigns two unsafe gaps in the trail network. The baseline assumption for this project is a no-build scenario where conditions on the ground remain unchanged.
Demand Forecasting
Demand forecasting was completed using methodology from FHWA and the University of North Carolina’s Highway Safety Research Center’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center document Translating Demand and Benefits Research into Guidelines.
The tool available at www.pedbikeinfo.org was used to forecast total demand1. This tool was developed as a part of the NCHRP 552 study. More information on the methodology is available here: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/bikecost/methodology.cfm
The tool relies on calculations from the U.S. Census based on the metropolitan area of the project. Custom population densities were provided in order to generate a more conservative estimate. They include the densities at the following buffers:
• Density at within 800 meters: 1,380 per square mile • Density between 800-1600 meters: 583 per square mile • Density between 1600-2400 meters: 651 per square mile compared to a metro average density of 2,230 people per square mile.
1 http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/bikecost/step1.cfm While our analysis is simplistic, it is based on a tool developed using Federal research dollars. Its results can be repeated and tested by grant reviewers, and it produces reliable results.
A commute share of 1% was chosen for this analysis.
This tool provided the following estimates for demand.
Mid Estimate commute numbers were selected.
Inflation Adjustments
Inflation adjustment values and calculations were taken from the US Department of Transportation Benefit-Cost Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs Document.
Discounting
For project investments, dollar figures in this analysis are expressed in constant 2019 dollars. In instances where cost estimates or benefit valuations were expressed in dollar values in other years, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was used for the adjustment calculation.
The real discount rates used for this analysis was 7.0 percent, consistent with OMB Circular A-94. Future benefits and costs are discounted back to 2019 year costs as a baseline, allowing for comparison to other BCA elements.
Analysis Period
For Connecting the Katy Project, the evaluation period includes the relevant design-build period in 2020 and 2021 during which all capital expenditures are made, and 20 years of operations within which to accrue benefits.
For the purpose of this analysis, it is assumed that right of way acquisition and preliminary design would begin in 2020. Because the proposed project delivery is design-build, the final design phase and construction would occur in 2021. The construction period would last under one year with operations beginning in 2022. We will assume a full year of operations in 2022 and carry the analysis period for the following 20 years, ending in 2041. All benefits and cost are assumed to occur at the end of each year.
Scope of Analysis
This analysis is intended to identify the difference between the benefits and costs of constructing a bridge and bicycle and pedestrian trail that will connect several communities to the KATY Trail. While the Katy Trail connection is paramount, this project will also provide an opportunity for commuting, increased mobility and recreation – all resulting in improved health outcomes. Determining the number of single family homes within one-quarter mile of the trail and multiplying by a modest premium percentage allow us to analyze the impact on property values. Taken together these benefits also result in reduced auto usage. Therefore, the categories of benefits examined as part of this BCA are Recreation, Mobility, Health, Decreased Auto Usage and Real Estate Values. Benefits
The results of our Benefit Cost Analysis for Recreation, Commuter Mobility, Health Benefits and Decreased Auto Use were found using methodology from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program and FHWA and the University of North Carolina’s Highway Safety Research Center’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Specifically, we utilized NCHRP Report 552 – Guidelines for Analysis of Investments in Bicycle Facilities, and Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center documents, Translating Demand and Benefits Research into Guidelines and A Tool to Estimate the Benefits and Costs of Bicycle Facilities. The University of North Carolina’s Highway Safety Research Center also provides a Cost- Demand-and Benefit tool based on the same methodology, which was utilized for the same purpose.
The Mid-Estimate was selected for each of the annual benefits.
Property value increases were determined only for single family homes within one-quarter mile of the trail and were estimated at a 3.5% increase. This is based on a number of studies indicating increases between 3.5-11%.
Trail Study (date) Type of Distance from Increase in Trail Trail Studied Property Value University of 12 mile urban multi- 10,000 feet (1.8 mile) $9,000 per 1,000 feet Cincinnati – purpose from trail heads from trail (3.5%) Little Miami Scenic Trail (2011) 2 University of Various 50 meters (0.03 mile) $8,800 (4%) Delaware – from the trail New Castle County (2006)3 Journal of Park and 7.1 mile 0.5 miles 11.4% Recreation - rail to trail from the trail Monon Trail (2004) 4
The source of the data for residential properties was the Jackson County Assessment department. A GIS analysis created a ¼ mile buffer around the trail alignment. Only parcels with a residential land value
2 Ranier vom hofe and Olivier Parent, Research Finds that Homeowners and City Planners Should “Hit the Trails” When Considering Property Values, (University of Cincinnati Departments of Planning and Economics, October 2011) 3 David Racca and Amardeep Dhanju, Property Value/Desirability Effects of bike Paths Adjacent to Residential Areas (University of Delaware Center for Applied Demography and Research, November 2006). 4 Greg Lindsey, Joyce Man, Seth Payton, and Kelly Dickson, Property Values, Recreational Values, and Urban Greenways, (Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, Fall 2004 Volume 22, number 3 pp. 69-90)
were selected. The total market value for these properties was summed to value of $67,271,503. A one- time benefit of 3.5% of this value ($2,354,502.61) was applied in 2022.
Costs
The one-time capital expenses for Connecting the Katy include Survey & Preliminary Design (spent in 2020), right-of-way acquisition (spent in 2020), and final design and construction (spent in 2021).
Expenditure Type Spent in 2020 (2019$) Spent in 2021 (2019$) Total Survey & Prelim. Eng. $366,500 $366,500 Right-of-Way Acquisition $211,145 $211,145 Final Design-Construction $0 $10,863,825 $10,863,825 Total $577,645 $10,863,825 $11,441,470
Maintenance costs are estimated to be $125,000 per year in 2019$. These figures are based off of the contractual services for maintenance for the Trolley Track Trail in Kansas City, MO procured by Jackson County’s partner agency, the KCATA. Expenses in 2017 for the 6.3 mile trail (which is predominately crushed rock surface) were approximately $111,245. These costs begin in 2020 and are extended through the useful life of the multi-use path, to 2041. Comparison The sum of discounted benefits from the period 2020-2041 is $56,424,842.98. The sum of the total discounted costs is $11,185,384.08. The discount rate used was 7% from the year 2019. Benefit Cost Ratio: 5.04 Net Present Value: $45,239,458.91 Annual summary tables are attached to this memorandum.
