Council accepts KDOT innovation award and approves $5,000 traffic signal warrant study at 70 Seventh and Wyandotte Way

Park City Council approved two related transportation-technology items Sept. 9: a Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Innovative Technology Award to inventory the city’s road and pavement markings using artificial intelligence, and a $5,000 consulting agreement to perform a traffic signal warrant analysis at the intersection of 70 Seventh and Wyandotte Way.

Staff said Park City was one of 20 projects selected by the governor and that the KDOT award covers a majority of the $65,500 project cost; KDOT will pay $49,125 and the city’s share was described in staff remarks as $16,375, though the motion recorded a city contribution of $16,003.75 to be paid from the streets and highway fund. The AI-driven inventory will assess pavement condition and markings and can be expanded to include sidewalks; results will be uploaded to the city’s GIS.

The nut graf: the AI inventory gives a consistent, repeatable assessment of pavement condition and markings that staff previously performed manually and will help prioritize maintenance and capital work. Separately, the traffic signal warrant study will determine whether the intersection at 70 Seventh and Wyandotte meets one of the nine signal warrants needed to justify installing a traffic signal as development (including a casino and planned hotels) increases demand.

The council approved the mayor to execute the KDOT agreement (motion recorded with the $16,003.75 city contribution) and separately approved a $5,000 contract with GFT Infrastructure to perform the signal warrant analysis. Staff said the warrant study is a fast step toward determining whether a permanent signal is required; if warranted, staff will work with adjacent property owners about cost-sharing and later submit a petition for signal installation. Council voted 7-0 on both items.