Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Work Department

TO:	Charles F. Soules, P.E., Public Works Director
FROM:	Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director
CC:	David Woosley, David Cronin
DATE:	April 23, 2015
RE:	City Manager’s Report – Indian Hill Neighborhood Meeting / Traffic Issues on 27^th Street (Louisiana to Iowa)

On April 22, 2015 The City of Lawrence Public Works Department staff and Lawrence Police Department staff attended an Indian Hill Neighborhood meeting regarding traffic concerns on 27^th Street from Louisiana Street to Iowa Street and the Indian Hills area in general. Also in attendance were Mr. Ron May from USD 497, Mr. Charlie Bryan from the Community Health Department and Mayor Jeremy Farmer.

Approximately 60 residents from the neighborhood gathered to discuss their concerns about traffic on 27^th Street. Some of the key issues were traffic speed, traffic volume, pedestrian safety, sidewalk gaps on the north side of 27^th Street from Naismith Valley Park to Belle Haven Street, school zones, cut through traffic, traffic calming, and funding for traffic calming (see attached traffic calming project ranking). Both staff and residents had a good discussion about their concerns.

As a result of the meeting staff has agreed to do the following in the short term. Ask KDOT to move the Steve’s Place detour, which was generated by the closure of 31^st Street, to 23^rd Street vs. 27^th Street. Perform a traffic count / study along 27^rd Street within the next several weeks, it should be noted that some traffic on 27^th Street remains from the closure of 31^st Street which will reopen in the summer of 2015. Change the timing of the school crossing beacon located at 27^th Street and Belle Haven Street. The new timing, as requested from the residents, will be school days from 6:45 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The Police Department will evaluate and report how many man hours they are spending enforcing traffic laws along the 27^th Street corridor and Indian Hill neighborhood.

In summary, I believe city staff and residents had a very productive discussion on the issues concerning traffic in the Indian Hills Neighborhood. We are anticipating some traffic reduction on 27^th Street, by the reopening of 31^st Street this summer. Additionally, increased Police presence, changes to the school beacon timing, moving the Steve’s Place detour and additional traffic study information will give us some bench marks for moving forward. We will remain attentive to the issue in the area.