wichita downtown streets conceptual plan achieving city ... - wichita...plan for the city of wichita...

DRAFT Wichita Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan

Achieving City Goals and Past Plan Review

March 2020

DRAFT ACHIEVING CITY GOALS AND PAST PLAN REVIEW Wichita Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan

Contents 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1-1 2 Past Plan Summaries ..................................................................................... 2-1

Unified Zoning Code (2009) ................................................................................................... 2-1 Parking and Mobility Master Plan (2007).......................................................................2-3 Downtown Parking and Mobility Management Master Plan (2009) .............2-5 Project Downtown Master Plan (2010) ............................................................................ 2-7 Downtown Wichita Streetscape Design Guidelines (2010) ................................2-9 Wichita Bicycle Master Plan (2013)..................................................................................2-10 Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan (2014).......................................................................... 2-13 Wichita Street Design Guidelines: Wichita’s Policy Manual for Multi-Modal Transportation (2014)................................................................................................ 2-15 Community Investments Plan: A Framework for the Future, 2015–2035 (2015) .................................................................................................................................................. 2-17 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan (Update 2016)................... 2-18 Wichita: Places for People (2018) ..................................................................................... 2-19 Wichita Priority Safety Corridor Plan (2018, in progress).................................2-20 Annual Budget (2020/2021) ................................................................................................... 2-1 Wichita Parking and Multimodal Plan (2018, in progress) ................................... 2-2

3 Past Plan Goals Review ................................................................................. 3-1 Project Downtown Master Plan Goals (2010) ...............................................................3-1 Downtown Wichita Streetscape Design Guidelines Goals (2010) ..................3-2 Wichita Bicycle Master Plan Goals (2013)......................................................................3-2 Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan Goals (2014)..............................................................3-2 Street Design Guidelines Goals (2014).............................................................................3-2 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan Goals (Update 2016).......3-2 Wichita: Places for People Goals (2018) ........................................................................ 3-3 Annual Budget Goals (2020/2021) ................................................................................... 3-3

4 Downtown Streets Conceptual Plans Goals and Values ..........................4-1


Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | 1-1

1 Introduction

Designs for transportation solutions should be tailored to the community context and preferences. This document reviews Wichita’s community goals, previous plans, and guidelines to:

• help ensure community consensus and principles can be carried forward and implemented; and

• utilize the measurable evaluation criteria from the community goals to help determine the optimal street configurations and transportation infrastructure serving downtown Wichita.

Throughout the Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan process, the recommendations from previous community initiatives have been continually examined in order to determine if they are still relevant and if changes should be made.

Figure 1: Douglas Avenue at St. Francis Street during Open Streets ICT (September 22, 2019)



2 Past Plan Summaries UNIFIED ZONING CODE (2009) Wichita, like most American cities, governs land use and development through a zoning system. Wichita’s zoning system is regulated through a 250-page zoning code. The purpose of the zoning system, as specified in the code, is to implement the 1993 Plan for the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County, and its 2005 update1.

All areas of the City and surrounding Sedgwick County are classified into one or more of 32 zoning districts. The zoning districts permit various types of development, and broadly separate residential, commercial, industrial, and special purpose development. Each zoning district permits specific land uses, and has property development standards outlining the permissible built form of any building. In some cases, specialized zoning overlay districts add or adjust zoning regulations in designated areas such as Old Town and Delano. Significant portions of the City and Sedgwick County are predominantly zoned for single-family residential uses. This results in a low overall intensity of development, which reduces population density and the proximity of residents to key destinations. This land use pattern affects the transportation system by increasing trip distances of residents, which limits opportunities walking and biking, as well as impeding the viability of shared modes such as public transit..

Transportation and land use are inextricably linked, and by shaping land use and development patterns, Wichita’s zoning system has a significant impact on its transportation system. A stated goal of the zoning code is “to maintain a transportation system that provides a diverse set of convenient opportunities to travel to local, regional and national destinations”. The zoning code dramatically and directly shapes the transportation opportunities available to people in Wichita through regulating:

• Parking,

• Access,

• Physical layout of developments,

• Separation of land uses,

• Controlling density.

1 Unified Zoning Code: https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Zoning%20Code%20for%20Wichita-Sedgwick%20County.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Zoning%20Code%20for%20Wichita-Sedgwick%20County.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Zoning%20Code%20for%20Wichita-Sedgwick%20County.pdf



Parking Requirements The zoning code specifies many different parking requirements for different use-types in different zoning districts. It is highly complex and dictates a wide range of parking requirements. Typically, residential development is required to provide one parking space per unit. Commercial development is typically required to provide 1 space per 333 square feet of floor area. Most of the study area is zoned as CBD Central Business District. Unlike other areas of the City, areas zoned as CBD Central Business District do not require projects to provide off-street parking.

With some exceptions, required off-street parking must be located on the same zoning lot as a development. The requirement of parking for most development has a transportation impact in that it generally leads to making driving the default preferred mode of transportation through:

• an oversupply of parking;

• a less safe, comfortable, and convenient environment for other modes.

