Brookside residents weigh in on Trolley Track Trail designs

By Kathy Feist

Brookside residents were given a second opportunity on October 2nd to provide input on revised designs for a 10-foot wide Trolley Track Trail that would pass through the Brookside shopping district. The meeting was held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 6401 Wornall Rd. from 4 to 7 pm. The aim of the project is to reconnect the Trolley Trail, which disappears within the shopping district (62nd Terrace to Meyer Boulevard).

Participants provided feedback on three specific areas and design choices.

North of 63rd

From the north, Kansas City’s Trolley Trail ends at 62nd Terrace and Brookside Plaza. To reconstruct the trail, two design choices recommend opening Brookside Plaza north of 63rd Street to one-way traffic. If northbound, then there would be no right turn to Brookside Plaza from 62nd Terrace. If southbound, then no access to Brookside Plaza from 63rd St. Both plans remove access to 63rd Street from the current parking lot.

Crossing 63rd

For the Trail to continue across 63rd Street, plans suggest a raised crosswalk and raised median with a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB). The RRFB would replace the current pedestrian signal. The plan also creates bike amenity zones that could include benches, drinking fountains, bicycle parking and air pumps. The crossing would limit turning movements.

South of 63rd

From here, the Trolley Trail travels behind the shops south of 63rd Street and Brookside Plaza where there are tennis courts. One location for the trail would have no impact on the tennis courts or surrounding park land but would reduce parking spaces. The other would reduce the park land and tennis courts, but retain parking. This option includes plans for one tennis court and two pickleball courts. Both designs include reducing Brookside Boulevard from four lanes to two, adding parallel parking to Brookside Boulevard, removing parking lot access to 63rd Street and combining Commerce Bank and parking lot driveway. Some parking spaces on the north end would be removed to accommodate truck turning radius.

Project Manager Randy Alewine said the design process is at 30 percent. “It still needs more definition,” he said. While this is the second public engagement meeting since 2023, he and other associates have met with businesses and neighborhood associations.

Leading the project is TREKK Design Group. Currently there is no funding for the construction of the Trolley Track Trail. Potential funding is expected in 2026, at which time the design phase is expected to be completed.

Those unable to attend the meeting in person can click here to view project plans.

An online survey will collect public feedback, up until Friday, October 18 at 5 pm.