Table 1: Annual Cost Summary Undiscounted Discounted Capital (2019$) O&M (2019$) Total 7% 2020$ 577,635.00 $ 577,635.00 $ 539,845.79 2021$ 10,863,825.00 $ 10,863,825.00 $ 9,488,885.49 2022$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 102,037.23 2023$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 95,361.90 2024$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 89,123.27 2025$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 83,292.78 2026$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 77,843.72 2027$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 72,751.14 2028$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 67,991.72 2029$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 63,543.66 2030$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 59,386.60 2031$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 55,501.49 2032$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 51,870.56 2033$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 48,477.16 2034$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 45,305.75 2035$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 42,341.82 2036$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 39,571.80 2037$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 36,982.99 2038$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 34,563.54 2039$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 32,302.38 2040$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 30,189.14 2041$ 125,000.00 $ 125,000.00 $ 28,214.15 $ 13,941,460.00 $ 11,185,384.08 Table 2: Annual Benefit Summary Properety Value Impacts Recreation Benefit Mobility Benefit Health Benefit Decreased Auto Use Total FV Coefficient Undiscounted Discounted Undiscounted Discounted Undiscounted Discounted Undiscounted Discounted Undiscounted Discounted Undiscounted Discounted 0.934579439 2020 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ 0.873438728 2021 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ 0.816297877 2022$ 2,354,502.61 $ 1,921,975.48 $ 5,568,524.00 $ 4,545,574.32 $ 120,754.00 $ 98,571.23 $ 199,748.00 $ 163,053.87 $ 1,124.00 $ 917.52 $ 8,244,652.61 $ 6,730,092.42 0.762895212 2023 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 4,248,200.30 $ 120,754.00 $ 92,122.65 $ 199,748.00 $ 152,386.79 $ 1,124.00 $ 857.49 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 4,493,567.23 0.712986179 2024 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 3,970,280.65 $ 120,754.00 $ 86,095.93 $ 199,748.00 $ 142,417.56 $ 1,124.00 $ 801.40 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 4,199,595.55 0.666342224 2025 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 3,710,542.67 $ 120,754.00 $ 80,463.49 $ 199,748.00 $ 133,100.53 $ 1,124.00 $ 748.97 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 3,924,855.65 0.622749742 2026 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 3,467,796.88 $ 120,754.00 $ 75,199.52 $ 199,748.00 $ 124,393.02 $ 1,124.00 $ 699.97 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 3,668,089.39 0.582009105 2027 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 3,240,931.67 $ 120,754.00 $ 70,279.93 $ 199,748.00 $ 116,255.15 $ 1,124.00 $ 654.18 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 3,428,120.93 0.543933743 2028 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 3,028,908.10 $ 120,754.00 $ 65,682.18 $ 199,748.00 $ 108,649.68 $ 1,124.00 $ 611.38 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 3,203,851.33 0.508349292 2029 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 2,830,755.23 $ 120,754.00 $ 61,385.21 $ 199,748.00 $ 101,541.75 $ 1,124.00 $ 571.38 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,994,253.58 0.475092796 2030 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 2,645,565.64 $ 120,754.00 $ 57,369.36 $ 199,748.00 $ 94,898.84 $ 1,124.00 $ 534.00 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,798,367.83 0.444011959 2031 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 2,472,491.25 $ 120,754.00 $ 53,616.22 $ 199,748.00 $ 88,690.50 $ 1,124.00 $ 499.07 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,615,297.04 0.414964448 2032 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 2,310,739.49 $ 120,754.00 $ 50,108.62 $ 199,748.00 $ 82,888.32 $ 1,124.00 $ 466.42 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,444,202.84 0.387817241 2033 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 2,159,569.61 $ 120,754.00 $ 46,830.48 $ 199,748.00 $ 77,465.72 $ 1,124.00 $ 435.91 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,284,301.72 0.36244602 2034 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 2,018,289.36 $ 120,754.00 $ 43,766.81 $ 199,748.00 $ 72,397.87 $ 1,124.00 $ 407.39 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,134,861.42 0.338734598 2035 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 1,886,251.74 $ 120,754.00 $ 40,903.56 $ 199,748.00 $ 67,661.56 $ 1,124.00 $ 380.74 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,995,197.59 0.31657439 2036 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 1,762,852.09 $ 120,754.00 $ 38,227.62 $ 199,748.00 $ 63,235.10 $ 1,124.00 $ 355.83 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,864,670.65 0.295863916 2037 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 1,647,525.32 $ 120,754.00 $ 35,726.75 $ 199,748.00 $ 59,098.23 $ 1,124.00 $ 332.55 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,742,682.85 0.276508333 2038 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 1,539,743.29 $ 120,754.00 $ 33,389.49 $ 199,748.00 $ 55,231.99 $ 1,124.00 $ 310.80 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,628,675.56 0.258419003 2039 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 1,439,012.42 $ 120,754.00 $ 31,205.13 $ 199,748.00 $ 51,618.68 $ 1,124.00 $ 290.46 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,522,126.69 0.241513087 2040 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 1,344,871.42 $ 120,754.00 $ 29,163.67 $ 199,748.00 $ 48,241.76 $ 1,124.00 $ 271.46 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,422,548.31 0.225713165 2041 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ 5,568,524.00 $ 1,256,889.18 $ 120,754.00 $ 27,255.77 $ 199,748.00 $ 45,085.75 $ 1,124.00 $ 253.70 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,329,484.40 $ 1,921,975.48 $ 51,526,790.62 $ 1,117,363.61 $ 1,848,312.65 $ 10,400.62 $ 56,424,842.98 Table 3: Summary of Benefits and Costs Undiscounted 7% Discount Undiscounted 7% Discount Total Costs (2019$) Total Costs Total Benefits (2019$) Total Benefits 2020$ 577,635.00 $ 539,845.79 $ ‐ $ ‐ 2021$ 10,863,825.00 $ 9,488,885.49 $ ‐ $ ‐ 2022$ 125,000.00 $ 102,037.23 $ 8,244,652.61 $ 6,730,092.42 2023$ 125,000.00 $ 95,361.90 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 4,493,567.23 2024$ 125,000.00 $ 89,123.27 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 4,199,595.55 2025$ 125,000.00 $ 83,292.78 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 3,924,855.65 2026$ 125,000.00 $ 77,843.72 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 3,668,089.39 2027$ 125,000.00 $ 72,751.14 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 3,428,120.93 2028$ 125,000.00 $ 67,991.72 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 3,203,851.33 2029$ 125,000.00 $ 63,543.66 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,994,253.58 2030$ 125,000.00 $ 59,386.60 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,798,367.83 2031$ 125,000.00 $ 55,501.49 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,615,297.04 2032$ 125,000.00 $ 51,870.56 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,444,202.84 2033$ 125,000.00 $ 48,477.16 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,284,301.72 2034$ 125,000.00 $ 45,305.75 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 2,134,861.42 2035$ 125,000.00 $ 42,341.82 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,995,197.59 2036$ 125,000.00 $ 39,571.80 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,864,670.65 2037$ 125,000.00 $ 36,982.99 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,742,682.85 2038$ 125,000.00 $ 34,563.54 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,628,675.56 2039$ 125,000.00 $ 32,302.38 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,522,126.69 2040$ 125,000.00 $ 30,189.14 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,422,548.31 2041$ 125,000.00 $ 28,214.15 $ 5,890,150.00 $ 1,329,484.40 $ 11,185,384.08 $ 56,424,842.98
Benefit Cost Ratio: 5.04 Net Present Value:$ 45,239,458.91 Appendix B Letters of Support
1. Missouri Governor Mike Parson 2. Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. & Director of Missouri State Parks Ben Ellis 3. U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Missouri) 4. U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (Missouri) 5. U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) 6. U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-5) 7. MoDOT Area Engineer Matthew Killion a. County Memorandum to MoDOT 8. Mid-America Regional Council Executive Director David Warm 9. KCATA Senior Vice President Richard Jarrold 10. Greenwood, MO Mayor Levi Weaver 11. Jackson County, MO Legislature Resolution of Support 12. Cass County Commission 13. Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc. 14. Missouri Bicycle Federation 15. BikeWalkKC 16. Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance 17. Visit KC 18. Jim Riffe Letter of Intent
(816) 503-4845 Rock Island Rail Corridor Authority [email protected]
ROCK ISLAND RAIL CORRIDOR AUTHORITY 415 E. 12TH STREET, FLOOR 4-MN KANSAS CITY, MO 64105 WWW.JACKSONGOV.ORG WWW.ROCKISLANDCORRIDOR.ORG
Date: Monday, July 16, 2018 To: Ms. Eva Steinman – Senior Transportation Planner (MoDOT Kansas City District) Mr. Matt Killion – MoDOT Area Engineer From: Josh Boehm, AICP - Development Manager Subject: Greenwood Connector on MoDOT ROW; NEPA Classification
Jackson County and Missouri State Parks are submitting a FY18 BUILD Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Greenwood Connector Multi-Use Path project. The project aims to be the final link to the Katy Trail from Missouri State Parks’ Rock Island Spur project. We are requesting MoDOT’s verification that Jackson County may construct this project in MoDOT ROW along Route 150, through Greenwood, Missouri and a letter of support. Once constructed, the shared use path and cycle track would be maintained by Jackson County and/or the City of Greenwood. Additionally, we are seeking a preliminary determination for the NEPA Classification for this project.
