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: |
August 12, 2015 |
|
RE: |
2015 Kansas Half Marathon and 5K Race – November 1, 2015 |
Health Care Access has requested a street event permit to host the 2015 Kansas Half Marathon and 5K Run in Lawrence on Sunday, November 1, 2015, beginning at 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 heading toward the intersection of 11th Street and Haskell Avenue (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 by City Hall and then 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 bridge, 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. All affected neighborhood associations have been contacted about this pending commission action as well as the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods.
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 $2,200.00. Police have estimated their series at a cost of $6,000.00.
All proceeds from this event will go to Health Care Access.
ACTION
Consider approving 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 1, 2015.
If appropriate, approve the donation of city services from Fire Medical and Police Departments for this event.