All 11 walls were identified in a 2021 noise study as reasonable and feasible solutions for sound levels expected to be experienced in 2050 when maximum projected traffic levels for the expansion would be reached.

Based on federal and state policies, about 1,500 property owners and residents between just north of 119th Street and 151st Street were eligible to vote on whether the noise walls should be built. These locations were determined to likely experience traffic noise volumes above federal standards and to benefit from perceptible noise reduction if a wall were built. Each owner or resident voted only on whether the wall closest to them would be built.

Voting took place between Jan. 24 and Feb. 7, after the Project team hosted a series of virtual informational meetings and presentations for voters and the community. To be built, each proposed wall required a favorable vote from 70% or more of the eligible ballots received for that location. Final vote results exceeded that requirement for each of the 11 proposed walls.

More information about the noise walls and the voting process can be found here at the project website (www.69express.org).

FHWA’s conclusion, contained in its Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) report as well as the Environmental Assessment, can be found here at the project website (www.69express.org). A FONSI is a document that presents the reasons why the agency has concluded that no significant environmental impacts from a project are likely to occur.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg toured important local infrastructure projects Jan. 28, including the U.S. 69 corridor that will be improved as part of the 69Express project.

The 69Express project and its innovative first use of express lanes to manage future congestion on U.S. 69, the state’s busiest four-lane highway, was featured in the Kansas City Business Journal issue celebrating Engineers Week. EWeek took place Feb. 20–26 and is dedicated to increasing the public’s understanding of – and interest in – engineering and technology careers. The commemorative edition of the Business Journal highlighted how express lanes emerged from months of outreach and education involving corridor users, businesses and residents as the community’s preferred solution for improving congestion and safety, travel time reliability and community quality of life.