Project Description The Greenwood Connector project has three sections. Section 1 (2.68 miles) runs from Jefferson Street, east of MO-291 in Lee’s Summit, at the current terminus of the Rock Island Corridor Shared Use Path along the Rock Island Right-of-Way. It transitions onto private property near Hamblen Road, and follows the outer edge of Hamblen Road to approximately Curtis Drive. The facility type is a crushed rock and concrete shared use path.
Section 2 (1.45 miles) will be on-street bicycle facilities with sidewalks. It will run on Hamblen Road, Gambrell Street, Ranson Road, and MO-150 (i.e. “Main Street” in Greenwood). Hamblen, Gambrell, and Ranson both have relatively low traffic volumes. A combination of tradition bicycle lanes, buffered bicycle lanes, and traffic calming measures will create a safe, bikeable environment for users of all ages and abilities. This project would also fund additional sidewalks for pedestrian use along Ranson and portions of Hamblen and Gambrell that do not have sidewalks. A cycle track and sidewalk or shared use path are proposed along MO-150 in Greenwood. A vacant lot, located between 6th and 7th Avenue in Greenwood north of Main Street, would be the site of a trailhead, mobility hub, and shared parking area for businesses along Greenwood’s Main Street. The shared parking lot would also help with access management along the route. This shared parking area would alleviate the parking spaces displaced by the cycle track/shared use path, and even provide additional parking.
Section 3 (2.71 miles) will go from the MO-150 Bridge west of Big Creek approximately 0.3 miles to the Woodland Trails development, where it will turn south and follow the eastern edge of Harry S. Truman, Presiding Judge, 1927-1934
the Union Pacific Railroad through Cass County. The section will continue east along the vacated right-of-way of 159th Street to Pleasant Hill’s extension of the MOPAC trail, which continues on to the Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail. The proposed facility type is a shared use path made primarily of concrete and partially of crushed rock.
Work in MoDOT Right-of-Way In order to complete this project, some work in MoDOT ROW will be required. This includes a portion of on-street but fully separated facilities from Ranson Road to the Big Creek Bridge. Full shared use path facilities will also run in MoDOT Right-of-Way to the Woodland Trails development. A pedestrian signal (either Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon or Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon) is proposed at Ranson Road crossing MO-150. From Ranson Road to the Big Creek Bridge, it is proposed that an unimproved parking area be converted to a two-way cycle track with a sidewalk or shared use path. A shared parking lot and trailhead would be built between 6th and 7th Avenue, one block to the east of Ranson Road.
On the Big Creek Bridge, it is proposed that the shoulder of the existing bridge be used for a bicycle and pedestrian crossing over the Union Pacific railroad and Big Creek. This project would relocate or remove and replace the existing guard rails and jersey barrier on the bridge, with MoDOT’s approval.
At the eastern approach of the Big Creek Bridge, two wide gravel driveways serve three parcels. These driveways would need to be rebuilt to meet ADA requirements. Consolidation of these driveways into a single driveway may improve safety, if the property owners are willing.
A left-side retaining wall on MoDOT ROW is also proposed to avoid grading impacts to the existing MO-150 roadway. An additional driveway will be rebuilt for the mobile home park, and a small left-side retaining wall will be built to avoid grading impacts on the existing roadway.
Harry S. Truman, Presiding Judge, 1927-1934
Environmental Considerations Right-of-Way Approximately 18.10 acres of ROW or permanent easement are required, and 4.78 acres of temporary construction easement are required from 16 tax parcels owned by 12 separate owners. The trail alignment could require the purchase of some economic remnants of land (although the existing parcels in question are currently land locked, and the shared use path does not create this condition) totaling up to 36.9 acres. The Rock Island Rail Corridor, purchased in 2016 for a 15 mile trail project (17.7 mile long corridor in total) was over 347 acres. 1.4 miles of segment 1 are within existing ROW owned by Jackson County, and an additional 1.45 miles use only existing public ROW. Finally, parcel 6 (1.85+/- ac.) owned by Gibson Roger J – Trustee is a large tract within Downtown Greenwood that could be used for an optional trailhead and mobility hub.
Parcel Owner TCE (Ac.) Permanent (Ac.) Uneconomic (Ac.) 1 Lemone Smith Development Company 0.59 0.42 2 Nunn Family Trust 1.09 3.76 3 Howk E. Annette 0.56 1.16 4 Howk E. Annette 0.13 0.09 5 Carpenter William G 0.38 0.28 6 Gibson Roger J - Trustee - 1.85 7 OSBORNE JAMES T-TRUSTEE 0.03 - 8 CC RESTAURANTS LLC 0.08 - 9 CROWN POINTE INVESTMENTS LLC 0.16 - 10 BUTTERBAUGH MOBILE HOME PARK LLC 0.66 0.23 11 WT Holdings LLC - 2.10 7.96 12 WT Holdings LLC - 2.37 16.17 13 WT Holdings LLC - 1.30 3.21 14 Jeff Vance 0.21 0.91 6.38 15 Miller, Dennis J & Carol A Trustee 0.55 1.60 3.19 16 Miller, Dennis J & Carol A Trustee 0.37 2.03 - Total 4.78 18.10 36.90
Harry S. Truman, Presiding Judge, 1927-1934 Land Disturbance and Tree Clearing Approximately 14.1 acres of tree clearing, based off of aerial photograph review of the daylight limits of the project. The entire area is canopy, although it is not currently known how much is of suitable diameter to be considered tree coverage. A habitat assessment will be conducted during the design phase to determine this and identify any potentially sustainable roost trees. As always on federal projects, the County commits to clearing identified potential habitat trees only during winter months.
Farmland Impact The project will acquire property from the edges of rural parcels, but whether they are currently serving as farmland is unknown.
