6. Conclusion
Freight needs and regional growth, along with the changing context of US 27 in urbanized areas, necessitates a review of network connectivity and freight mobility. Additionally, capacity is needed on the transportation network to serve regional evacuation trips and alleviate increased congestion and travel times in the urban areas of the US 27 corridor. This study recommends a Mobility Analysis, a PD&E study from SR 70 to SR 66 and a second PD&E study from SR 66 to US 98 to identify opportunities to enhance safety, increase network resiliency, support freight mobility, and improve travel options throughout the Heartland region.
Considerations for future US 27 improvements include:
- Increased bicycle/pedestrian crashes and shifting agriculture land use to residential development along US 27 indicate a change in character along the corridor.
- The US 27 corridor is still the major freight route through the Heartland despite land use changes. With heavy freight traffic and the community's desire to be more bike and pedestrian friendly, appropriate improvements will need to be addressed along the corridor.
- Large storm events in recent years have required US 27 to be used as a detour or emergency evacuation route. Resiliency must be considered for future improvements to the US 27 corridor to maintain a viable evacuation route for the Heartland.
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