KC Scout Shout!

In January, US. Representative Sharice Davids, Vice Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz and KCK Mayor Garner welcomed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to the Kansas City metro. The visit featured a multi-stop tour with transportation on a Ride KC electric bus. Among other stops, Sec. Buttigieg and group toured area projects, including the U.S. 69 segment that will be part of the 69Express project, and hosted a news conference in front of the Rock Island and Cesar Chavez bridges.   This visit highlighted infrastructure improvements to be funded by the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with emphasis on safety and sustainability. Since KC Scout is the bi-state ITS of the metro, the team has participated in the discussion on this project regarding KC Scout devices in the area. For more information about this project, visit www.69express.org  

As part of the first phase of expansion and improvement of U.S. 69 in Johnson County, noise walls have been approved along the corridor and the Environmental Assessment for the project has been completed. KC Scout’s services will not change in regards to providing traffic incident management services throughout construction and after completion of the project. Identified in a 2021 noise study, all 11 proposed walls received approval via survey from property owners and residents along the U.S. 69 corridor between 119 th St. and 151 st St. Evaluating the benefits and impacts of potential improvements to the U.S. 69 corridor, the Environmental Assessment took more than year to complete and was conducted by KDOT, the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) and the City of Overland Park. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) concluded the 69Express project will have no significant environmental impact. More information on the recently approved noise walls and Environmental Assessment can

From time to time, we could all use a little TLC. In the case of KC Scout, however, TLC also stands for Technology Learning Center. Recently, the team converted an old office space into just that.  The Technology Learning Center is a designated space within KC Scout that serves as an area to train employees in telecommunications and field infrastructure. This allows the participants an indoor and climate controlled space to improve their expertise in field cabinet devices and cameras. The space includes a replica of a field cabinet, a camera, and a computer. "Rather than training employees out in the field where there are outside distractions and dangers, the TLC allows us a place to both train and run tests in a controlled environment," explains KC Scout Manager Randy Johnson. "This can be used in virtual trainings for both KDOT and MoDOT employees." Dwayne Brown, KC Scout Maintenance Technician, says that some locations out in the field can be dangerous and that t

KC Scout has been working on an exciting innovation that will change the way potholes are reported and located going forward.  Pothole CPR  was created and tested by K C Scout and MoDOT and KDOT maintenance crews.  The innovation is a tool that allows customers to quickly and accurately report any pavement conditions needing immediate attention. Utilizing the popular GPS traveling/crowd-sourcing app called WAZE, customers can submit real time data through voice command or the click of a button.  KC Scout receives this data along with a map that pinpoints the approximate location of the pothole. The team is then able to send the information on to the appropriate maintenance team who locates and repairs the pavement. During its pilot program, it was determined that the system had an accuracy rate of 98% in regards to the location of the pothole. "This innovation tells us almost exactly where potholes are reported by our customers within about 90 feet. This means our crews spend less

We all know that KC Scout is the nation’s only bi-state traffic management system, but rarely do we   reflect on how much effort and intention goes into ensuring a successful collaboration between KDOT, MoDOT and KC Scout’s other partners. The team is multi-faceted and includes many other agencies including Kansas Highway Patrol, highly qualified consultancies, law enforcement, and other regional transportation organizations. According to KC Scout’s Traffic Systems Supervisor Kelly Alvarez, the partnerships are integral to KC Scout’s success. “KC Scout’s bi-state traffic management system is as unique as the cities for which we provide traffic management. Kansas City is a moniker applied to two cities: Kansas City, M O , and Kansas City, KS. Two cities, two states but one name. Despite this, traffic is fluid between them and does not differentiate or limit travel based on the cities’ boundaries. It only makes sense that our traffic management system addresses this unique metropoli

KC Scout’s Work Zone Coordinator Doneisha Wigfall recently hosted training sessions focused on work zone inspections. While trainings have always been mandatory for construction inspectors and safety crews, this training allows for outside points of vi ew from  MoDOT  voluntee rs. The volunteers work together to review and ensure work zones are set up correctly and safe for everyone. “Safety is MoDOT’s top priority. We offer these trainings to ensure everyone is as safe as possible while work is occurring to improve our roadways,” explains Wigfall. The inspections involve a group of volunteers either driving through a work zone or livestreaming it via Microsoft Teams. The participants are able to encounter the work zone firsthand and correct any issues they encounter. “These inspections provide learning experiences for all parties involved. Volunteers are able to note issues in work zones whether it’s during the group inspection or even just during their daily commutes in the future. A

Recently, Emerge ncy Response and MoDOT bridge crews worked together to repair a compromised bridge expansion joint along the Christopher Bond B ridge on northbound Interstate 35. After MoDOT received a concerned call from the North Kansas City Police Department, Emergency Response Operators Hector Ortiz, Louis Madrigal, and Carlos Campos arrived on scene to assist in the shut down of two bridge lanes. Traffic continued across the bridge using one lane. Upon inspection, it was discovered a section of the tread plate covering the actual expansion joint was bent upwards. Emergency Response staff used a cutting torch on the plate and re-opened the lane to traffic. According to KC District Bridge Engineer Tim Hazlett, bridge crews placed a temporary plate over the bridge fingers until new permanent plates arrive, Collaboration amongst various MoDOT departments is key to the safety and success of our team.