Volume 41 - Issue 23 - June 9, 2022
(Published in the Kansas Register June 9, 2022.)
City of Olathe, Kansas
Notice of Intent to Conduct Environmental Assessment
Public notice is hereby given that the City of Olathe, Kansas, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposal to upgrade the existing I-35 and Santa Fe Street interchange and the adjacent Santa Fe Street corridor located within the City of Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas.
Santa Fe Street is located approximately two-miles south of 119th Street and approximately one-mile north of Old 56 Highway along I-35 in Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas. The Santa Fe/Ridgeview Road intersection serves as the western project terminus and the Santa Fe Street/Mur-Len Road intersection is the eastern terminus. This corridor includes the existing five-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange at I-35, with four ramp terminals and a northbound I-35 to westbound Santa Fee Street loop ramp. Improvements associated with the interchange will extend along I-35 no further than 2,500 feet north or south of Santa Fe Street.
Within the EA, the City of Olathe, Kansas, KDOT, and FHWA will evaluate a “No Action” alternative as well as improvement alternatives. Improvement alternatives will include new interchange configurations and potential roadway improvements both east and west of the interchange on Santa Fe Street.
The City of Olathe, Kansas, KDOT, and FHWA 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 and indirect impacts. Other federal approvals or permits that may also be required in addition.
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 KDOT at:
City of Olathe
Therese Vink, P.E., Assistant City Engineer
PO Box 768
Olathe, KS 66061
913-971-9032
tmersmann@olatheks.org
Kelsey Heavin
Public Involvement Manager
HNTB Corporation
Doc. No. 050213
