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G1. TIP Number: |
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G2. State: |
Kansas
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G3. Multiple agencies / jurisdictions?
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No
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G4 Project contact: |
Brian Shields
brian.shields@opkansas.org
913.895.6024
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G5 Purpose and need:
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Electric vehicles are rapidly becoming more commonplace throughout the area. EV charging stations have been installed across the metro to help provide convenient opportunities for these types of vehicles to recharge. At the OP Soccer Complex and Deanna Rose Farmstead, there are thousands of visitors annually and a fair number of visitors driving EVs. The nearest EV charging ports are over a mile away at a nearby grocery store. Providing such stations where people will be staying for a few hours at a time (for example, watching a soccer game), we will be providing a service to the patrons and help demonstrate to non-EV drivers that there are advantages to driving an EV that might persuade them to make the switch from gas power to electric.
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G6. Origin and ending
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Route:
From:
To:
Length (Miles):
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1.00000
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G7 Functional Classification:
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Minor Arterial
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G8 Connected KC 2050 Decade?
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2020
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G9 Muli-Agency Plan?
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No
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G10 Included in a CIP?
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No
It is not in the current 2021-2025 CIP for OP. However, we will start the update process this month for the 2022-2026 CIP, and it will be added at that time.
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G11 Planning stage:
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Conceptual Plan
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G12 Reviewed by state DOT?
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No
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G13 Right-of-Way acquisition: |
All acquired or none needed
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G14 ROW by local public agency process manual?
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Yes
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G15 Other unique local goals and objectives?
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No
OP has an Environmental Advisory Council made up of residents, business leaders, students and others, and together they help guide the city along the path towards a greener tomorrow. They have been instrumental in many city initiatives including recycling, implementing the bicycle master plan, and now a focus on green energy. One current initiative is reviewing our own fleet needs to see where alternative energy vehicles can be used, and as such we now have our first electric vehicle in the fleet (a 2020 Chevy Bolt). The city is already planning for EV charging stations with many of its upcoming parking lot reconstruction projects so that city vehicles can be recharged more conveniently when the time comes. This will likely lead to a dual system that is usable by city vehicles as well as the general public that might be visiting one of our facilities. Adding these types of charging stations at one of our entertainment venues would be a perfect compliment to our current efforts.
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G16 Transportation Disadvantaged Population:
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This project should not negatively impact any disadvantaged populations. While it is likely that fewer people today in this population group would personally own this type of vehicle, the future of transportation appears to be headed towards less ownership and more on-demand use. EVs will likely be making a larger footprint in the future when zero-car households become even more of the norm as fleet operators look for ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve their bottom line. Having a vehicle charging infrastructure in place today for drivers of EVs helps lead us towards a day when it is more CAV oriented. This will be helpful to everyone.
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G17 Relevant Public Engagement:
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Our public engagement process has consisted of discussions with our Community Development Committee (staff and one councilmember from each Ward) regarding recommendations from the Environmental Advisory Council and the focus on energy sustainability. These issues are advertised prior to each meeting and opportunities are available for the public to attend and offer comments. For those not able to attend, e-mail and phone calls can be utilized, or comments can be left on the citys social media platforms. Thus far, the public has been very supportive of the green initiatives and would like to see further progress being made towards reducing our carbon footprint.
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G18 Planned Public Engagement:
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Whenever we undertake a project, public engagement is always one of our first points of emphasis. We have a number of opportunities for the public to be engaged during the projects life. The first is an initial meeting to discuss the project and get feedback from those that live nearby. This typically happens at a nearby public facility (in this case likely the Scheels Soccer Complex Fieldhouse). Typically we have multiple tables set up where residents can ask questions, see preliminary concept drawings and sketches, and meet the project team. In these times of COVID-19, it will likely be important to think beyond the traditional meetings and find virtual venues to use. We have done this recently with a new fire station under design which allowed for the community to contact us ahead of time if they were interested in speaking so we would have their name to call upon. We also allowed for those last-minute questioners to also ask questions by using the raised hand function available on most virtual platforms. We would also continue to use our other communication methods including having a project web page, providing contact information for one-on-one phone calls and e-mails, using social media, and sending written letters to residents and businesses within a specified radius of the project limits. These methods allow for a variety of options for people to choose how and when they get project-related information.
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G19 Sustainable Places Criteria:
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----------------
----Connected Street Network-----------
----Green Infrastructure-----------
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G19.1 Describe PSP relationship:
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This project will provide for a more connected street network by constructing EV charging stations where significant numbers of potential users will be located daily. Allowing electric vehicles to be driven longer distances means we can avoid an urban/rural split over EV use. This project will provide the necessary green infrastructure in a place that sees thousands of visitors annually and fill in a missing piece in that area. This will certainly compliment the other vehicle charging stations that have been added around the region in the last several years.
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G20 Implements Sustainable Places Initiatives?
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Yes
Yes, the region has made a concerted effort to provide electric vehicle charging opportunities on a wider scale. Many of the PSP studies indicate the need to create mobility hubs and providing electric vehicle charging is one component of those types of strategies.
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G21 Serves Regional Activity Center?
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Yes
High-Intensity and More_Walkable Centers
Adding EV charging stations at the Soccer Complex/Farmstead directly enhances the quality of this transportation option to the thousands of patrons who enjoy the area annually. By allowing users to recharge for a few hours, they are more likely to return knowing they wont have to worry as much about the battery charge.
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G22 Environmental justice tracts?
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Yes
While there are not environmental justice tracts directly adjacent to this site, there is a rather large tract less than a mile to the east. By installing the EV charging stations, residents from this nearby tract will have an opportunity to utilize this facility fairly easily. In addition, there will likely be patrons to the Farmstead or Soccer Complex from other EJ tracts around the region or even farther away. This project will benefit them just as well.
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G23 Reduces greenhouse gas emissions?
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Yes
By providing EV charging stations, we will be helping to enhance the infrastructure needed to have a more complete and connected transportation network. This will encourage a greater use of EVs which in turn reduces GHG and the use of gasoline powered vehicles.
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G24 Natural Resource information:
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The charging stations will be placed to minimize disruption to existing facilities such as tearing up sidewalk and asphalt (which would result in additional material in the landfill). Also, when construction is taking place, various stormwater management best practices will be followed (for example, using silt fence or straw waddles in the storm drains to keep silt from getting into the streams). It is likely that these stations could also include some landscaping options to enhance restoration.
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G25 Community Links at Watershaed Scale:
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Tomahawk Creek is adjacent to this site and stormwater flows from the parking fields where these charging stations will be located directly into that streamway. For every EV that we can get to drive to this area, we reduce the amount of oil and other fluids that leak onto these parking lots from gas powered vehicles which eventually gets washed into the stream. While small in comparison to say a native vegetation restoration project, each incremental bit of good ultimately helps positively impact the Tomahawk Creek watershed.
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G26 Explain local land use or comprehensive plans:
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This project is supported by Overland Parks Future Development Master Plan and would maximize mobility options and improve access to residential, retail and commercial uses in the project area. In addition, the city has maintained a Comprehensive Plan that directs, coordinates, and evaluates the city’s development and progress and ensures continued orderly development of our community. Elements of the Comprehensive Plan include a balanced transportation network, land use, park master plan, greenway linkages and planned bikeways.
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