To: Lawrence City Commission
No Public Traffic Access At 19th & O'connell
By signing this petition, I support the 19th Street Neighborhoods Coalition efforts outlined below.
Why is this important?
City staff wants to widen 19th Street between O'Connell and Harper to a 47-foot arterial width and connect it to O’Connell Rd at Venture Business Park. For perspective, the width of the three-lane 19th Street stretch north of Lawrence High School is less than 35 feet.
Although the City claims otherwise, we know that opening the connection would dump traffic into the heart of our neighborhoods from commuters, game day traffic, and business park employees.
The City claims they have to widen the street and connect it because:
1) buses and emergency vehicles need to get through
2) the water line has broken frequently
3) it is missing sections of sidewalk
4) there are no bicycle lanes
5) the pavement is bad
6) it has open ditches
Instead, the 19th Street Neighborhoods Coalition proposes:
1) A gate at O’Connell, operable by buses and emergency vehicles
2) Replace the water line, as done in other parts of town
3) Install a 6-foot sidewalk on the north side
4) Install a 10-foot bicycle path on the south side
5) Keep the open drainage for better flood control
6) Repave 19th Street at 22 feet wide, like other streets
Although the City claims otherwise, we know that opening the connection would dump traffic into the heart of our neighborhoods from commuters, game day traffic, and business park employees.
The City claims they have to widen the street and connect it because:
1) buses and emergency vehicles need to get through
2) the water line has broken frequently
3) it is missing sections of sidewalk
4) there are no bicycle lanes
5) the pavement is bad
6) it has open ditches
Instead, the 19th Street Neighborhoods Coalition proposes:
1) A gate at O’Connell, operable by buses and emergency vehicles
2) Replace the water line, as done in other parts of town
3) Install a 6-foot sidewalk on the north side
4) Install a 10-foot bicycle path on the south side
5) Keep the open drainage for better flood control
6) Repave 19th Street at 22 feet wide, like other streets