Volume 42 - Issue 7 - February 16, 2023
State of Kansas
Department of Transportation
Notice of Intent to Conduct Environmental Assessment
Public notice is hereby given that the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposal to upgrade a portion of K-96 in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas, from a four-lane to a six-lane freeway. The City of Wichita is serving as a partner in the study.
The overall environmental study limits begin just east of the K-96/I-135 interchange in Wichita and extend east/southeast to just north of the K-96/US-54/US-400 interchange. The overall length of the proposed project is approximately 9.5 miles. The proposed upgrade of K-96 from a four-lane to a six-lane freeway includes pavement replacement only from 21st Street to the K-96/US-54/US-400/I-35 Interchange. In addition, improvements at the seven interchanges of Hillside, Oliver, Woodlawn, Rock, Webb, Greenwich, and 21st Street are being considered.
Within the EA, KDOT and FHWA will evaluate a “No Build” alternative as well as expansion alternatives. Roadway configurations, including freeway main lanes and interchange options, will be evaluated throughout the corridor.
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: traffic noise; impacts to aquatic ecosystems and floodplains; effects on cultural resources; effects on threatened and endangered species and habitats; effects on the transportation system; effects on parks/recreation; populations with environmental justice concerns; community cohesion; and socioeconomics. This includes direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts. Other federal approvals or permits that may be required; addition of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a cooperating agency and federal action on their part to address impacts to the Colonel James Jabara Airport, a Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), floodplain development permits from Sedgwick County, and water resource and floodplain permits from the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources.
A scoping and coordination process was initiated with stakeholders, tribal governments, and the public in September 2022. Coordination, including meetings as needed, will continue throughout the study to engage the local and regional community to inform and obtain input from agencies, tribal governmental entities, stakeholders, and the public with an interest in the project. A public meeting was conducted on February 2, 2023, to gather input and share findings from the development of the alternatives process. In addition, an agency/tribal scoping meeting will be held March 1, 2023, to discuss the project and receive input on the purpose and need for the project, alternatives being considered, and known environmental and cultural issues. The EA will be made available for public and agency review and comment prior to a public hearing anticipated to be held in late 2023. To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed action are addressed and all potentially 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 the address provided below.
For further information contact Kansas Department of Transportation, Attn: Kris Norton, PMC Coordinating Engineer, Division of Program and Project Management, Eisenhower State Office Building, 700 SW Harrison St., Topeka, KS 66603-3745; phone 785-368-6429; email kris.norton@ks.gov.
Calvin Reed
Acting Secretary
Department of Transportation
Doc. No. 050889