Floodplain/Regulatory Floodway The project will cross floodplain and floodway at three points, requiring three culvert extensions and a new culvert over various tributaries to Big Creek. Culvert Extension #1 on Hamblen Road is in Lee’s Summit. The size and condition of this culvert may warrant outright- replacement. Culvert Extension #2 and #3 are in the City of Greenwood. The fourth new culvert is in unincorporated Cass County. The project will also cross on an existing bridge over Big Creek. No Rise analysis will be required for the culvert extensions and new culvert.
Stormwater/Water Quality Unknown.
FEMA/SEMA Buyout No Impact
Socioeconomic Impact The shared use path would travel through one Environmental Justice Census Tract (Census Tract 135.04, Jackson County, Missouri). The shared use path would provide transportation choice and jobs access to people in
Threatened and Endangered Species & Migratory Birds A July 16, 2018 query of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Information for Planning and Consultation (USFWS IPaC) system identified four threatened and endangered species: • Myotis grisescens “Gray Bat” (Endangered) • Myotis sodalis “Indiana Bat” (Endangered) • Myotis septentrionalis “Northern Long-eared Bat” (Threatened) • Asclepias meadii “Mead’s Milkweed”
The following migratory birds were also identified: • Haliaeetus leucocephalus “Bald Eagle” • Oporornis formosus “Kentucky Warbler” • Tringa avipes “Lesser Yellowlegs” • Protonotaria citrea “Prothonotary Warbler”
Harry S. Truman, Presiding Judge, 1927-1934 • Melanerpes erythrocephalus “Red-headed Woodpecker” • Euphagus carolinus “Rusty Blackbird” • Hylocichla mustelina “Hylocichla mustelina”
No bridges or structures are planned to be demolished with these improvements (although a culvert along Hamblen Road may be replaced).
An official species list has been requested.
Hazardous Waste Impact This project utilizes 1.4 miles of the rail corridor. Per correspondence with MDNR, the shared use path will serve as a cap for any contaminants that are currently observed and be safe for outdoor recreational and transportation use. No other sites of concern have been identified within the project area.
Wetland Impact A preliminary review of the project area using the National Wetlands Inventory online mapping tool did not reveal any wetlands within the project area, however a delineation will be performed during design of any necessary locations and care will be taken to avoid, when feasible, any wetlands if they are identified within the project area.
Noise Impact No Impact
Cultural Resources Impact Removal of the rail and ties on the railroad corridor was considered an adverse effect, which was the subject of a MOA between FHWA, MoSHPO, and Jackson County. Actions taken to mitigate this adverse effect are currently being implemented. The APE subject to the MOA included the 1.4 miles of the railroad corridor included in this project, even though a shared use path has not yet been built on the corridor at this location. No further cultural impacts are anticipated on the remainder of the project and a 106 will be completed for these portions during the design phase.
Public Land Impact This project will not involve any ROW from parks or recreational facilities. The improvements within the City of Greenwood will increase access to the elementary school and the adjacent city park.
Enclosures: Project Map July 16, 2018 IPaC Resources List
Harry S. Truman, Presiding Judge, 1927-1934 Segment 1 2.68 miles
Rock Island Corridor Shared Use Path STP-3453(401) Culvert Extension #1
Culvert Extension #2
M-150 R.O.W.
Culvert Extension #3
Segment 2 Segment 3 1.45 miles 2.72 miles
Big Creek
Culvert #4 (New)
“MOPAC” Trail TAP-3452(402)
1 mile 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources
IPaC U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service IPaC resource list
This report is an automatically generated list of species and other resources such as critical habitat (collectively referred to as trust resources) under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) jurisdiction that are known or expected to be on or near the project area referenced below. The list may also include trust resources that occur outside of the project area, but that could potentially be directly or indirectly a ected by activities in the project area. However, determining the likelihood and extent of e ects a project may have on trust resources typically requires gathering additional site- speci c (e.g., vegetation/species surveys) and project-speci c (e.g., magnitude and timing of proposed activities) information.
Below is a summary of the project information you provided and contact information for the USFWS o ce(s) with jurisdiction in the de ned project area. Please read the introduction to each section that follows (Endangered Species, Migratory Birds, USFWS Facilities, and NWI Wetlands) for additional information applicable to the trust resources addressed in that section.
Project information
NAME Greenwood Connector Shared Use Path
LOCATION Cass and Jackson counties, Missouri
DESCRIPTION This is a 10-wide shared use path for bicycles and pedestrians to be built beginning around 2020. The total project is approximately 6.8 miles long, but 1.45 miles are on existing pavement (i.e. on- street facilities).
Local o ce
Missouri Ecological Services Field O ce https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 1/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources (573) 234-2132 (573) 234-2181
101 Park Deville Drive Suite A Columbia, MO 65203-0057
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 2/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources
Endangered species
This resource list is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an analysis of project level impacts.
The primary information used to generate this list is the known or expected range of each species. Additional areas of in uence (AOI) for species are also considered. An AOI includes areas outside of the species range if the species could be indirectly a ected by activities in that area (e.g., placing a dam upstream of a sh population, even if that sh does not occur at the dam site, may indirectly impact the species by reducing or eliminating water ow downstream). Because species can move, and site conditions can change, the species on this list are not guaranteed to be found on or near the project area. To fully determine any potential e ects to species, additional site-speci c and project- speci c information is often required.
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires Federal agencies to "request of the Secretary information whether any species which is listed or proposed to be listed may be present in the area of such proposed action" for any project that is conducted, permitted, funded, or licensed by any Federal agency. A letter from the local o ce and a species list which ful lls this requirement can only be obtained by requesting an o cial species list from either the Regulatory Review section in IPaC (see directions below) or from the local eld o ce directly.
For project evaluations that require USFWS concurrence/review, please return to the IPaC website and request an o cial species list by doing the following:
1. Log in to IPaC. 2. Go to your My Projects list. 3. Click PROJECT HOME for this project. 4. Click REQUEST SPECIES LIST.
Listed species1 and their critical habitats are managed by the Ecological Services Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the sheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries2).
Species and critical habitats under the sole responsibility of NOAA Fisheries are not shown on this list. Please contact NOAA Fisheries for species under their jurisdiction.
1. Species listed under the Endangered Species Act are threatened or endangered; IPaC also shows species that are candidates, or proposed, for listing. See the listing status page for more information. 2. NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), is an o ce of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce.
The following species are potentially a ected by activities in this location:
Mammals NAME STATUS
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 3/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources
Gray Bat Myotis grisescens Endangered No critical habitat has been designated for this species. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6329
Indiana Bat Myotis sodalis Endangered There is nal critical habitat for this species. Your location is outside the critical habitat. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5949
Northern Long-eared Bat Myotis septentrionalis Threatened No critical habitat has been designated for this species. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9045
Flowering Plants NAME STATUS
Mead's Milkweed Asclepias meadii Threatened No critical habitat has been designated for this species. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8204
Critical habitats
Potential e ects to critical habitat(s) in this location must be analyzed along with the endangered species themselves.
THERE ARE NO CRITICAL HABITATS AT THIS LOCATION.
Migratory birds
Certain birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act1 and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act2.
Any person or organization who plans or conducts activities that may result in impacts to migratory birds, eagles, and their habitats should follow appropriate regulations and consider implementing appropriate conservation measures, as described below.