While off-street parking is not required in most of Downtown Wichita, parking is over-supplied anyway. The oversupply more likely is the result of market-driven incentives toward constructing new parking – such as from potential project tenants and financiers - rather than regulatory requirements.

Access Requirements The zoning code stipulates some access requirements for new development. For example, hotel developments are required to have access to streets that are functionally classified as an arterial or higher. The same requirement applies to warehouses and other industrial uses in some zoning districts, while in others, developers must have their site access designs reviewed and approved by City planning authorities on a discretionary basis. .

Physical Design of Developments The zoning code also indicates property development standards that provide minimum standards for all new developments and alterations to existing buildings. These regulations are also specified by Uses or Districts. Overall, these property development standards are categorized under residential and nonresidential zoning districts. The various requirements listed under each zoning district are based on seven development standards, listed below:

• Minimum lot area

• Minimum lot width

• Front setback

• Rear setback

• Interior side setback

• Street side setback

• Maximum height



There are also additional setbacks that are required based on the type of roadway, for example, the minimum setback required from Arterial streets is 100 ft but from a Freeway is 150 ft.

PARKING AND MOBILITY MASTER PLAN (2007) The Parking and Mobility Management Master Plan2, provides recommendations for how parking in Downtown Wichita should be managed by the City, though it was neither endorsed nor adopted by the City Council. Many strategies of this Plan have been implemented, while others were explored and ultimately shelved. These recommendations include:

• Create the Wichita Parking and Transportation Department to coordinate parking and transportation resources in different areas of Downtown Wichita, as shown below in Figure 2.

2 Parking and Mobility Management Master Plan: https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/NR%20Documents/Parking%20and%20Mobility%20Master%20Plan ,%20Aug%203,%202007.pdf

Figure 2: Parking and Mobility Management Master Plan Parking Districts

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/NR%20Documents/Parking%20and%20Mobility%20Master%20Plan,%20Aug%203,%202007.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/NR%20Documents/Parking%20and%20Mobility%20Master%20Plan,%20Aug%203,%202007.pdf



• Update parking regulations for example:

o allow for a fee to be paid in-lieu of parking

o enact minimum and maximum parking requirements

o permit parking reductions for developments sharing parking

• The Planning Department should encourage developments to share parking when an opportunity arises.

• Developers should be required to prepare a parking plan for the City to review for new projects.

• Build additional parking in the Arena Neighborhood

• Make information about parking easy to find and clear, with wayfinding and a website. Parking should also be marketed to the public.

o Use signage for event parking, especially for the Broadview Garage, which they also recommend be staffed when there are major events.

• Parking facilities should be well-maintained and well-lit. People should feel comfortable in the parking facilities. Privately owned parking facilities must be well-maintained as well.

• Angled Parking along Douglas Avenue

• Revenue from parking should be reinvested in parking facilities.

• Bring “local property owners, business owners, and parking operators” together in a parking partnership program.

• The plan recommends shuttle parking for events, and for the Q-line be operated throughout the year.



DOWNTOWN PARKING AND MOBILITY MANAGEMENT MASTER PLAN (2009) The Downtown Parking and Mobility Management Master Plan3 was developed for the City of Wichita, Sedgwick County, and SMG, which manages Intrust Arena. The document makes recommendations regarding how parking should be managed in downtown Wichita generally, and during major events, though it was neither endorsed nor adopted by the City Council. Many strategies of this Plan have been implemented, while others were explored and ultimately shelved.

Based on the document’s 10 guiding principles, the plan provides guidance for how to create a self-sufficient, proactive, and efficient parking organization that fosters a positive customer experience and works in tandem with other downtown initiatives to support the success of downtown Wichita. The document makes a series of recommendations regarding the establishment of an entity that manages parking downtown and their activities:

• Some recommendations are made surrounding the structure and organization of the entity, for example, creating a downtown parking district and hiring a Downtown Parking Director.

• Other recommendations are about the tasks the organization should periodically execute for planning purposes such as keeping track of parking counts and supply.

• The organization should also take steps to support policies and programs that lead to a more efficient use of parking (as shown on Figure 3), for example: o Transportation demand management strategies to encourage fewer trips

by car to downtown o Amendments to the zoning code’s parking regulations - recommendations

made in the 2007 Parking and Mobility Master Plan. o Set parking rates such that 85% of parking is used, and make on-street

parking more expensive than off-street parking. o Shared Parking

• Many recommendations surround the development, maintenance, promotion, and monitoring of the parking facilities. For example, consider purchasing land for future parking development, redesigning wayfinding, developing a brand, call boxes and ambassadors monitoring facilities to make people feel more comfortable in parking garages.

