The 69Express Project Team will share findings from the Project's Environmental Assessment, including its noise study results, at the upcoming Dec. 8, 2021, live virtual public meeting.

In addition to the live virtual public meeting, an on-demand virtual open house will be available to view before and after Dec. 8 for a 30-day period. Both opportunities will provide the same content, and participants in each will have the ability to submit questions and comments to the Project Team.

KDOT will be presenting information on Section 4(f) impacts, anticipated de minimis findings and soliciting public comment. This portion of the meeting will focus on the impacts the U.S. 69 improvements will have on publicly owned parks, recreation areas, or any historic sites, which are designated as Section 4(f) properties.  

A de minimis finding on a Section 4(f) property shows that the project will not have an adverse impact to the recreational activities, features or attributes of the property. The meeting will identify those areas and explain what the impacts are. KDOT and FHWA are looking for your specific comments related these impacts and the de minimis findings!

To attend the meetings, visit http://www.69express.org and follow the links provided.

The Overland Park City Council voted on Nov. 15 to include the $30 million 167th Street Interchange in Phase 1 of the 69Express Project, scheduled to begin construction in 2022. 

The project has been a long-held top city transportation priority, one intended to improve transportation safety and service to south Overland Park residents and businesses. 

However, reconstructing the interchange was not expected to occur for several years due to other state priorities and funding constraints.

The opportunity to accelerate the project was announced on Nov. 9 by U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids and Kansas Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz. The Davids/Lorenz announcement was made at a community event celebrating the passage of the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 

Several noise walls will be recommended to address current and future noise impacts along U.S. 69, according to a noise study overview presented by the 69Express Project Team to the City of Overland Park Public Works Committee on Nov. 15.

The study’s results will be presented to the community during the virtual public meeting on Dec. 8 and at January meetings to be scheduled with affected property owners and residents who would benefit from proposed noise abatement measures. These individuals will be provided an opportunity to vote on whether they want the noise walls that directly benefit them to be built.

More information about the noise study and future community outreach can be found at 69Express.org.