1. The Migratory Birds Treaty Act of 1918. 2. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940.
Additional information can be found using the following links:
Birds of Conservation Concern http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/ birds-of-conservation-concern.php
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 4/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources Measures for avoiding and minimizing impacts to birds http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/project-assessment-tools-and-guidance/ conservation-measures.php Nationwide conservation measures for birds http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/nationwidestandardconservationmeasures.pdf
The birds listed below are birds of particular concern either because they occur on the USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC) list or warrant special attention in your project location. To learn more about the levels of concern for birds on your list and how this list is generated, see the FAQ below. This is not a list of every bird you may nd in this location, nor a guarantee that every bird on this list will be found in your project area. To see exact locations of where birders and the general public have sighted birds in and around your project area, visit the E-bird data mapping tool (Tip: enter your location, desired date range and a species on your list). For projects that occur o the Atlantic Coast, additional maps and models detailing the relative occurrence and abundance of bird species on your list are available. Links to additional information about Atlantic Coast birds, and other important information about your migratory bird list, including how to properly interpret and use your migratory bird report, can be found below.
For guidance on when to schedule activities or implement avoidance and minimization measures to reduce impacts to migratory birds on your list, click on the PROBABILITY OF PRESENCE SUMMARY at the top of your list to see when these birds are most likely to be present and breeding in your project area.
NAME BREEDING SEASON (IF A BREEDING SEASON IS INDICATED FOR A BIRD ON YOUR LIST, THE BIRD MAY BREED IN YOUR PROJECT AREA SOMETIME WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME SPECIFIED, WHICH IS A VERY LIBERAL ESTIMATE OF THE DATES INSIDE WHICH THE BIRD BREEDS ACROSS ITS ENTIRE RANGE. "BREEDS ELSEWHERE" INDICATES THAT THE BIRD DOES NOT LIKELY BREED IN YOUR PROJECT AREA.)
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Breeds Oct 15 to Aug 31 This is not a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) in this area, but warrants attention because of the Eagle Act or for potential susceptibilities in o shore areas from certain types of development or activities. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1626
Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus Breeds Apr 20 to Aug 20 This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 5/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa avipes Breeds elsewhere This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9679
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea Breeds Apr 1 to Jul 31 This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus Breeds May 10 to Sep 10 This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus Breeds elsewhere This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina Breeds May 10 to Aug 31 This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.
Probability of Presence Summary
The graphs below provide our best understanding of when birds of concern are most likely to be present in your project area. This information can be used to tailor and schedule your project activities to avoid or minimize impacts to birds. Please make sure you read and understand the FAQ “Proper Interpretation and Use of Your Migratory Bird Report” before using or attempting to interpret this report.
Probability of Presence ( )
Each green bar represents the bird's relative probability of presence in the 10km grid cell(s) your project overlaps during a particular week of the year. (A year is represented as 12 4-week months.) A taller bar indicates a higher probability of species presence. The survey e ort (see below) can be used to establish a level of con dence in the presence score. One can have higher con dence in the presence score if the corresponding survey e ort is also high.
How is the probability of presence score calculated? The calculation is done in three steps:
1. The probability of presence for each week is calculated as the number of survey events in the week where the species was detected divided by the total number of survey events for that week. For example, if in week 12 there were 20 survey events and the Spotted Towhee was found in 5 of them, the probability of presence of the Spotted Towhee in week 12 is 0.25. 2. To properly present the pattern of presence across the year, the relative probability of presence is calculated. This is the probability of presence divided by the maximum probability of presence across all weeks. For example, imagine the probability of presence in week 20 for the Spotted Towhee is 0.05, and that the probability of presence at week 12 (0.25) is the maximum of any week of the year. The relative probability of presence on week 12 is 0.25/0.25 = 1; at week 20 it is 0.05/0.25 = 0.2. https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 6/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources 3. The relative probability of presence calculated in the previous step undergoes a statistical conversion so that all possible values fall between 0 and 10, inclusive. This is the probability of presence score.
To see a bar's probability of presence score, simply hover your mouse cursor over the bar.
Breeding Season ( ) Yellow bars denote a very liberal estimate of the time-frame inside which the bird breeds across its entire range. If there are no yellow bars shown for a bird, it does not breed in your project area.
Survey E ort ( ) Vertical black lines superimposed on probability of presence bars indicate the number of surveys performed for that species in the 10km grid cell(s) your project area overlaps. The number of surveys is expressed as a range, for example, 33 to 64 surveys.
To see a bar's survey e ort range, simply hover your mouse cursor over the bar.
No Data ( ) A week is marked as having no data if there were no survey events for that week.
Survey Timeframe Surveys from only the last 10 years are used in order to ensure delivery of currently relevant information. The exception to this is areas o the Atlantic coast, where bird returns are based on all years of available data, since data in these areas is currently much more sparse.
probability of presence breeding season survey e ort no data
SPECIES JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Bald Eagle Non-BCC Vulnerable (This is not a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) in this area, but warrants attention because of the Eagle Act or for potential susceptibilities in o shore areas from certain types of development or activities.)
Kentucky Warbler BCC Rangewide (CON) (This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.)
Lesser Yellowlegs BCC Rangewide (CON) (This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.)
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 7/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources
Prothonotary Warbler BCC Rangewide (CON) (This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.)
Red-headed Woodpecker BCC Rangewide (CON) (This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.)
Rusty Blackbird BCC Rangewide (CON) (This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.)
Wood Thrush BCC Rangewide (CON) (This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.)
Tell me more about conservation measures I can implement to avoid or minimize impacts to migratory birds.
Nationwide Conservation Measures describes measures that can help avoid and minimize impacts to all birds at any location year round. Implementation of these measures is particularly important when birds are most likely to occur in the project area. When birds may be breeding in the area, identifying the locations of any active nests and avoiding their destruction is a very helpful impact minimization measure. To see when birds are most likely to occur and be breeding in your project area, view the Probability of Presence Summary. Additional measures and/or permits may be advisable depending on the type of activity you are conducting and the type of infrastructure or bird species present on your project site.
What does IPaC use to generate the migratory birds potentially occurring in my speci ed location?
The Migratory Bird Resource List is comprised of USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC) and other species that may warrant special attention in your project location.
The migratory bird list generated for your project is derived from data provided by the Avian Knowledge Network (AKN). The AKN data is based on a growing collection of survey, banding, and citizen science datasets and is queried and ltered to return a list of those birds reported as occurring in the 10km grid cell(s) which your project intersects, and that have been identi ed as warranting special attention because they are a BCC species in that area, an eagle (Eagle Act requirements may apply), or a species that has a particular vulnerability to o shore activities or development.
Again, the Migratory Bird Resource list includes only a subset of birds that may occur in your project area. It is not representative of all birds that may occur in your project area. To get a list of all birds potentially present in your project area, please visit the E-bird Explore Data Tool.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 8/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources What does IPaC use to generate the probability of presence graphs for the migratory birds potentially occurring in my speci ed location?
The probability of presence graphs associated with your migratory bird list are based on data provided by the Avian Knowledge Network (AKN). This data is derived from a growing collection of survey, banding, and citizen science datasets .
