FAQs
- What is the goal of the study?
- What is the study area?
- How long will it take to complete the study?
- Will there be opportunities for public input?
- What happens after the study?
- Who are the study partners?
- Why are improvements needed?
- How will these improvements impact/improve my commute?
- Traffic is bad now, when will improvements be completed?
- How much will these improvements cost?
- How will potential access changes impact EMS?
- Instead of adding additional lanes, why don’t you add more transit routes?
- What is the cost/benefit difference between alternative 4a and 4b3?
- Is this the most important need in Johnson County?
- If it isn’t the most important need, then why are we doing the study, given the state financial situation?
- This may increase the time it takes for trucks to get from my business to the highway. How will I be compensated?
- What are some things that can be done quickly to solve some of the congestion issues?
- What do the local communities think of these options?
What is the goal of the study?
To develop an ultimate design concept and prioritized recommendations that improve the safety, mobility and efficiency of the Johnson County Gateway: I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange.
What is the study area?
The study area is defined from: I-435 from Quiviria Road to K-10, I-35 from 95th Street to 119th Street and K-10 from Ridgeview to I-435. A half mile area surrounding the roadways on either side will be evaluated for any potential impacts. (Download a Map of the Study Area)
How long will it take to complete the study?
The study will take 35 months to complete and has three phases: (1) evaluate existing and future conditions; (2) determine feasible alternatives and develop an ultimate design concept, and (3) prioritize improvements and identify interim, cost-effective solutions for existing problems. (Download Study Schedule)
Will there be opportunities for public input?
Yes. The Kansas Department of Transportation is committed to engaging the public to learn what types of transportation investments are important. For the Johnson County Gateway project there will be three public meetings, electronic outreach including a web site with a blog, on-line surveys, community presentations, public official’s briefings, an advisory group, media relations, and two workshops.
What happens after the study?
This study is a concept study to develop recommendations for investment options and improvements in how the interchange area functions. Once the study is complete, each recommended project will undergo a thorough environmental evaluation process to assess potential impacts prior to any construction. At this time there is no funding for any construction.
Who are the study partners?
Since the interchange area is multi-jurisdictional, KDOT has engaged the cities of Olathe, Lenexa and Overland Park, Johnson County, the Mid-America Regional Council and the Federal Highway Administration as study partners.
Why are improvements needed?
The Johnson County Gateway: I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange area is one of the busiest interchange areas in the state. The economic vitality of the region relies on the continuity and efficiency of the transportation system. That is why the Kansas Department of Transportation is conducting a study in order to evaluate the need for potential safety and traffic improvements for this area.
How will these improvements impact/improve my commute?
The proposed improvements are designed to enhance safety and reduce congestion through the I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange area. By adding new lanes and using collector distributor roads to reduce the weaving of ramp traffic with mainline traffic, the driver experience through the area will be safer and more efficient.
Traffic is bad now, when will improvements be completed?
The recommendations for improvements from this study will be presented in spring 2011. Depending on additional funding, a one- to two-year environmental documentation process could then begin. Once the environmental review is complete, there will be several years of final design work, followed by construction. Since no additional funds have been identified, it is uncertain when the improvements could be completed.
How much will these improvements cost?
Total improvement costs could be between $500 million and $1 billion, depending on the final recommendations. Projects will have to be phased over time. If projects are completed in logical succession, it could take as long as 16 years to complete the entire design concept. There may be interim projects done to help solve immediate needs, but those short-term projects may not part be of the ultimate design concept. Since the most recent versions of both the state and federal comprehensive transportation plans have lapsed, any projects that receive funding need to be:
- Technically feasible,
- Politically acceptable,
- Financially realistic,
- Regionally based, and
- Durable.
How will potential access changes impact EMS?
All of the improvement options would enhance EMS access into and through the interchange.
Instead of adding additional lanes, why don’t you add more transit routes?
No one strategy by itself will solve the congestion problems we anticipate. A range of strategies will be needed. This will likely include some combination of additional capacity (e.g., HOT lanes, managed lanes), mode shift (e.g., carpools, transit), travel demand management (e.g., staggering work hours, ramp metering, coordinating land use planning with transportation on a regional scale), and other appropriate traffic management solutions. Even with multiple transit strategies employed, traffic models suggest it is unlikely that we will be able to shift enough people from single-occupant cars to buses to solve the congestion problem. Thus, improvements to existing routes will still be required. Currently, Johnson County Transit is studying Bus on Shoulder concepts on I-35 to increase transit opportunities along the I-35 corridor.
What is the cost/benefit difference between alternative 4a and 4b3?
The study team conducted a cost-benefit analysis comparing construction costs to travel time savings, vehicle operating costs and safety for both alternatives. Both benefit/cost ratios were favorable and relatively similar to each other. It should also be noted that the cost estimates are planning-level estimates and will be refined extensively has the project goes to through preliminary engineering and final design.
Is this the most important need in Johnson County?
This interchange is one of the busiest in the state of Kansas and very important to the economic vitality of the region. It is a huge priority for Kansas and the local communities. This interchange system is a critical link for the metropolitan area and the state, as several important trade routes pass through this interchange. If improvements are not made soon, traffic delays and unreliable travel will hurt the economic vitality of the surrounding communities. It is one of two Preliminary Engineering (PE) Only Projects in Johnson County and one of three in the KC Metro Area. KDOT and MARC completed the K-10 Transportation Study in 2005. That study recommended eight mainline lanes on K-10 between I-435 and K-7. We can’t add that additional capacity until the interchange is improved. Also, KDOT completed the I-35/US-69 MIS in 1999 which identifies improvements in the interchange area as well, but I-35 also has capacity issues.
If it isn’t the most important need, then why are we doing the study, given the state financial situation?
It is important to plan ahead for any transportation improvement since it takes years for actual construction to occur.
This may increase the time it takes for trucks to get from my business to the highway. How will I be compensated?
There will not be any compensation for any increase in travel time to your business. Planned improvements will reduce congestion and travel times, and improve safety and reliability, which will help businesses in the area.
What are some things that can be done quickly to solve some of the congestion issues?
There are alternative transit options that may help alleviate some congestion issues. Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and ramp metering have been added in and near the study area to help manage traffic and congestion. Bus on Shoulder options are being studied along the I-35 corridor and could be implemented in the next two years as solution to help provide a more reliable commute. Short-term improvements could be constructed to address existing congestion problems.
What do the local communities think of these options?
The local communities are engaged as partners in this study. They have the opportunity to provide input into all aspects of the study process. The study partners have asked rigorous questions and requested additional information (e.g. traffic analysis of specific options) to address their comfort level with the proposed concepts.
