Need

Existing Route 13 in the project area is a two-lane facility that until recently crossed the Missouri River at Lexington and continued south and east to the end of the project near Higginsville Road. Since the relocation of route to the north it now crosses the Missouri River east of Lexington, jogs west on US 24 into Lexington were it rejoins the previous route. It has an AADT of about 3300. (Traffic and accident data is provided in Appendix A.) This portion of MO Route 13 is a part of the National Highway System and is classified as a major route. The need for this project is:

Provide a direct route between the relocation to the north and the existing alignment south and east of the City of Lexington, thus removing the jog the current route makes to the west on US 24 and back east south of Lexington.
The existing route runs through the City of Lexington, which hinders the flow of traffic characteristic of an urban route.

Additional needs were identified as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and are listed in the Background Information section of this statement.

Purpose

To address the needs identified above and in the EIS the purpose of the project is to:

Route traffic on the state highway system east of the City of Lexington. This will separate through and local traffic. It will also have the added benefit of reducing congestion on existing 13. Most of the existing route will be taken over by the City of Lexington or Lafayette County once the project is completed. A small section of the existing route will become Route E to provide continuity the rest of the state highway system.
Provide two lanes of paving with at-grade intersections inside of right of way for a future four-lane highway. This allows preservation of the new corridor for MO 13 and reduces future right of way acquisition cost.
Limit access on the new alignment to reduce the conflict points caused by vehicles entering and leaving the roadway. Access is to be limited to the alignment’s intersection with existing crossroads.
Assist economic development as part of a regional plan to improve transportation. The regional planning councils along the Route 13 corridor view this project as part of a regional goal to provide an improved highway between the northern Kansas City area and I-70. They see this improvement as part of a plan to bring increased traffic to the area as well as serve as a relief to other corridors serving the same area of the state. This plan for the Route 13 Corridor, as identified in the EIS, is included in the Background Information section of this statement. Exhibit I.B.1-1 from the EIS, showing this regional transportation system, is included as Appendix B.

Background Information

From

Route 13 and Route 7, Lexington to Clinton, Final Environmental Impact Statement
July 1999

Route 13 Corridor

Route 13 is a north-south state highway located in the western part of Missouri. Extending from a connection with I-35 in northern Missouri to a southern terminus at the Arkansas state line, the Route 13 corridor generally extends through the state. Larger cities (population of 4,500 or greater) located along the corridor include Richmond, Lexington, Higginsville, Warrensburg, Clinton, Bolivar, and the Springfield/Branson area. Interstate connections are provided at I-35 from the north, I-70 east of Kansas City and 1-44 north of Springfield. Parallel routes which provide similar travel service include US 71 to the west and US 65 to the east. US 50, an east-west routing, intersects the Route 13 corridor at Warrensburg.

By virtue of its alignment through Springfield, Route 13 provides the primary means of roadway travel from the northwest part of the state to the Springfield/Branson region. Traffic originating from or passing through Kansas City primarily accesses Route 13 by means of M-210, I-70, US 50 or Route 7 via US 71. A coalition of city, business and transportation groups have been formed to promote the use of the Route 92, Route 10 and Route 13 corridors for tourist traffic originating from northern Kansas City, particularly the Kansas City International Airport, and destined from the Springfield/Branson area. The 92-10-13 Coalition has pursued the upgrading of these facilities to provide a tourism corridor from Kansas City to the southwest part of the state. Exhibit I.B.1-1 shows the 92-10-13 Corridor as well as the regional transportation system.

Route 13 Roadway

In general, existing Route 13 consists of a rural, two-lane roadway with narrow, unstabilized shoulders throughout the study area. Originally constructed in the 1920’s and 1930’s, the roadway horizontal alignment is fairly straight with periodic alignment adjustments for township/range lines.

Statement of Purpose and Need

The specific needs being addressed by the proposed action are summarized as follows:

Traffic Safety—Reduce the number and severity of traffic-related accidents occurring along Route 13
Roadway Deficiencies—Eliminate current roadway deficiencies including substandard roadway alignment, inadequate roadway cross section, and roadside hazards such as narrow bridges, guardrail and inadequate clear zones.
Traffic Congestion—Relieve through traffic congestion and associated costs.
Efficient Movement of People and Goods—Improve the movement of people and goods through the region by reducing the total vehicle miles traveled and vehicle hours traveled.
Public Safety—Improve existing public safety by reducing emergency vehicle response times.
Economic Development—Improve economic development opportunities by removing impediments to the safe and efficient movement of people and goods through and within the region.
Regional Highway System Continuity—Provide regional continuity based on currently planned Route 13 and Route 7 improvements along adjacent roadway segments.
Recreational Access—Facilitate the usage by motorists of established recreational facilities.
Defense Facility Access—Provide for timely and efficient movement of personnel and resources to Whiteman Air Force Base.

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