Probability of presence data is continuously being updated as new and better information becomes available. To learn more about how the probability of presence graphs are produced and how to interpret them, go the Probability of Presence Summary and then click on the "Tell me about these graphs" link.
How do I know if a bird is breeding, wintering, migrating or present year-round in my project area?
To see what part of a particular bird's range your project area falls within (i.e. breeding, wintering, migrating or year- round), you may refer to the following resources: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds Bird Guide, or (if you are unsuccessful in locating the bird of interest there), the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Neotropical Birds guide. If a bird on your migratory bird species list has a breeding season associated with it, if that bird does occur in your project area, there may be nests present at some point within the timeframe speci ed. If "Breeds elsewhere" is indicated, then the bird likely does not breed in your project area.
What are the levels of concern for migratory birds?
Migratory birds delivered through IPaC fall into the following distinct categories of concern:
1. "BCC Rangewide" birds are Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC) that are of concern throughout their range anywhere within the USA (including Hawaii, the Paci c Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands); 2. "BCC - BCR" birds are BCCs that are of concern only in particular Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) in the continental USA; and 3. "Non-BCC - Vulnerable" birds are not BCC species in your project area, but appear on your list either because of the Eagle Act requirements (for eagles) or (for non-eagles) potential susceptibilities in o shore areas from certain types of development or activities (e.g. o shore energy development or longline shing).
Although it is important to try to avoid and minimize impacts to all birds, e orts should be made, in particular, to avoid and minimize impacts to the birds on this list, especially eagles and BCC species of rangewide concern. For more information on conservation measures you can implement to help avoid and minimize migratory bird impacts and requirements for eagles, please see the FAQs for these topics.
Details about birds that are potentially a ected by o shore projects
For additional details about the relative occurrence and abundance of both individual bird species and groups of bird species within your project area o the Atlantic Coast, please visit the Northeast Ocean Data Portal. The Portal also o ers data and information about other taxa besides birds that may be helpful to you in your project review. Alternately, you may download the bird model results les underlying the portal maps through the NOAA NCCOS Integrative Statistical Modeling and Predictive Mapping of Marine Bird Distributions and Abundance on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf project webpage.
Bird tracking data can also provide additional details about occurrence and habitat use throughout the year, including migration. Models relying on survey data may not include this information. For additional information on marine bird tracking data, see the Diving Bird Study and the nanotag studies or contact Caleb Spiegel or Pam Loring.
What if I have eagles on my list?
If your project has the potential to disturb or kill eagles, you may need to obtain a permit to avoid violating the Eagle Act should such impacts occur.
Proper Interpretation and Use of Your Migratory Bird Report https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 9/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources The migratory bird list generated is not a list of all birds in your project area, only a subset of birds of priority concern. To learn more about how your list is generated, and see options for identifying what other birds may be in your project area, please see the FAQ “What does IPaC use to generate the migratory birds potentially occurring in my speci ed location”. Please be aware this report provides the “probability of presence” of birds within the 10 km grid cell(s) that overlap your project; not your exact project footprint. On the graphs provided, please also look carefully at the survey e ort (indicated by the black vertical bar) and for the existence of the “no data” indicator (a red horizontal bar). A high survey e ort is the key component. If the survey e ort is high, then the probability of presence score can be viewed as more dependable. In contrast, a low survey e ort bar or no data bar means a lack of data and, therefore, a lack of certainty about presence of the species. This list is not perfect; it is simply a starting point for identifying what birds of concern have the potential to be in your project area, when they might be there, and if they might be breeding (which means nests might be present). The list helps you know what to look for to con rm presence, and helps guide you in knowing when to implement conservation measures to avoid or minimize potential impacts from your project activities, should presence be con rmed. To learn more about conservation measures, visit the FAQ “Tell me about conservation measures I can implement to avoid or minimize impacts to migratory birds” at the bottom of your migratory bird trust resources page.
Facilities Wildlife refuges and sh hatcheries
REFUGE AND FISH HATCHERY INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
Wetlands in the National Wetlands Inventory
Impacts to NWI wetlands and other aquatic habitats may be subject to regulation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, or other State/Federal statutes.
For more information please contact the Regulatory Program of the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District.
Please note that the NWI data being shown may be out of date. We are currently working to update our NWI data set. We recommend you verify these results with a site visit to determine the actual extent of wetlands on site.
This location overlaps the following wetlands:
FRESHWATER POND PUBFh
RIVERINE R2UBG R4SBC R3UBG R5UBH
A full description for each wetland code can be found at the National Wetlands Inventory website https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 10/11 7/16/2018 IPaC: Resources Data limitations
The Service's objective of mapping wetlands and deepwater habitats is to produce reconnaissance level information on the location, type and size of these resources. The maps are prepared from the analysis of high altitude imagery. Wetlands are identi ed based on vegetation, visible hydrology and geography. A margin of error is inherent in the use of imagery; thus, detailed on-the-ground inspection of any particular site may result in revision of the wetland boundaries or classi cation established through image analysis.
The accuracy of image interpretation depends on the quality of the imagery, the experience of the image analysts, the amount and quality of the collateral data and the amount of ground truth veri cation work conducted. Metadata should be consulted to determine the date of the source imagery used and any mapping problems.
Wetlands or other mapped features may have changed since the date of the imagery or eld work. There may be occasional di erences in polygon boundaries or classi cations between the information depicted on the map and the actual conditions on site.
Data exclusions
Certain wetland habitats are excluded from the National mapping program because of the limitations of aerial imagery as the primary data source used to detect wetlands. These habitats include seagrasses or submerged aquatic vegetation that are found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of estuaries and nearshore coastal waters. Some deepwater reef communities (coral or tuber cid worm reefs) have also been excluded from the inventory. These habitats, because of their depth, go undetected by aerial imagery.
Data precautions
Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over wetlands may de ne and describe wetlands in a di erent manner than that used in this inventory. There is no attempt, in either the design or products of this inventory, to de ne the limits of proprietary jurisdiction of any Federal, state, or local government or to establish the geographical scope of the regulatory programs of government agencies. Persons intending to engage in activities involving modi cations within or adjacent to wetland areas should seek the advice of appropriate federal, state, or local agencies concerning speci ed agency regulatory programs and proprietary jurisdictions that may a ect such activities.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/HGCQFSXG2VCSHPWWCRXLEJ4LAI/resources 11/11
July 11, 2018
The Honorable Frank White County Executive Jackson County Courthouse 415 E 12th Street Kansas City, MO 64106
RE: Letter of Support for BUILD Grant Application
Dear County Executive White:
As the U.S. Department of Transportation considers applications for BUILD Discretionary Grants, the Mid‐America Regional Council wishes to convey its support for the application submitted by Jackson County, Missouri. MARC serves as the council of governments and metropolitan planning organization for Greater Kansas City.
The Greenwood Connector project will construct on-road and off-road trail connections linking the Rock Island Corridor in Jackson County with the Katy Trail, which crosses the state of Missouri. The Rock Island Corridor was the subject of a 2011 commuter corridors alternatives analysis partly funded by USDOT, as well as one of six corridor demonstration projects studied as part of the Kansas City region’s regional planning grant funded through HUD’s Sustainable Communities Initiative in 2012. The Rock Island Corridor is included as a Fast and Frequent route in the Smart Moves 3.0 Regional Transit Plan, adopted in 2017. The corridor was also the subject of MARC’s 2017 Green Infrastructure Playbook, which re-envisions conventional infrastructure and examines innovative ways to protect the environment and provide ecosystem services to the community.