• Recommendations also cover how parking should be managed during special events. These recommendations include: o Incentivize people to park at the arena early and take a shuttle to Old Town

rather than parking twice, in Old Town before the event, and later, at the venue.

o Carpoolers should receive discounted parking

3 Downtown Parking and Mobility Management Master Plan: https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/NR%20Documents/Downtown%20Parking%20and%20Mobility%20Managment%20Plan.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/NR%20Documents/Downtown%20Parking%20and%20Mobility%20Managment%20Plan.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/NR%20Documents/Downtown%20Parking%20and%20Mobility%20Managment%20Plan.pdf



o Promote TDM programs o There should be a place with secure bike parking near the event o Use a Walk and Win program to incentivize those who work near the arena

to walk to events after work, rather than driving to the arena. o Incentivize people not to drive to events by offering free transit passes to

events and giving prizes to those who use other means of travel to reach the venue.

Figure 3: Downtown Parking and Mobility Management Master Plan Event Parking Facilities



PROJECT DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN (2010) Renewed investment and energy in downtown Wichita inspired the City to develop Project Downtown: The Master Plan for Wichita (2010).

Their vision for Downtown Wichita:

"Downtown is a place that enables people to live, work, shop, play, and learn…all within a short walk of each other. Downtown celebrates Wichita’s rich history and vibrant future, and it invites people from every walk of life to share their sense of community. 150 years after Wichita took root here, Downtown is the reinvigorated heart of a region committed to a vital future."4

Part of improving downtown includes, improving downtown’s connectivity. These improvements including economic development and changes to the streets were recommended in order to help achieve those community goals. The plan is particularly concerned with not only ensuring that it is easy to move through and around downtown by car, but that people feel comfortable and are interested in traveling throughout downtown by foot, bike, or transit once they are there. They plan to do this through developing more active street frontages, accommodating multiple users of the street, and addressing parking downtown.

The plan proposes a strategic mix of street types over the long term, as shown in Figure 4, that aims to help rebalance Downtown’s street network, allowing it to better accommodate more kinds of traffic—pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and cars.

Figure 4: Project Downtown Transportation Framework

4 Project Downtown: The Master Plan for Wichita https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/NR%20Documents/Project%20Downtown%20-%20The%20Master%20Plan%20for%20Wichita.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/NR%20Documents/Project%20Downtown%20-%20The%20Master%20Plan%20for%20Wichita.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/NR%20Documents/Project%20Downtown%20-%20The%20Master%20Plan%20for%20Wichita.pdf



The plan makes the following recommendations:

• Expanding the Q-line circulator • Bike Infrastructure • Improving pedestrian environment and safety • Wayfinding • Douglas should become a promenade • Change one-way streets to two-way streets • Signal coordination and re-timing • Shared Parking that is well integrated with pedestrian, bike, and transit access • Provide locations for people to cross streets or blocks mid-block along

downtown’s superblocks. • They want life at the street to be active with plantings, (stormwater

improvements), storefronts, and artwork/visual interest.



DOWNTOWN WICHITA STREETSCAPE DESIGN GUIDELINES (2010) The streetscape design guidelines were developed for the City of Wichita in 2010. The document’s focus is on the public realm in downtown and creating a sense of place. The guidelines outline how this sense of place can be created in downtown, and is intended to be used by the City as projects are completed. The document considers what the environment should be like in different areas of downtown, and features the styles and elements they are looking for in the different areas of downtown (as outlined in the implementation model shown in Figure 5). The purpose of the document as explained in the document, "To summarize, the purpose of the guideline is to improve the design aesthetic and design consistency of downtown streetscapes while making the streets more functional for all users" (11).

The document makes five policy recommendations. In their own words, their recommendations are:

• Establish an internal review process for implementation of the streetscape design guidelines

• Develop priority enhancement areas for public infrastructure in downtown • Revise applicable codes, ordinances and policies to better facilitate street level

activities • Develop guidelines specifically for the design of on-street bicycle facilities and

cycle tracks • Develop a city policy to address advertising signage in the street right-of-way

to incorporate the lifestyle pylons, mini-pylons and wayfinding map kiosks suggested in the streetscape design guidelines

Figure 5: Downtown Streetscape Guidelines Implementation Model



WICHITA BICYCLE MASTER PLAN (2013) The Wichita Bicycle Master Plan was completed by the City of Wichita in 2013. It identifies three community goals and strategies to support help accomplish them. The plan has the following vision for Wichita’s future:

"An interconnected network of on-and off-street bicycle facilities that accommodates bicycle riders of all skill levels; and links all areas of the City of Wichita- including employment centers, schools, parks, and other activity centers." 5

To achieve their vision, the City plans to build out their bike network (as noted in an excerpt shown in Figure 6), educate the public, support making biking part of the city’s culture, and include policies and a governing infrastructure that supports progress with regard to expanding the city’s network of bike infrastructure. The plan makes the following recommendations:

• The plan recommends bike infrastructure be built to improve safety for people who ride bikes. o The bike network should connect people to places that would like to go

and wayfinding should be used within the network to help people reach their destination.

o They would like there to be connections to transit by bike. o Improved safety at arterial intersections. o They are looking for coordination with WAMPO and the Parks Department. o They would like a feasibility study for bike share to be completed.

