Transportation and land-use exist in a supply-demand relationship though they are typically regulated by different levels of government. Effective regulation of a transportation corridor poses questions of transportation management and land-use management that cannot be answered by any single regulator. The regulatory partners along a transportation corridor need appropriate information and analysis in order to make decisions that can be mutually supported, effectively implemented, and strong enough to withstand legal and political challenges. To support such efforts on critical transportation corridors, the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) Corridor Management Program has been modified to allow funding of joint transportation/land-use studies. These studies include elements of traditional transportation planning, but also include market analysis and public involvement. US-24/40 is a four-lane, divided expressway that provides an east-west corridor across southern Leavenworth County in the northwest of the Kansas City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Over time, the KDOT has invested significant funds in U.S. 24/40 and Leavenworth County and the cities of Tonganoxie and Basehor are feeling the pressure of growth and development. The corridor partners (cities, county, KDOT, and MPO), are interested in protecting mobility and safety along the corridor. To that end, the partners have embarked upon a corridor study that will produce deliverables such as comprehensive plan edits, zoning and subdivision regulation modifications, and an access plan that can be implemented. The partners hope to document improvements in safety, economic vitality, and quality of life.
Abstract