This project is fully consistent with Transportation Outlook 2040, the region’s long‐range transportation plan and, as such, demonstrates the support of the entire Kansas City region for this important investment.
The Mid‐America Regional Council supports funding this BUILD application; and we look forward to working with you to make this important project a reality.
Sincerely,
David A. Warm Executive Director
Cass County Commission 102 East Wall ● Harrisonville, Missouri 64701
MONTY KISNER JEFF COX JIMMY ODOM ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER ● DISTRICT 1 PRESIDING COMMISSIONER ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER ● DISTRICT 2 E-MAIL: [email protected] E-MAIL: [email protected] E-MAIL: [email protected] PHONE: 816/380-8158 PHONE: 816/380-8160 PHONE: 816/380-8159
JAN CANTRELL HOLLY BRASWELL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT H. R. DIRECTOR E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: 816/380-8155 Phone: 816/380-8103 Fax: 816/380-8113
July 6, 2018 The Honorable Elaine Chao Secretary of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Chao,
The Cass County Commission is pleased to write this letter in support of Jackson County and Missouri State Parks FY2018 BUILD Grant Application. Jackson County’s current construction of a 14-mile biking and walking path will be complete in 2019, and it will terminate just north of Missouri State Parks’ “Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail.” When these two projects are ultimately connected, Missourians will be able to travel from Kansas City to St. Louis on fully protected facilities.
For decades, communities in western Missouri have sought a way to connect the KATY Trail to Kansas City. Shown to be an economic engine for our State, this project is of critical importance to Rural Western Missouri and the Kansas City region. Furthermore, this project provides transportation, public health and recreation benefits to rural Missourians.
Sincerely, Cass County Commission
Jeff Cox Monty Kisner Jimmy Odom Presiding Commissioner Associate Commissioner Associate Commissioner
President Rick Peth Owensville Board of Directors
Jackie Barndollar Owensville Lolle Boettcher Owensville Michael Feeback Lake Ozark Larry Giesler Gerald Kim Henderson Windsor July 17, 2018 Shawn Henessee Pleasant Hill Richard Huse The Honorable Elaine Chao Belle Secretary of Transportation Mac McNally 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Four Seasons Washington, DC 20590 Rick Mihalevich Jefferson City Chrysa Niewald Dear Secretary Chao, Owensville Cary Parker Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc. is pleased to write this letter in support of Jackson County Gerald and Missouri State Parks FY2018 BUILD Grant Application. It will fund significant links of Brian Parkinson Wildwood a major multijurisdictional project that connects and enhances communities across rural Daphney Partridge Missouri. Eldon Daniel Pilliard Jackson County is constructing a 14-mile biking and walking path that will be completed and Sedalia open in 2019. It will terminate just north of Missouri State Parks’ 47 mile long “Rock Island Bruce Sassmann Spur of the Katy Trail.” When these two projects are ultimately connected, Missourians and Bland visitors from around the world will be able to travel from Kansas City to St. Louis on fully Otis Schulte Gerald protected facilities. This project provides active transportation within and between rural communities while enhancing the health and quality of life of area residents. Communities Advisory Board with trails and greenways are more attractive to new businesses, and the additional tourism revenues will have an immediate economic impact on dozens of small towns. Greg Brunkhorst Dan Burkhardt For decades, communities in western Missouri have sought a way to connect the 240 mile D. Matt Davis Katy Trail to Kansas City. Shown to be an economic engine for our State, this project is of Craig Eichelman Carolyn Gerdes critical importance to Rural Western Missouri and the Kansas City region. Peter Herschend Darwin HIndman Sincerely, Peter Hofherr Brent Hugh Johnathan Leinbach Steve Mahfood Bob Neff Greg Harris Ralph Pfremmer Peter Raven Courtney Stewart Susan Trautman Janet Weckenborg Tom Williams
Greg Harris, Executive Director, 304 Victoria Lane, Rolla, MO 65401 [email protected] 573-202-9632 M AKING MISSOURI A BETTER PLACE TO WALK AND RIDE A BICYCLE!
July 17th, 2018
The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary 1709 Missouri Blvd U.S. Department of Transportation Ste. C #200 1200 New Jersey Avenue, Southeast Jefferson City, MO 65109 Washington, District of Columbia 20590 MoBikeFed.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: RE: BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant Program - Jackson County and MO State Parks BUILD Grant application Brent Hugh director@ mobikefed.org Dear Madam Secretary: BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Chuck Daugherty, Jefferson The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation is very pleased to express our strong City support of Jackson County and MO State Parks BUILD Grant application. Michael Hennies, St. Louis Rolfe McCoy, Chillicothe Chrysa Niewald, Owensville This project will create vitally important statewide trail connections by closing key Chris Parrott, Kansas City gaps in the statewide trail system. These gaps have been very difficult to close Weslley Ridgeway, St Louis because of the difficulty of the gaps and the multi-jurisdictional issues involved. Rachel Ruhlen, Columbia Closing these gaps will link the urban section of the Rock Island Trail currently under Paul Wojciechowski, Wildwood development in the Kansas City metro area with the rural portions of the Rock Island Trail and Katy Trail that cross Missouri and connect with the St. Louis metro area on ADVISORY COMMISSION: Bruce Adib-Yazdi, Springfield the east side of the state. Clark Allen, Poplar Bluff Jennifer Allen, Trailnet, St Louis Virginia Blaine, Farmington Kim Cella, Citizens for Modern Transit, St For that reason, this project provides and essential rural/urban trail connection that Louis will have tremendous positive economic impact on both urban and rural trail Andy Clements, St Joseph Joe Ferguson, Washington communities. By connecting the major Kansas City population center (2 million David Fiedler, St Louis Caryn Giarratano, Jefferson City population) directly to the rural Rock Island/Katy Trail system, these key connections Nicholas Grigsby, St Charles Coy Hart, Springfield will greatly boost connectivity and usage of the statewide trail system by the 2 million Matt Hartman, SpokedSTL, St Louis Shawn Hayden, Springfield people who live in the Kansas City area as well as others who can more easily Douglas Hermes, Liberty Mark Hines, Overland Park connect via the transportation options (Amtrak, international airport, etc) within the Jeff Huff, West Plains Steve Johnson, MO River Communities, Kansas City area. Columbia KartaPurkh Khalsa, Kansas City Matt Maher, Prologue Cycling, Independence Steve Marquardt, Nevada For those reasons, we expect the completion of the seamless trail connection between Brian McEntire, Podiatric Stress, Farmington, MO the KC metro area and the rural, outstate Rock Island and Katy Trail communities to Christopher McNeese, A&B Cycles, Springfield have a major positive impact on the economies of the rural trail communities. Martin Meyer, Hannibal Becky Nace, Blue Springs Ralph Pfremmer, Trailnet, St Louis Dave Schieffer, Kansas City I urge you to strongly consider this funding request and the long-term positive effects Fred Schmidt, Columbia Kim Shafer, Natl Park Service that this project could have on the citizens of Jackson County, of the entire Kansas Paul Sidwell, Kansas City Sean Staggs, Kansas City City metropolitan area, of the entire state of Missouri, and of the multi-state region BJ Taylor, Kansas City Alex Tetlak, Kirksville that will be connected to the Quad State Trail. Ian Thomas, Columbia Annette Triplett, PedNet, Columbia Patrick Tuttle, Joplin Patrick Van Der Tuin, St Louis BWorks I have attached a brochure summarizing the positive economic impact of trails on the Patty Vinyard, St. Louis Mac Vorce, Warsaw economies of Missouri trail communities. We have seen strong and growing interest Mike Weiss, Big Shark Bicycle Co., St. Louis Pam Wennerberg, Ballwin in Missouri trail communities who are working together across the state to maximize Robin White, Augusta Steve White, Kansas City Metro Bicycle Club the economic impact of the statewide trail system. Mitchell Williams, Kansas City Matthew Wyczalkowski, SafeTGA, St. Louis Caroline Zukoski, St. Louis
MAKING MISSOURI A BETTER PLACE TO WALK AND RIDE A BICYCLE! PAGE 2
Removing the current largest and most difficult gaps in the statewide trail system through this grant funding is the most important step we can currently take to positively affect the trail economies of these communities.