5 Wichita Bike Master Plan, Executive Summary: https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Executive%20Summary.pdf

Figure 6: Bicycle Master Plan Recommendations (Excerpt)

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Executive%20Summary.pdf



o The plan also recommends a plan be developed for the maintenance of bike facilities.

o One of the plan’s priority projects is the installation of sharrows along Douglas Avenue (between St. Paul Avenue and Edgemoor Avenue).

• It also recommends policies and programs to develop/enhance a culture of

biking in the city. o Educate the public about biking and ensure city staff are informed and up

to date through courses and professional events. As part of their educational efforts, they would like to host a biannual bike summit. Train staff on how to teach people about bike safety.

o Make bike maps available online. o Support the work of advocacy or other community groups that encourage

and provide resources to the public regarding biking. This includes finding and helping groups obtain funding for bike education programs. This also includes publicizing events.

o The plan highlights ways the City should assist schools and organizations supporting seniors regarding programs such as Safe Routes to School.

o Focus on ticketing dangerous actions of drivers and bicyclists, also, collect data on citations that are given and identify those places that are most dangerous for people on bikes to focus their attention on.

o Take steps for the city to be recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community and encourage businesses and universities to be recognized as Bicycle Friendly Businesses by the League of American Bicyclists’

o The City would like the broader community to get involved in normalizing and promoting riding bikes in the city, with a line-up of speakers the City can call on to speak about biking, quotes from “opinion leaders” regarding bicycling the City can use, and encouraging businesses to use bikes in their advertising.

• They also seek policies and processes that promote the development of bike facilities in the city. o The plan calls for a Complete Streets Policy, Routine Accommodation

Policy, and policies that outline when it is appropriate to build an “isolated segment” of the bike network, or when to wait to complete bike facilities on a road designed for them. The plan also asks for an updated standard arterial cross section.

o The City would like projects that fill in the “gaps” of the existing network to be completed first and have this outlined in policy. The City would also like to include bike projects in the Capital Improvements Program and apply for federal funding for projects.

o Include requirements for bicycle parking and other amenities that support biking in the unified zoning code.

o Establish a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, which would support the growth of the bicycle network and evaluate the system.



o Hire more planning and public works staff/ensure there is sufficient staff to support the city’s efforts to improve the bicycle network

o Create plans to regularly monitor the city’s performance with regard to the number of people bicycling and vehicle crashes involving people riding a bike. The measures should allow the city to see whether or not they are making progress their goals.

• The Bicycle Master Plan should be regularly updated. There should also be an annual work plan that is approved by the Bicycle Advisory Board.



WICHITA PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN (2014) The Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan recommends how the City should work to make it easier and safer for people to get around Wichita by walking. Douglas Avenue, Broadway and Centralare the more dangerous corridors for pedestrians based on the number of crashes involving pedestrians that occurred along the corridor between 2008 and 2012, using data from the Kansas Department of Transportation. The plan has the following vision:

“By 2024, the City of Wichita will be a pedestrian friendly community and a place where walking is an easy choice in all people’s daily lives. Wichita residents and visitors will have access to high quality and safe walking environments that connect all neighborhoods, destinations, and other modes of transportation, while contributing to a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant Wichita.” (41).

To achieve this vision, the plan specifies three main goals:

Goal 1: Provide a safe and welcoming pedestrian network

Goal 2: Improve community accessibility and connections for pedestrians

Goal 3: Promote a citywide culture of walking

Their strategies are divided into two groups: strategies to prioritize within the next 10 years (short-term) and strategies to complete in the longer term, along with funding mechanisms (as noted in Figure 7). In the short-term, the focus is providing pedestrian infrastructure in areas where it is most needed, and serving vulnerable populations likely to use it. These strategies include:

• Incorporating the Design Guidance included in the planning document, into the development process, by having it endorsed by City Council and used by the City and private interests.

• “Create a Marked Crosswalk Policy” to support the development of and improvement of more effective crosswalks throughout the city.

• Improve pedestrian infrastructure at intersections and fill in the sidewalk network, use criteria to prioritize projects. Also, ensure that sidewalks are built with developments and when the City makes other roadway changes.

• Supporting initiatives by schools, agencies and organizations supporting seniors and children with regard to providing better pedestrian facilities, and developing programs that support walking. They are also open to supporting efforts surrounding the Safe Routes to School program.

• If necessary, revise the City’s process for choosing which pedestrian maintenance projects will be completed and when.

• No changes to policies that plant street trees. The City is interested in supporting street tree programs, and programs similar to this through city funds, and funding from other sources, as well as developing partnerships with other organizations. There is a Landscape Ordinance6 that was passed by the

6 Landscape Ordinance: https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Landscape%20Ordinance%20Guidebook.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Landscape%20Ordinance%20Guidebook.pdf



City in order to enhance the attractiveness of the city and improve the quality of life for its citizens and visitors.

