Kansas joins the Monarch Highway

A monarch in Topeka. 

           Last week, KDOT along with five other state departments of transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, signed an agreement today that will improve pollinator habitat along Interstate 35, a key migratory corridor for Monarch butterflies.

            In the past year, I-35, which passes through Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, was identified as a corridor that could be enhanced as butterfly habitat through the increased planting of vegetation that provides refuge and a food source.

           

Kansas roadside on I-35. 

 “Kansas roadsides have been a haven for Monarchs since 2008 when KDOT started planting butterfly milkweed and other native wildflowers on the roadsides,” Scott Shields, KDOT Environmental Scientist, said. “We are excited to partner with other states on I-35 to provide education and habitat for these important pollinator insects.” 

            This agreement establishes a cooperative and coordinated effort to establish best practices and promote public awareness of the Monarch butterfly and other pollinating insects.

Wildflowers growing on I-35 in Kansas. 

            Monarch butterflies hatch in late summer or early fall, wintering in Mexico. In the spring, butterflies begin their 2,000-mile trek north. Along the way, they lay eggs that develop into butterflies that finish the trip and begin the cycle again.

            “We are trying to build awareness about the best practices for pollinators,” Shields said. “We are hoping that we can create a habitat that benefits the Monarch butterflies and other critically important pollinating insects so that they can thrive. This benefits everyone in the long run.”

Motoring Monday: Memorial Day reminder

Today is Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States. In last Monday’s transportation blog, activities taking place at the three national cemeteries in Kansas were featured. As a reminder, today’s ceremonies at those three cemeteries are at:

Leavenworth - The Leavenworth National Cemetery ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. followed by the ceremony at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery at 11:40 a.m.
Fort Scott –The ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the cemetery.

National Moment of Remembrance

The “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed in 2000, which asks that at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day all Americans observe a moment of silence or listen to ‘Taps.’

#TBT How to move a bridge girder

This past weekend all lanes of I-435 at I-35 were closed as part of bridge removal. By closing the lanes to traffic it gave crews time to work on the bridges as part of the Johnson County Gateway.

During that time several videos were made to show magnitude of the work being done in such a short amount of time. Work is still being done on the project, and it includes lane closures and full interchange closures, that information is updated daily on our website which can be found here. 

We know waiting for projects to be complete is not easy, but we hope that you can look at these videos and see the work being done.

The Zipper Merge comes to Kansas

We are starting a new feature called Work Zone Wednesday that will highlight projects around the state. Today's feature is about the zipper merge. The zipper merge is popular in Minnesota and has been used in Washington state as well. It's a common question that KDOT gets on social media, when will Kansas use the zipper merge instead of backing up traffic for miles, use the zipper merge?

But what's the zipper merge?

The zipper merge asks traffic to stay in both lanes until they are told to merge, then take turns of every other car going until you are in one lane, flowing together like the teeth of zipper.

KDOT will be using the zipper merge, or late merge, on a bridge repair project in the Kansas City area, northbound U.S. 69 over 119th Street in Overland Park. It is important that drivers follow the signs instead of using the traditional early merge that has been used in Kansas for years. Don't lane block your fellow drivers, the two lanes are both to be used while traveling.

We've created this video to explain how the zipper merge will work in Kansas. For more information about the zipper merge and the project that it will be used on, please look here. And please zip the urge to merge!

Bicycle refresher 101

Photo courtesy of the Lawrence Unchained Bike Coop. 

Our friends at the Topeka Community Cycle Project have passed along some great tips for cyclists. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or a long time cyclist there are good facts to know. 

A basic bike check when leaving every time:

ABC QUICK CHECK

A is for Air

B is for Brakes

C is for cranks and chain

Quick is for quick releases

Check is for check it over

 

Photo courtesy of Bike Walk Wichita

Helmet fitting:

To find the right size helmet, put one on your head without fastening the straps.
The front of the helmet should be level and two-fingers width above your eyebrows.
Shake your head from side to side: There should only be a little movement.

Share the road

Bikes are vehicles and should act and be treated as such

Laws that apply to motorists also apply to people on bikes

In choosing a route to ride an errand or go on a ride with the family, choose roads that parallel main streets, slower neighborhood roads that will be just as efficient, but without the amount of traffic main streets have. It may be a slightly farther distance, but it will be a higher quality, less stressful riding experience!

When first riding to work, or trying a route you plan to use frequently, give it a try on a weekend afternoon or a time of less traffic. This way you can get a feel for the distance and other factors. Plus you won't be feeling stressed in case something comes up and you can't make it to your destination by a certain time.

Bike to School 2016. Photo courtesy of Bike Walk Wichita. 

Don't forget to bring a lock if you intend to place your bike outside at your destination. Try and bring the bicycle inside if you plan to be there overnight.

If you are commuting by bike to work, try bringing an extra set of clothes the first couple times you try it. If you find you don't sweat to a point where you're uncomfortable wearing those clothes, just ride in your work clothes and take a more leisurely pace. 

A front or rear rack you can get at a local bike shop can make any short trip more enjoyable depending on your preference for riding with items or bags on your back.

A front and rear reflector are required in Kansas. A front headlight is required at dusk, but a taillight is great idea for your own visibility as well!

To try and avoid flats while out riding, check the appropriate air pressure on the side of your tires and refill every few weeks!

Motoring Monday: Memorial Day

2015 ceremony at Leavenworth National Cemetery

Numerous Memorial Day remembrance ceremonies, services and activities will take place across the state this weekend to remember the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. The post highlights activities scheduled at Kansas’ three national cemeteries – two are in Leavenworth and one is in Fort Scott.

Leavenworth - On Friday, May 27, the Airlifter Brass from the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. at Leavenworth High School.

Saturday morning, about 1,500 local scouts and volunteers from around the area will decorate the graves at both the Leavenworth National Cemetery and the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

On Monday, the Leavenworth National Cemetery ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. followed by the ceremony at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery at 11:40 a.m.

Fort Scott – On Friday, May 27, local scouts, volunteers and member of the National Honor Society from Fort Scott High School will decorate the graves at Fort Scott National Cemetery. On Monday, the ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the cemetery.

#TBT Motorcycle Safety

This photo was taken in 1910 in Clay Center. From Kansas Memory.

As the temperatures rise, so do the number of motorcycles on the roads. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and we’re encouraging all drivers and riders to “Share the Road.”

In 2014, 4,586 motorcyclists were killed in crashes, a decrease of 2.3 percent from 2013. Those deaths accounted for 14 percent of the total highway fatalities that year, despite motorcycle registrations representing only 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States.

The NHTSA offers the following safety tips for sharing the road with motorcycles:

• Allow motorcycles a full lane at all times. Even though they are small vehicles, they have all of the rights of the road as any other motorist. 
• Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic. 
• Watch for their turn signals. Just because a turn signal is on doesn't mean the ride is turning. Some signals are not self-canceling and riders may forget to turn them off. Ensure the rider is turning before proceeding. 
• Check all mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or merging with traffic. Motorcycles can be easily hidden in a vehicle's blind spot. 
• Increase your following distance to three to four seconds when following a motorcycle. This gives riders more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. 

Motorcyclists have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as any other motorist on the roadway. Safe riding practices and cooperation from other road users will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our roads. Be safe and “Share the Road!”