Sustainability Action Network proposes the construction of the Atchison Creek Bikeway Trail in 2026, so that the timing be coordinated to follow completion of the Evergy Free State Substation. The bikeway trail shall connect the north end of the Yankee Tank Trail (within the Peppertree Apartment Complex) to the Lawrence Avenue future bikeway going north at Bob Billings Parkway. Negotiations conducted in 2022 by the City Engineer with Evergy representatives confirmed that the Evergy site elevations will be compatible with bikeway trail geometries and ADA requirements. Evergy's permanent access easement from Westbrooke St. will be on approximately 15 feet of fill, so fill will also be required to slope the bikeway up to the road coming from the south. We propose that the City arrange with Evergy to deposit fill dirt for the bikeway trail when Evergy is regrading the substation site. No fill will be needed north of the Evergy road, because their temporary construction access road will be there for later use by the bikeway. Based on contour and elevation maps from Evergy (attached), a sloped incline constructed of fill dirt will be required from the north terminus of the Yankee Tank Trail 335 feet to Evergy's permanent access road. The bikeway surface will be 2735 linear feet, 10 feet wide by 6 inches depth, glass fiber reinforced concrete. It will have a dashed white stripe center line. There will be wayfinding signs at the Yankee Tank Trail junction, at the Evergy permanent access road, and at Bob Billings/Lawrence Ave. intersection. That intersection will also have a HAWK crossing signal and green pavement markings across Bob Billings Prkw. A bicycle bridge will be required over a small tributary west of Atchison Creek and just north of the Yankee Tank Trail. As of November 27, 2023, this project is included in the City f Lawrence's FY 2024-2028 CIP. Information regarding a design firm and the general contractor selection timeline has not been disclosed. A firm construction timeline has not been released. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.
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