tomhein

A Trip East -- Two Weeks on Amtrak

Let’s just say, for the sake of a blog, that KDOT finds a pot of gold, we progress through what is apparently to be a multi-year process, and we advance to one of the four expanded passenger rail service more...

lisakoch: Great post, Tom. I take the Southwest Chief to Illinois often to visit family and feel like it's the best kept secret in transportation. $389 seems like a small price to pay for a two week adventure across the US. 5/18/2010 12:54 PM

careymm: This was a pleasure to read, Tom.

I wish you could be present for the public meetings KDOT is conducting in the state these next few weeks. Your special awareness and sensitivity would help the public understand better how to choose one of the four service scenarios. Citizens attending these public meetings have been overwhelmed by the complexity of the choices. Your awareness of the system as a traveler would help relieve their anxiety. 5/21/2010 10:38 AM

transupport: I agree with careymm about how nice this make-believe trip could be. And the really nice thing is some of this, a lot of it, can already be done. I hope that Kansas officials, especially the leaders in KDOT can take the initiative to bring back passenger rail to Kansas that was so brutally cancelled in 1979.

I have taken several trips like you describe on Amtrak and can attest that this is real similar to the wonderful hypothetical trip you describe. One thing you missed though is (in highlighting all of the destinations) you forget the other destination which is the unique experience of comfort, saftey and scenery available ONLY on the train. On the train you can actually have a conversation, relax, use your phone, sightsee, spend a real quality time with friends and family, and on some Amtrak trains be treated line an honored guest rather than a piece of luggage. 5/21/2010 11:19 AM

Preferred Amtrak Expansion Operations

The newest information (January 29, 2010) on passenger rail in Kansas is the award of a $250,000 grant to KDOT (a $250,000 match is required) for the creation of a Service Development Plan for potential more...

Are We Crazy? -- The Madness Begins

As promised in an earlier post (Are You People Crazy???) a large highway project is set to begin Monday, May 18 on U.S. 54/400 (Kellogg Avenue) at the I-135 Interchange. Drivers will find traffic reduced to two more...

Alphabet Soup: WAMPO Approves ARRA List

With $16.4 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds allotted for regional transportation projects by local governments in the Wichita metro, the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization more...

Spring Snowstorm? No thanks, we've had one.

Spring snowstorms are not all that unusual in Kansas. But they certainly aren’t very welcomed either. A recent sleet and snow storm hit Wichita (and much of the state) in late March but I’d have to more...

Wichita ITS Phase 1 Map

Camera(28) and roadway detectors will be installed on US 54 (Kellogg) from Ridge Road to Woodlawn Ave., on I-135 from Lincoln to53rd St. N., and at the I-235/K-96/Meridian interchange in Phase 1 of the Wichita more...

squid7085: Fabulous! That is quite a larger area than I expected for a single Phase! Now all we need is a projected time line. I know, I know. I ask for too much. :-) Once this is completely implemented is the city going to take coverage past the highways and possibly to some major streets like Central? I know I am talking way way in the future. Thanks for all the information though, I look forward to seeing a website launched and getting all this in the working stage, its a long time coming for the ICT! 3/28/2009 9:03 PM

OK, let’s do it. When can you start?

An improvement package for the 47th Street corridor in south Wichita is not a tough sell. When a study of the situation was completed seven years ago, a common public comment was “OK, let’s do it. more...

brentt: Tom

Your link for the hand out does not work.

I am all for this project, it will cause a mess for a while but long term gains are great.

I also would like to see the city pave the roads north of 47th street. To many people turn into our neighborhood and seem to believe that since they are dirt/gravel roads that they are in the "country" and the speed limit must be 55 mph. A child is going to be hurt by one of these fools. 3/2/2009 6:55 PM

tomhein: The link to the pdf document does not work so you'll have to go to:
http://www.ksdot.org/projects/additional.asp?projectNumber=KA-1006-01
then click on
Project Booklet: Project Fact Sheet & Map Feb 19 2009. 3/2/2009 7:17 PM

Are You People Crazy???