• The City wants to support the success of this plan by having staff dedicated to it, and for the staff to be informed, having them take advantage of relevant courses and workshops to stay informed. They would also like a work-plan to the developed annually that is approved by the Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and a progress report should also be periodically published. The plan should continue to be amended, and projects should be prioritized, through a to-be-developed “project prioritization process.”7

In the longer-term the focus becomes more site- and area-specific, looking at what specific places need to do to become more connected for pedestrians. The focus also shifts to the City’s third goal, “Promote a citywide culture of walking.” Strategies such as ensuring that people know the rules of the road and know how to walk and drive safely together, are included in this goal.

7 Wichita Pedestrian Master Plan: http://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/01%20Wichita%20Pedestrian%20Master%20Plan.pdf

Figure 7: Pedestrian Master Plan Funding Mechanisms

http://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/01%20Wichita%20Pedestrian%20Master%20Plan.pdf



WICHITA STREET DESIGN GUIDELINES: WICHITA’S POLICY MANUAL FOR MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION (2014) The Wichita Street Design Guidelines: Wichita’s Policy Manual for Multi-Modal Transportation (2014) are a set of policies for the City to adopt to create a multi-modal city. The Wichita Street Design Guidelines was developed to fulfill a recommendation in the Bicycle Master Plan, “The Plan (Strategy 20) recommends the City adopt policies to ensure that the City’s project planning and review process account for multimodal facilities.”8 The policy strives for the following vision:

“enhancing the overall safety and effectiveness of Wichita’s transportation system. Every street shall be designed such that there are no unreasonable barriers to traveling by any given mode.” (1).

The policies include the framework by which the policies would be executed. They recommend developing a Multi-Modal Committee to see that the policies in the document are followed and track and share their performance. The policy asks the City to consider multi-modal improvements to projects as opportunities for them arise, and add in language to policies, and other legal documents which support the transition to become multi-modal. It also demands the policy be incorporated into “the street design process.”

8 Part. 1 of Background: http://www.wichita.gov/Planning/Pages/MultiModalPolicyandStreetDesignGuidance.aspx

Figure 8: Street Design Guidelines Two-Way Street Configuration Decision Tree

http://www.wichita.gov/Planning/Pages/MultiModalPolicyandStreetDesignGuidance.aspx



The document includes specific recommendations regarding the design of Wichita’s streets. The policies and guidelines include recommendations regarding street design, intersection design, and transit design (design and location of bus stops). A decision tree is included in the document (and shown above in Figure 8) to help planners and engineers decide what amenities a street needs to have.

The policy asks that the context of a street to be considered as it is designed. In the city’s “urban core,” they want to see the following:

“Streets in the urban core should be designed to create a walkable and transit-friendly environment focusing on the safety of all street users. They should have a high degree of amenities that promote walking, bicycling, and transit while safely accommodating vehicular travel and parking needs.” (14).



COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS PLAN: A FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE, 2015–2035 (2015) This is the joint comprehensive plan for Wichita and Sedgwick County and is a much-needed update to their last comprehensive plan which dates back to 1993. This plan hopes to guide the long-term capital improvement programs for the region with the goals of:

• Promoting economic growth and job creation • Advancing community quality of life and safety • Creating a community that will attract and retain future generations

The plan also presents a vision for the next 20 years:

“Building on our rich aviation and entrepreneurial heritage, Wichita-Sedgwick County is a global center of advanced manufacturing and high-tech industry and a premier service, education, health and retail center for South Central Kansas. People feel safe and enjoy affordable housing choices in diverse, vibrant neighborhoods offering unique quality living environments and active, healthy lifestyles with access to arts, culture and recreation.”9

The comprehensive plan focuses on six elements that each list a set of goals and strategies to guide the public infrastructure and facilities investment decisions. These elements are:

• Funding and Financing • Transportation • Water, Sewer and Stormwater • Arts, Culture and Recreation • Public Safety • Priority Enhancement Areas for Wichita Public Infrastructure Projects Map

9 Community Investments Plan: https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Community%20Investments%20Plan%202015-2035.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Community%20Investments%20Plan%202015-2035.pdf



PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN (UPDATE 2016) The 2016 update to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan describes a plan to continue to serve the Wichita community, and includes strategies to address gaps in their funding.

One of the department’s priorities is improving connections to, between, and within parks for all of their users. Ensuring that parks and trails are ADA accessible, something the department was already working towards, as well as coordinating with other entities to improve transit access to parks, and access to parks by foot and bike.

Trails and linear parks are viewed as resources for creating this interconnected system. A number of the document’s recommendations involve improving the city’s network of trails and linear parks, so they are not just a resource for recreation, but for traveling through the city and connecting with the greater region. The report10 recommendations include:

• Adding to their trail network and filling in network gaps. • The plan also identifies “priority projects” such as the Delano Neighborhood

Pathway.

• Installing way-finding and mile markers for the trails • Installing features such as lighting, and traffic calming improvements to

improve safety where trails and roadways meet. • In addition to their more traditional trails, the Arkansas river is seen as a “water

trail/blue way” opportunity and planning for places for boats to enter and exit the water is needed. They recommend facilities such as parking, bathrooms, and boat rentals to be built as development of these locations takes place.

