Changes could be coming to Kansas Avenue — between Walnut Lawn and Maplewood streets — in the Greater Parkcrest Neighborhood and the City of Springfield wants your input.
The City is gathering feedback on conceptual design plans for safety and pedestrian improvements along that stretch of Kansas. An informational open house is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. July 14 at Amazing Grace Fellowship Church (3801 South Kansas Ave.) for residents and property owners to learn more about the project and provide feedback. Input can also be submitted virtually by visiting the project’s website.
The goal of this potential future project is to improve motorist safety by reducing the height difference between the roadway and connecting driveways, and eliminating the open ditches on either side of Kansas Avenue. The project will include the restoration of the roadway with the addition of curb and gutter, and construction of new underground stormwater infrastructure.
The project will improve pedestrian connectivity through the addition of crosswalks and construction of a new sidewalk along the east side of Kansas Avenue and a multi-use path along the west side.
“We know there is some speeding in the area, so we plan to keep the lanes narrow to help naturally reduce speed,” said Andy Haase, project manager. “There are also no plans at this time to add a third plane or change the classification of the road or the speed limit.”
The conceptual design for the Kansas Avenue Roadway Improvement Project was approved by voters through the 2019 renewal of the quarter-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax, which allocated $750,000 for design and partial right-of-way. The design contractor for the project is local civil engineering firm Bartlett & West.
Funding for construction of the project is not currently allocated. The project is expected to be included in upcoming sales tax public feedback initiatives. If selected for further funding, construction of the project would not take place until 2024 or later.
“We have a conceptual design and we’re ready to take it to residents and property owners in the area to see what they think,” Haase said. “Of course, we are still a few years out from potential construction, but if there are specific comments or concerns, now is the time for us to hear them so we can incorporate that feedback into the final design.”