Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

 

TO:

Charles Soules P.E., Director of Public Works

FROM:

Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director

CC:

Tarik Khatib, Chief of Police

Mark Bradford, Fire Medical Chief

Ernie Shaw, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation

DATE:

October 10, 2014

RE:

2014 Kansas Half Marathon and 5K Race – November 2, 2014

 

Silverback Enterprises, LLC, in partnership with Health Care Access, have requested a street event permit to host the 2014 Kansas Half Marathon and 5K Run in Lawrence on Sunday, November 2, 2014, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The marathon route was designed to have runners exit downtown as quickly as possible at the beginning of the race. They will head east on 7th Street from Watson Park and then south on Massachusetts Street, then east on 15th Street (see map). They expect all runners to be out of downtown within 15 to 20 minutes of the start of the race.  The 5K route will take runners east on 7th Street from Watson Park following the recent 2014 Color Run route (see Map).

 

Street Closures and Traffic Control Half Marathon Route

The race would begin and end at Watson Park. Runners will head east on 7th, south on Massachusetts and then east on 15th Street as they head out of downtown. As they head back into downtown, they will only have one lane of west bound 6th Street closed and head north over the Kansas River utilizing the bridge sidewalk. They will then run on residential streets and the levee in north Lawrence before heading back south across the Kansas River, again utilizing the sidewalk on the bridge (no traffic lanes on the bridges will be closed). Staying on the sidewalk, runners will head west on 6th Street through Constant Park into Old West Lawrence (residential streets). They will cross under 6th Street utilizing the Pinckney Tunnel as they head toward 7th Street, then east on 7th Street back to Watson Park.

 

Traffic control for the marathon will be provided by the race organizers and will be MUTCD complainant. The organizers will work with paid volunteers and Lawrence Police Department to control traffic at all major intersections. This will be a closed route for the portion of the race utilizing public streets. All intersections will be monitored to allow traffic to pass as gaps in the runners occur. Message boards will be placed in key locations advising motorist to avoid the areas. Local access with be maintained.

 

Street Closures and Traffic Control 5K Route

The race would begin and end at Watson Park near downtown.  Runners would start at 7th and Kentucky Street heading east on 7th Street then turning south on New Jersey Street.  South on New Jersey Street then turning east on 8th Street.  East on 8th Street then south on Delaware Street.  South on Delaware Street then turning east on 11th Street.  11th Street east until 11th Street turns into 1550 Road.  Follow 1550 Road for approximately 1/4 mile and turn around near Penny's Concrete located on 1550 Road.  Runners would follow the exact same route back to the start of the race at Watson Park located at 7th and Kentucky Street.

 

Traffic control for the 5K will be provided by the race organizers and will be MUTCD complainant. The organizers will work with paid volunteers and Lawrence Police Department to control traffic at all major intersections. This will be a closed route for the portion of the race utilizing public streets. All intersections will be monitored to allow traffic to pass as gaps in the runners occur. Message boards will be placed in key locations advising motorist to avoid the areas. Local access with be maintained.

 

Notification to Affected Properties

The event organizer has made contact with all affected churches along the race routes and coordinated access for services. They will place notices in the Lawrence Journal World newspaper about the race and impact on streets (see attached Health Care Access letter).

 

This event has also been coordinated with Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Planning, Fire/Medical, Lawrence Transit, DLI and the Chamber all have reviewed this permit with no issues.

 

Request for Donated Services

Health Care Access has requested Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical and Lawrence Police Department services for this event be donated by the City of Lawrence (see request). Fire/Medical has estimated their service at a cost of $2,200. Police have estimated their services at a cost of $6,000. Actual cost for services will be calculated at the conclusion of the event.

 

All proceeds from this event will go to Health Care Access

 

ACTION

Approve a street event permit for the Kansas Half Marathon and 5K to close various streets in downtown and throughout Lawrence from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Sunday November 2, 2014 and approve the donation of City services from Fire/Medical and Police Departments for this event, if appropriate.