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The study team is working hard to prepare displays that explain the information collected and evaluated during this first phase of the regional study. There will be information on existing conditions and future traffic projections. With the input from the online survey and community interviews we have ideas on what the travelers consider the biggest problem areas. Please plan to attend the May 14 Public Meeting to provide your input on what the issues are for the interchange area and what options we should consider as we move into the concept development phase of the study.

The FAQ link on the left side of the page is updated often based on questions that come in through the project email or from new information that the study team learns. Check it out to see if your question is listed or feel free to ask a question on the blog.

The resources link on the left side of the page is the place to go to find any type of document that has been produced for the study. After each Advisory Group meeting the agendas and presentations are posted. After the public meeting the displays and newsletter will be posted. The technical reports and other information will also be posted. Check back frequently for updates. There is also a a helpful links page to take you to other community transporation resources within the region.

The second Advisory Group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8. The study team will be presenting future traffic information, discussing the results from the online survey and reviewing plans for the May 14 public meeting.

The study team has received a few questions on why this area is being studied now and who decided that this study was needed. KDOT authorized the funding for the Johnson County Gateway Interchange Study. The Interchange Study arose from the statewide local consult process and was one of 9 large projects selected statewide from this process.

Background for Big 9 Project Process Selection: In 2006-07, KDOT hosted 16 statewide meetings to discuss the local consult process and how we can better partner with local officials to select and program transportation projects. The response to these outreach efforts was overwhelmingly positive. Most recently, KDOT hosted 84 county-level meetings with local officials in October 2006 as a precursor to eight regional meetings to identify a handful of regionally significant projects for planning and design work. In these county-level meetings, local officials identified more than 400 transportation improvement projects for consideration.

At the eight regional meetings held in November/December 2006, KDOT’s district staff presented information about those 400 projects as well as about projects that ranked high in the KDOT priority formula for pavement, geometric, and capacity needs. Clearly, KDOT couldn’t begin work on 400 projects. But by considering both local and regional input along with Priority Formula data, KDOT identified 9 regionally significant projects for preliminary work. (See Transportation Update-June 2007 document for more information on the project selection.) Please note that a ninth project was added after the attached publication was printed. The ninth project includes a break-in-access study for a new I-35 Interchange in southwest Johnson County.)