• Specifically for Downtown Wichita: “In the downtown redevelopment area, collaborate with other departments to create a connected system of urban parks by incorporating pedestrian linkages, boulevards, public amenities and art work to meet recreational needs and support livability” (51).

10 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan (Plan Update, 2016) https://www.wichita.gov/ParkandRec/Documents/Wichita_PROS_2016_Update_080116_Complete.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/ParkandRec/Documents/Wichita_PROS_2016_Update_080116_Complete.pdf



WICHITA: PLACES FOR PEOPLE (2018) This plan was an outcome of the Community Investments Plan 2015-2035. The comprehensive plan contained a new Wichita Urban Infill Strategy intended to encourage population and employment growth, residential and commercial development and reinvestment in the older mature neighborhoods of Wichita. To achieve this goal, the Urban Infill Advisory Committee was created to provide neighborhood and community perspective on the urban infill efforts by the City. This committee, further assisted by a technical advisory group, developed the Places for People plan as a means to implement the Urban Infill strategy.

The plan is focused for the Established Central Area (ECA) which includes Downtown Wichita and its surrounding neighborhoods. For this region, the plan establishes a vision statement mentioned below:

“The Established Central Area is a Place for People - a place that provides for the movement of people - on foot, on bike and through transit - in balance with automobiles. The creation of a connected, accessible community including strong neighborhoods, vibrant active centers and community destinations will demonstrate our commitment to development and public improvements that put people first. The reimagining of our urban areas will advance our economy and revitalize our community.”11

To implement the above stated vision, the plan identified six key strategies and seven measurable targets. Out of the six strategies identified, there are two the focus on improving the street network and creating a walkable neighborhood. All the six strategies are listed below:

• Create walkable destinations that support the various neighborhood environments in the ECA.

• Improve the connectivity within the ECA for all modes, with special attention to pedestrians and cyclists, between neighborhoods and commercial services.

• Improve the economic feasibility of commercial / service uses and the markets necessary to support them.

• Create tools and target incentives to cause infill and redevelopment to occur in desired areas.

• Provide a diversity of housing options to attract new residents and allow existing residents to remain in the ECA.

• Encourage infill and redevelopment that is contextual to the environment in which it is occurring.

11 Places for People: Vision Book https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Vision%20Book.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Planning/PlanningDocument/Vision%20Book.pdf



WICHITA PRIORITY SAFETY CORRIDOR PLAN (2018, IN PROGRESS) The Wichita Priority Safety Corridor Plan is currently being developed for the City of Wichita. The objective of the plan is to, "… recommend ways to make Broadway Avenue between 11th Street and 3rd Street safer and more inviting for people to travel along and across Broadway." 12

Broadway was one of three corridors considered for this project. The other corridors considered were one-mile segments of Central Avenue and Douglas Avenue. Broadway Avenue between 11th Street and 3rd Street was selected through an evaluation process which considered the frequency and severity of vehicular crashes involving pedestrians and/or people riding their bike, socio-economic characteristics, transit ridership along the corridor, planning activities that have or are planned to take place, and planned roadwork.13

The Concept Alternatives for Broadway Avenue supported by the Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Board, Wichita Parking and Mobility Staff, and District Advisory Board VI, propose a road-diet for the one-mile segment of Broadway Avenue, turning it into a two-lane road with a turning lane. Images of alternative concepts emerging from the process are shown below. Consensus support for Concept A has been noted on Broadway between Central Avenue and 13th Street which includes buffered bike lanes with flex posts on either side of the street. Concepts I and K include parking as well as bicycle facilities and have been supported for Broadway between Central Avenue and 3rd Street. Of these, Concept I has parking on either side of the roadway, with bike lanes although they are unprotected. Concept K, has buffered bike lanes on either side of the street and parking on one side of the street and was endorsed by District Advisory Board VI. 14

12 http://www.wichita.gov/Bicycle/Pages/Corridor.aspx 13 http://www.wichita.gov/Bicycle/BicycleDocuments/Selection%20Methodology.pdf 14 http://www.wichita.gov/Bicycle/BicycleDocuments/Concept%20Alternatives%20Survey.pdf



Figure 9: Concept Alternatives – Priority Safety Corridor Plan



ANNUAL BUDGET (2020/2021) Wichita’s proposed budget of 2020/21 states the City’s priorities and plans. The biggest highlight of this budget was the creation of a Transportation Department instead of a Transit department. The transportation department’s mission is as follows: Provide a high performing transportation system that meets community needs through the connectivity of people, places, and products15. To achieve this mission, the budget also listed these goals: Support economic and environmental goals. Provide personal mobility options and equitable access. Maintain safe and secure services and assets. Deliver connected, dependable, and high-quality service. Operate a cost-effective and compliant system.

The plan lays down five programs to realize the outcomes of the goals:

• Transportation Administration: This program activities aims to improve public and customer service to promote public transit use; focus on planning and policy which includes long range planning, strategizing policies; and looking at administration and compliance to support other programs.

