There are many exciting trail enhancements, construction, and planning slated for this year. Here is a summary of those plans.

Lawrence:

• Lawrence Loop — North Michigan Street to Sandra Shaw Park
  • This section will extend from North Michigan Street, to Sandra Shaw Park near Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Easement and property acquisitions are underway and are expected to be completed by April. Trail design process will happen next and trail construction will follow. Construction is slated for 2023-24 with a budget of $890,000 for construction with $564,000 coming from a KDOT grant.

• Lawrence Loop — Santa Fe Station at 7th Street to 8th Street
  • This section will start at the Santa Fe Station on 7th Street and will extent to 8th Street where the loop currently ends. The Santa Fe Station parking lot will serve as a trail head for the Lawrence Loop. It will be the beginning point for the mile markers that note distance on the segments of the trail. Property acquisitions and easement is currently underway. Trail design and construction will follow. The budget for this project is $130,000. Work is slated for 2023.

• Lawrence Loop — Iowa Crossing
  • The scope of this project is to construct a grade-separated crossing (either an overpass or tunnel) for the Lawrence Loop Trail at Iowa Street just north of K-10. Currently, non-motorized users of the Lawrence Loop cross five lanes of vehicular traffic on Iowa Street (US Highway 59) to continue on the trail. This project will significantly improve safety at this crossing. Planning and design are planned in 2023 with construction slated for 2024.

Baldwin and Eudora were among the recipients of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Transportation Alternatives program in 2022. The competitive grant program, administered by KDOT, provides funding for a variety of projects. Projects include pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure for non-driver access to public transportation, and safety and mobility improvements.

Baldwin:

• Maple Leaf Trail
  • Phase 1: The trail will begin at Elm Street and will follow the railroad to High Street. Construction will begin in the spring of 2023. The budget for Phase 1 is $809,875 which consists of a $620,000 KDOT grant and a $189,875 local match.
  • Phase 2: This project will extend the existing trail on Elm Street from the train depot south to the city limits. The $670,000 grant will finance the project, which will begin in the spring of 2024.

Eudora:

• Completion of the K-10 and Church Street Shared Use Path or Eudora South Trail
  • Eudora’s $947,404 grant will aid in the completion of the Kansas Highway 10 and Church Street Shared Use Path. The trail will connect the community via bridge over K-10.