I had a few (understatement) phone calls in the last few days and many of them started with similar questions. Why in the world would you (KDOT) want to close the ramps that link U.S 54/400 (the Kellogg Freeway more...

tomhein: "As read" bids on Feb. 18:
Koss Construction Co. $21,097,396.87
Wildcat Construction Co. $22,837,807.66 2/18/2009 4:29 PM

See 2 more comments..

tomhein: Squjid7085: You are not the first to express frustration that we would consider this project ahead of Kellogg & 235. But this one has an estimated cost of $18M and at K & 235, that would be enough money to, well, maybe tear out one of those annoying circle ramps. No $ to rebuild, just to tear it out. We are talking big $ at 235...

But back to the I-135 & Kellogg project.
Project re-bid is set for April. Work should start in May (we'll fast track the paperwork).

New schedule:
May 2009 – November 2009 Phase 1

-- All Kellogg to I-135 access CLOSED
-- I-235 will be official, marked detour for US-54 to I-135 traffic
-- EB & WB Kellogg will be reduced to two lanes for each direction
-- Through traffic on I-135 will not be affected
-- I-135 access to Kellogg will be open
-- Lane expansion: SB I-135 between Lincoln & Harry

March 2010 – November 2010 Phase 2

-- All I-135 to Kellogg access CLOSED
-- I-235 will be official, marked detour for I-135 to US-54 traffic
-- Kellogg open with three lanes each direction
-- Through traffic on I-135 will not be affected
-- Kellogg access to I-135 will be open 3/9/2009 2:32 PM

tomhein: April 16 Update

2nd Bid Letting "as read" numbers:
Wildcat Concrete Services, Topeka $19,686,450.01
Koss Construction, Topeka $20,945,551.25 4/16/2009 1:47 PM

State Transportation Map

When will the new statewide map be available?

ITS in ICT

After years of ITS in major metro areas, Wichita will soon see the benefits of more efficient travel by using the ever-expanding opportunities of new technology. Usually transportation planners speak of adding more...

pquinn: Umm... what's ICT? 1/22/2009 1:39 PM

See 6 more comments..

tomhein: My best guess for the Test Project being operational is April. Unfortunately, the public won't see a lot of that but it is the base for building all subsequent ICT ITS.

We are investigating other Web 2.0 aps that may work for this project. Twitter is a minor example. By the time Phase 1 is operational, something new will probably be there for us. Let us know if you see another DOT pushing info in a creative way - we are interested.

How many phases will there be in ICT? Don't know -- Phase 2 is only an estimate on numbers and highway pieces that are logical next steps. But Phase 1 will offer drivers a website similar to KC Scout (www.kcscout.net) plus visuals out on the roads (dynamic message signs).

I will work on getting a Phase 1 coverage map on KTOC this week. 2/15/2009 9:38 AM

squid7085: The only interesting things that I personally would love to see is obviously an implementation like KC-SCOUT has done. With a website and the ability to look at the cameras. However, Twitter seems like a great idea, and integration with Google Traffic and stuff. Other than that, one thing I have only seen the cities on the coast's do is Mobile web apps, most specifically an iPhone app that has a live traffic map and ability to look at the cameras. Possibly even Text messaging, which could be implemented through Twitter.

I think personally the most important thing is a way to get information "on the go" Wichita isn't exactly that big, but still, you could check the website and everything could be fine when you leave the house, but anything could happen. The Message boards are great for when you are ON the highway, but if while driving I got some kind of notification to stay off Kellogg for the time being, I could very quickly make the choice to take city streets or the bypass.

I'm in college currently and would LOVE to come back and live in Wichita and start a career there. I was born and raised there, so living there would be like staying home. I'm going into Computer Information Technology, hence all the internet and mobile things I am talking about. :-) Its nice to see Wichita finally moving forward, it makes me even more excited to stay in Wichita. 3/6/2009 4:00 PM