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Resident urges clearer crosswalks on Metcalf Avenue as traffic speeds increase
Summary
Former council member Jay Lenards told the Overland Park City Council that recent changes to Metcalf Avenue have made it difficult for pedestrians to cross and asked the council to instruct the city manager to prepare a plan to more clearly mark crosswalks.
Jay Lenards, a former Overland Park council member and resident of the Whitehaven neighborhood, urged the City Council on May 19 to direct the city manager to develop a plan to clearly mark crosswalks on Metcalf Avenue and elsewhere in the city.
Lenards, who said he lives at 8637 Broadmoor and is 83, told the council that recent improvements to Metcalf have made the street "almost impossible to cross." He said the city has moved toward shared-roadway objectives but that automobiles are currently "way ahead of a shared roadway." He recommended the city manager present a crosswalk-marking plan, saying, "I have one recommendation ... instruct the city manager to come up with a plan for clearly marking crosswalks in the roadway."
Lenards cited examples he has seen in Boston and New York and said neighboring municipalities such as Prairie Village and Leawood have markings he considers useful. He did not propose specific paint patterns, funding sources, or timelines and did not identify a sponsor on the council to introduce an ordinance or policy; he framed his remarks as a public comment and a recommendation.
The council did not take action on Lenards' suggestion during the meeting. No staff report or agenda item proposing crosswalk changes appeared on the May 19 regular agenda, and the record shows Lenards' remarks were made during the open public comment period.
The presentation highlights a continuing local conversation about pedestrian safety on Metcalf Avenue and other major corridors. The council or city staff may choose to place a formal proposal on a future agenda or direct staff to prepare options and cost estimates.