• Transit Operations: This is the program that has maximum funds allocated amongst all the five programs. Under this program, the City will focus on improving fixed route services, various flex services, and safety & security in transit.

• Paratransit Services: Paratransit operations includes van drivers that provide transportation to disabled persons who qualify for service based on ADA eligibility criteria.

• Transit Maintenance: This program focuses on building dependable infrastructure to support transit services. This includes activities for fleet maintenance and facilities and equipment maintenance.

• Parking and Mobility: Under this program, the City plans to implement the Bicycle Master Plan and Pedestrian Master Plan. This program also includes on-street and off-street parking and other bike and ped programs.

15 Annual Budget- Transportation: https://www.wichita.gov/Finance/Operating%20Budget/Transportation%20V1.pdf

https://www.wichita.gov/Finance/Operating%20Budget/Transportation%20V1.pdf



WICHITA PARKING AND MULTIMODAL PLAN (2018, IN PROGRESS) The Wichita Parking and Multimodal Plan is being conducted to set a plan where parking and multimodal connectivity in Wichita supports the civic, social, and economic vitality of the community. This plan is also an update to the 2007 and 2009 plans discussed before. As a part of this, parking is expected to be a high-quality integral part of the dynamic connected and seamless multimodal transportation system. The City seeks to develop a parking system that is appropriate, efficient, fair, and equitable.

The study completed an in-depth analysis of existing parking availability (as shown below on Figure 10), costs, development impacts, density considerations, and parking fund considerations. Through this, the plan has developed policy recommendations focused around the following:

Figure 10: Weekday Parking Occupancy – Wichita Parking and Multimodal Plan



Offer preferential lease arrangements to accommodate new employees and better leverage existing public parking resources until they hit target utilization rates (i.e., 85% utilized at the peak hour);

Continue to promote the use of consistent on- and off-street policies (including meters, time limits, and pay parking lots and garages) as the best strategy to accommodate new visitor parking demand;

Strategically sell-off underutilized surface lots and garages to promote development and redevelopment within the downtown core;

Strategically sell-off well-utilized surface lots considering the revenue-value of that facility and whether public access would be improved (either through parking or other means);

Explore public-private arrangements where Parking and Mobility would take over the management and enforcement of private property to be used for public parking (examples might include surface parking lots that service multiple businesses);

As the Parking Fund becomes revenue positive, then utilize Parking Fund resources to participate in additional programs that improve access to new development – this may include the funding or both parking and non-parking mobility options, including transit, walking, bicycling, and/or other transportation options;

Evaluate future development and capital investment opportunities to ensure they align with the fiscal self-sufficiency goals for the Parking Fund and the City.



3 Past Plan Goals Review The vision and goals established as a part of the past plans offer a guide for the development of goals for the Wichita Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan. While a more detailed review of previous plans and initiatives that generally relate to the transportation environment in Downtown Wichita were covered in the section above, goals from plans and initiatives that more specifically relate to Downtown streets operations and orientation were noted for further contemplation. Specific goals for consideration with the Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan are noted in bold and underlined below.

PROJECT DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN GOALS (2010)

• Create unique downtown places

o Create complete streets with convenient transportation choices, dignified addresses, greenery, beauty, and stormwater management

o Make Douglas a continuous promenade with more visible crosswalks, links across large blocks, wayfinding signage, interpretive signage/displays, and public art

• Bring street fronts and neighborhoods to life

o Activate street-level storefronts

• Locate parking to improve access and stimulate reinvestment

• Improve walking, transit, and biking choices

o Make walking safe, easy, and enjoyable

o Expand convenient transit servicing key downtown destinations and corridors

o Make downtown bikeable with defined streets/lanes linked to regional networks and bicycle parking

o Apply specific roles and streetscape design to each street to improve function for all access modes



DOWNTOWN WICHITA STREETSCAPE DESIGN GUIDELINES GOALS (2010)

• Improve the vibrancy of downtown

• Improve linkages between downtown destinations

• Improve the degree of engagement between the travelling public and the street environment downtown

• Improve the aesthetic and functional consistency of downtown streets through good streetscape principles

WICHITA BICYCLE MASTER PLAN GOALS (2013) • Increase the amount of bicycling in Wichita

• Improve the safety of bicyclists in Wichita

• Foster and promote a culture where bicycling is a viable and acceptable form of transportation

WICHITA PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN GOALS (2014)

• Provide a safe and welcoming pedestrian network

• Improve community accessibility and connections for pedestrians

• Promote a citywide culture of walking

STREET DESIGN GUIDELINES GOALS (2014) • Transportation facilities that allow safe and efficient travel by all modes

including walking; mobility devices, such as wheelchairs; bicycles; personal vehicles; transit vehicles; emergency vehicles; and commercial & freight vehicles.

• Provide a framework for achieving a well-integrated multi-modal transportation system.

• Direct the City to routinely consider, and to the extent practical, accommodate all modes and all users with a focus on improving the safety and effectiveness of the City’s transportation system.

