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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
913.895.6024
brian.shields@opkansas.org
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G5 Purpose and need:
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This project will provide wayfinding signs in downtown Overland Park and to connecting points to nearby regional trails (Indian Creek and Turkey Creek). This will benefit pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users (both fixed route and on-demand), and typical motor vehicle drivers. The signs will indicate nearby points of interest and help direct the many different users not only to the destinations but also give an idea of trip length (distance/time). This type of wayfinding signage was identified in the recent regional wayfinding signage project (which OP financially and staffing participated in) as a necessary part to help ensure greater access and connectivity across the region.
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G6. Origin and ending
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Route:
From:
To:
Length (Miles):
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30.00000
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G7 Functional Classification:
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Not Applicable
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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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Yes
This project is a first step towards implementing the regions shared desire to see greater wayfinding signage. The KCATA led a study to develop a regional set of design standards for wayfinding signs that would unify the many transportation modes and help direct various users to their destinations. Overland Park participated in this study financially ($10,000) and by providing technical staff to help oversee and review the final guidelines that were developed.
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G10 Included in a CIP?
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No
This project is not included in the current 2021-2025 CIP for Overland Park. Our next CIP review cycle starts in September, and this project will be recommended to be added to our 2022-2026 CIP 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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Yes
Downtown Overland Park is recreating itself from the small, suburban style bedroom community of the 1960s to a more modern, mixed use, urban feeling environment for today and beyond. Much of that effort is underway including the revitalization of downtown OP with hundreds of new apartments, office space, retail locations, and other community amenities (community center, farmers market, parks, rebuilt schools, etc.). This wayfinding project will help identify appropriate destinations and give directional information to users regardless of their familiarity with the area.
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G16 Transportation Disadvantaged Population:
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There are a number of transportation disadvantaged populations that may be positively affected by this project. In downtown OP there is a high-rise apartment building called the Santa Fe Towers which houses many low-income individuals. The surrounding area is also home to smaller houses that are often occupied by those with smaller annual incomes. The schools in this area also have significant populations of children that qualify for free meals and other need-based assistance. Just taking these populations into account, there will be a number of people in the immediate area that likely walk quite a bit to shop, work or find enjoyment and likely a large number that may not have access to a car. There is also a major north-south transit route that runs through downtown OP (Metcalf 401/404 routes) that connect to other communities including downtown KCMO. This provides flexibility to those coming from outside the community (especially veterans that may have a free transit pass) to come to Overland Park and have a better understanding of where things are located and how to get to them.
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G17 Relevant Public Engagement:
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This project engaged the public in a number of ways including a project website that provided updated information, an on-line survey to gauge interest from the public, specific pop-up events held around the metro in locations where this type of signage could be placed someday, and through various social media platforms of the sponsoring agencies to boost the overall visibility. Specifically for OP, there was a pop-up event in downtown OP at the Fall Festival two years ago. This event draws 25,000 people from around the metro and it gave the project team a great opportunity to hear from potential users. Issues identified included the look of the signs, how they could be interactive with the visually impaired (through technology such as QR codes), and how easy it would be to maintain the signs (due to tagging ... which can be handled by the type of sheeting used, for instance).
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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 Matt Ross Community Center in Downtown OP). 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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Access to Healthy Foods-------Age in Place-------
----Connected Street Network-----------
------------Integrated Trail System---
--------Optimize Parking---Pedestrian-Oriented Public Realm---
------------Strong Suburban Downtown---
Transit-Ready Corridors-----
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G19.1 Describe PSP relationship:
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Wayfinding signage will help direct residents to the healthy food options local produce provides at the farmers market. As we grow older, we need more modal choices which are easy to use. All modes of travel need to be considered in any street network. Wayfinding signage helps integrate these modes. There are two major regional trails nearby (Indian Creek and Turkey Creek) which will be listed on various signage. By encouraging more people to walk to various downtown destinations, parking can be done once. Wayfinding signage is the epitome of helping to create a pedestrian scale environment that helps direct people that might be walking or biking by giving needed information on direction, distance and time. Downtown OP is a vibrant and growing area and this signage will be one more step in its transformation. Wayfinding signage will direct those unfamiliar with the area and be crucial to the fixed route network as well as the last-mile operators.
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G20 Implements Sustainable Places Initiatives?
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Yes
Yes. OP partnered financially and with technical review with others in the region over the last year on a PSP study to create a regional wayfinding standard. This effort was led by the KCATA. The results of the PSP study provided a blueprint of sorts for agencies in the metro to use as they move forward with providing a common look for signs that will help pedestrians,bicyclists, transit users and others navigate the area.
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G21 Serves Regional Activity Center?
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Yes
High-Intensity and More_Walkable Centers
Wayfinding signage will help enhance the connectedness of downtown OP overall and to other parts of the region, especially two regionally significant trails (Indian Creek and Turkey Creek). This will improve the quality of the transportation options, especially for those walking, biking and taking transit. By communicating with visitors to the downtown area about the location of various destinations, users will be more likely to have an enjoyable experience and continue to use non-vehicular options for moving around in the downtown.
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G22 Environmental justice tracts?
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Yes
We have a number of environmental justice tracts in northern OP where our downtown is located. Wayfinding signage will allow users to better understand how far various places are and the best routes to access them. These tracts often have adults without cars so enhancing other travel modes is important, not only for those that live nearby but also those in similar circumstances that are coming from farther away and not being familiar with the area. Children from these tracts often walk or ride a bike to get around (for school, work or play). Adding these types of signs will also boost their confidence in using our transportation network.
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G23 Reduces greenhouse gas emissions?
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Yes
When transportation choices are enhanced (by providing better traveler information for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders), that leads to those users wanting to continue making a smarter and healthier choice for their transportation needs. This helps reduce unnecessary vehicle trips which reduces GHG emissions. Even drivers to the area will be more likely to begin changing their behavior by parking once and walking farther.
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G24 Natural Resource information:
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The signs will be placed to minimize disruption to existing facilities such as tearing up sidewalk (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 signs will also be more than just a sign on a post, but they will also include some landscaping options to enhance restoration.
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G25 Community Links at Watershaed Scale:
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This part of Overland Park has been built out for many years and is now undergoing a rebirth. Each new private or public project gives us an opportunity to incrementally do a better job of making up for the way things were done in the past. With a focus on stream restoration where possible and water quality improvement on every project, small projects like this will slowly have an impact on the Indian Creek and Turkey Creek watersheds.
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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 balanced transportation network, land use, park master plan, greenway linkages and planned bikeways. The most cogent comprehensive plan is the OP Bicycle Master Plan, a document adopted by our Governing Body in 2015 and which includes the need for wayfinding signage as a supporting feature of its implementation.
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