Overland Park Public Works Committee receives Safe Streets, South Overland Park plan updates

At a meeting of the Overland Park Public Works Committee (date not specified), staff presented updates on the Safe Streets Plan and two related transportation studies that will guide future street design and traffic decisions. Staff said the Safe Streets effort is “to develop a safety action plan where we identify critical safety issues and locations” and that plan adoption and leadership commitment are targeted by summer 2027 (staff member, speaker 4).

The South Overland Park update (south of 159th) will verify assumptions about traffic flow, capacity and level of service and support phased thoroughfare improvements, staff said. The presentation explained the city will use data to determine whether a thoroughfare ultimately needs two or four lanes and to phase improvements to avoid excess capacity. Staff also explained connections to the active transportation plan and the city’s complete-streets policy and said the north-of-159th Overland Park transportation study will focus on optimal configurations for already-developed areas. "We are trying to have a safe transportation network where people can travel protected from severe injury or harm," staff said (speaker 4).

Committee members asked whether the city is moving away from roundabouts; staff replied their roundabout strategy is expected to continue. Members also asked about timing for the active transportation plan; staff said they are in early RFP development and do not have a firm schedule yet. The committee did not take formal action on the presentation; staff said future steps include bringing recommendations back to the committee for implementation decisions.