Thank you for your consideration of this important application.
Sincerely yours,
Brent Hugh Executive Director
Building The Case For Bicycle Tourism TOURISTS
There are more studies than ever to help quantify the many ON TWO WHEELS economic benefits that bicycle tourists bring to communities, businesses, and states. These studies are effective tools to build support for developing and promoting bicycle tourism.
For a comprehensive list of studies, visit: adventurecycling.org/ GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE economicimpact To see how bicycle travel boosts small town economies, visit: pathlesspedaled.com/ $100 Million Return On smalltowns InvestmentGREAT ALLEGHENY From PASSAGE Trail Tourism
Spanning 150 miles between Pittsburgh, PA and Cumberland, MD, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) attracts nearly a million visits each year. Over 95% of visitors travel the trail by bicycle, stopping along the way to experi- ence the trail’s unique landscapes and history.
It took the Allegheny Trail Alliance (ATA) nearly 30 years to complete the GAP, at a cost of $80 million. But, today, the return on investment to the states and communities the trail serves is $75 to $100 million annually. Business owners report an increase in their yearly sales from trail user traffic – from 34% in 2013 to 41% in 2014. To the communities and businesses along the trail, bicycle tourism is now indispensable.
With 500+ mile interconnected statewide trail loop possible in the next few years, Missouri's Katy Trail / Rock Island Trail system will be an internationally significant tourism destination reaching dozens of Missouri communities--a tourism destination that will equal or exceed the economic return of the Great Allegheny Passage. Data sources: Outdoor Industry Association - The Investing in Missouri trails is an investment in our future. Outdoor Recreation Economy. Montana - Analysis of Touring Cyclists: Impacts, Needs and Opportunities for ECONOMICS OF BICYCLE TRAVEL Montana. Great Allegheny Passage - Trail User Survey The longer the trail system, the further tourists will MoBikeFed.org and Business Survey Report. travel to visit it--and the more days they spend visiting
sociation - . Montana -
e - MISSOURI MISSOURI Bike Travel Is Booming Touring Cyclists Spend 40% More Per Trip From overnight trips to cross-country adventures, more tourists are choosing to travel by bicycle because the slower pace allows them to connect with the communities and landscapes along the way. Local Economies make over $75,000 58% per year Are Benefiting
have a college Bicycle travelers move slower than education 82% motorized travelers so they tend to stop With seven national bicycle touring routes criss- more in small communities, spend more crossing the state, one of the most extensive are international 8.1% tourists locally, and have a greater positive statewide trail systems in the country, iconic parks, economic impact. and countless rural places to explore by bike, it's no "Last year, Bike Stop wonder that Missouri sees thousands of touring Cafe & Outpost cyclists each each year. A recent study found that the grossed over slower pace of bicycle travel equates to a greater $500,000." economic impact for bicycle tourists. On average, touring cyclists stay three days longer and "Every year, for spend $240 more per trip than the average UNITED STATES the past 6 years, tourist. we've logged "We, like others on the trail are Bicycle Tourism Generates thousands of a tourism destination. In visitors from all addition to out of state $71 Billion Annually 500 miles over the world." travelers, we get thousands of $600in 8 days Bicycling is the second most popular local trail users that start or outdoor recreation activity in the US. From end their Katy Trail ride at our 500 miles $360in 5 days bike touring to destination mountain biking location. Using the Katy Trail, "We estimate that we bring in local tourists from to cycling events, bicycle tourism generates 65% of those funds all over the tri-state area." To the small rural communities hosting these are directly related $71 billion annually - and is continuing to - Tony & Jodi Devonshire, Owners, Bike cyclists, that extra 40% makes a big difference. to Katy Trail use." Stop Cafe & Outpost, St. Charles, Missouri grow and attract new participants. July 10, 2018
The Honorable Elaine Chao Secretary of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Chao,
BikeWalkKC is pleased to write this letter in support of Jackson County and Missouri State Parks FY2018 BUILD Grant Application.
Jackson County’s current construction of a 14-mile biking and walking path will be complete in 2019, and it will terminate just north of Missouri State Parks’ “Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail.” When these two projects are ultimately connected, Missourians will be able to travel from Kansas City to St. Louis on fully protected facilities.
For decades, communities on the western half of Missouri have sought a way to connect the KATY Trail to Kansas City. Shown to be an economic engine for our State, this project is of critical importance to Rural Western Missouri and the Kansas City region. Furthermore, this project provides transportation, public health and recreation benefits to rural Missourians.
BikeWalkKC is 501c3 nonprofit that works to improve mobility in Greater Kansas City. Connecting the region to rural Missouri and the cross-state KATY is one of top public policy priorities, and this project will achieve that goal.
Sincerely,
Eric Rogers Executive Director
Our mission is to redefine our streets as places for people to build a culture of active living.
July 10, 2018
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Chao:
The purpose of this letter is to support Jackson County and MO State Park’s FY2018 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD 2018) Grant Application. Visit KC, located at 1321 Baltimore Ave in Kansas City, partners with more than 1000 businesses across the region located at 1321 Baltimore Ave in Kansas City, Mo. to promote travel and tourism to Kansas City.
Jackson County’s current construction of a 14-mile biking and walking path will be complete in 2019, and it will terminate just north of Missouri State Parks’ “Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail.” When these two projects are ultimately connected, Missourians will be able to travel from Kansas City to St. Louis on fully protected facilities.
Communities in western Missouri have sought a way to connect the Katy Trail to Kansas City. Shown to be an economic engine for our state, this project is of critical importance the Kansas City region. It provides transportation, public health and recreation benefits to our communities. In addition, outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking in scenic areas as well as biking will also have a save recreational opportunity to fully explore our state.
Our community keeps growing and connectivity is a key component of that growth. As the largest tourism organization in the Kansas City region, we support this project which we believe it will positively impact our economy and the tourism future of the region.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
CiCi Rojas Board Chairman