Volume 42 - Issue 42 - October 19, 2023

State of Kansas

Department of Transportation

Notice of Intent to Conduct Environmental Assessment

Public notice is hereby given that the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposal to modernize and expand the K-10 Corridor located in Johnson County, Kansas. The City of Olathe, the City of Lenexa, the City of De Soto, and Johnson County are serving as partners on the study.

The overall study limits on K-10 extend from west of the interchange at Evening Star Road to the I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange. The overall length is approximately 16.5 centerline miles along K-10. Major cross streets with service interchange access to K-10 included within the study area are Evening Star Road, Edgerton Road, Lexington Avenue, Kill Creek Road, Cedar Creek Parkway/Canyon Creek Boulevard, S. Woodland Road, S. Ridgeview Road, and Renner Boulevard. System interchanges within the study area include K-7 (from College Boulevard to Prairie Star Parkway) and I-435 (from 95th Street to Pflumm Road). Additionally, I-35 at the interchange with I-435/K-10 is included.

Within the EA, FHWA, and KDOT will evaluate a “No Action” alternative as well as expansion alternatives (tolled and non-tolled) for the K-10 study area as the proposed action. Roadway and interchange configurations will be evaluated throughout the corridor. The toll alternative will evaluate the potential benefits of express toll lanes for eastbound and westbound traffic to improve safety and improve congestion in the corridor. Roadway and interchange configurations will be evaluated throughout the corridor.

The FHWA and KDOT plan to prepare an EA for the project. The EA will analyze the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts resulting from the proposed project. The following issues will be specifically analyzed as part of the EA: impacts to the aquatic ecosystem, impacts to cultural resources; impacts to threatened and endangered species; impacts to floodplains; impacts to transportation; impacts to parks/recreation; environmental justice; and socioeconomics. This includes direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts. Other Federal approvals or permits that may be required; a Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), a floodplain development permit from the City of De Soto, the City of Lenexa, the City of Olathe, and Johnson County as well as water resource and floodplain permits from the Kansas Division of Water Resources.

A scoping and coordination process will be initiated that involves appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, as well as stakeholders and the public. This will continue throughout the study to engage the local and regional community, to obtain public input and to keep the public informed. Coordination meetings will be held as needed with affected/concerned local, state, tribal, and federal governmental entities. Public meetings will be held to gather input and share findings on the EA. The EA will be made available for public and agency review and comment prior to the final public meeting.

To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed action are addressed and all significant issues defined, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning the proposed action and the EA should be directed to FHWA or KDOT at the addresses provided below.

For further information, contact:

Federal Highway Administration, Kansas Division
Richard Backlund, Division Administrator
6111 SW 29th Street, Suite 100,
Topeka, KS 66614-4271
785-273-2600
hdaks@dot.gov

Kansas Department of Transportation
Steven Cross, P.E., Road Design Leader/Project Manager
Dwight D. Eisenhower State Office Building
700 SW Harrison St.,
Topeka, KS 66603-3745
785-221-6441
Steven.Cross@ks.gov

Calvin Reed
Secretary
Department of Transportation

Doc. No. 051551