• Wichita’s transportation system will continue to integrate functional networks for each mode of travel into a complete system.

PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN GOALS (UPDATE 2016)

• Provide safe and accessible parks, open spaces, recreation facilities and programs that help create healthy residents and healthy community



• Provide trails that connect community destination, support alternatives to automobile transportation, and encourage active

WICHITA: PLACES FOR PEOPLE GOALS (2018) • Create walkable destinations that support the various neighborhood

environments in the ECA. • Improve the connectivity within the ECA for all modes, with special attention to

pedestrians and cyclists, between neighborhoods and commercial services. • Improve the economic feasibility of commercial / service uses and the markets

necessary to support them. • Create tools and target incentives to cause infill and redevelopment to occur in

desired areas. • Provide a diversity of housing options to attract new residents and allow

existing residents to remain in the ECA. • Encourage infill and redevelopment that is contextual to the environment in

which it is occurring.

ANNUAL BUDGET GOALS (2020/2021) • Transportation

o Manage infrastructure to maximize life, investment, and value and minimize costs, failures, and maintenance

o Provide support services necessary to manage infrastructure and meet department’s mission

o Perform all non-core functions assigned to the department.



4 Downtown Streets Conceptual Plans Goals and Values

The Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan is more than a traffic and circulation analysis and redesign; it also considers how that redesign will support businesses, residents, shoppers, workers, students, and all other travelers. The proposed transportation improvements are anticipated to sustain Downtown Wichita’s reputation as a livable, safe, and vibrant destination. Street concepts developed throughout this plan focus on enhancing function, safety, beautification, while also supporting and fostering downtown economic activity, catalyzing private investment, capitalizing on existing assets, retaining talent, and enhancing quality of life.

Designing a great street requires addressing trade-offs: How should we best allocate limited right-of-way, limited capital budgets, and limited operating budgets? Addressing trade-offs requires clarity about Wichita’s values and priorities.

Based on a review of the previous studies and goals outlined in the previous sections and discussions with the City project team, a set of goals and values was developed for the project for public input. These goals include:

• Promote Vibrant Downtown Neighborhoods

• Prioritize Active Transportation Options

• Provide Mobility Choices for All Residents, Businesses, and Visitors

• Manage Infrastructure Resources to Maximize Value

• Foster Economic Investment

• Embrace Innovation and Technology

• Enhance Safety and Health

How these goals relate with the goals of the past plans, that were summarized in the previous chapter, can be seen in Figure 12. Many of the previous plans has goals listed that match up to what the community wants from this plan. Through continued outreach with local stakeholders in the planning process, clear input about their values and goals for the project were evaluated to further enhance these goals. Residents’ and business owners’ highest-level goals are noted on Figure 11 and include:



• Foster economic development. There is a strong desire for additional development Downtown, along with attracting more customers for existing businesses.

• Attract and retain young talent. There is a concern that Wichita is losing its most talented young people to larger cities in other states, and an ambition to reverse that migration by offering the amenities that young people seek, along with more affordable and family-friendly housing options.

• Attract families and older adults downtown. Wichita prides itself on family friendliness, but the downtown is uncomfortable for many people. It should be the heart of the city for everyone.

• Be a good steward of limited public resources. Wichita has limited public funding, and prides itself in strategic investments that have a high rate of return. We should make sure that spending on Downtown streets creates more value than it costs.

• Make walking and biking downtown safe and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities. Walkability is not only enjoyable, it is also the foundation of economic success in any downtown.

In addition, the project team heard other second-level priorities, including:

• Make it easier to find a parking space downtown. Parking availability is partly about the supply of parking spaces, but more about how parking is managed. It is cheaper to help motorists find the corridor’s abundant existing empty spaces than it is to build new parking.

• Maintain truck access. There are many industrial users in the corridors, and most businesses take deliveries from the front. Make sure freight access is unimpeded.

• Minimize congestion. While traffic volumes are low on many other Downtown streets compared to many comparable cities, many Wichitans value being able to drive as fast as they like, without other cars in front of them.



Figure 11: Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan Public Input



Figure 12: Past Plans' Goals in relation with the Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan Goals

Goal

Project Downtown

Master Plan Goals

(2010)

Downtown Wichita

Streetscape Design

Guidelines

Goals (2010)

Wichita Bicycle Master

Plan Goals

(2013)

Wichita Pedestrian

Master Plan Goals

(2014)

Street Design

Guidelines Goals

(2014)

Parks, Recreation, And Open

Space Master Plan Goals

(Update 2016)

Wichita: Places for

People

(2018)

Annual Budget Goals-

Transportation

(2020/2021)

Foster economic development

X X X X X

Attract & retain young talent

X X

Attract families and older adults downtown

X X X X X X

Be a good steward of limited

public resources X X X X X

Make walking and biking downtown safe and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities

X X X X X X X

Make it easier to find a parking space downtown

X X X

Maintain truck access

X X

Minimize congestion

X X X