Planning Sustainable Places

The purpose of the Downtown Active Transportation Plan was to list projects that bring connectivity to Olathe's downtown commerce area. Olathe City Council and staff have been working to make downtown Olathe a more vibrant "destination place". 

The old courthouse square, streets and development around downtown were fading with old and outdated infrastructure. Pedestrian facilities were behind what other communities have utilized to transform their downtown areas. And City Council wanted to bring new development and businesses into downtown Olathe. 

For the existing businesses and store fronts along the west side of Kansas Ave (everything from law firms and bail bondsmen to bike shops and barber shops), staff and clientele frequently walk across the street to the County Administration Buildings and Courthouse. The area previously contained wide street crossings that were not easy to get across without the use of traffic signal control buttons. Wide lanes with higher traffic speeds were not geared to pedestrians or those backing out from Kansas Avenue's angled parking. 

Goals for this project have included safer crossings for pedestrians across Kansas Avenue, slowing down traffic speeds in the downtown corridor; creating wider sidewalk segments for ease and enjoyment of pedestrians; adding a protected cycle track to connect to existing bike lane networks into downtown; and creating an aesthetically-pleasing atmosphere with tree and flower bed plantings, attractive streetlight fixtures for better lighting, and adding benches and trash cans for multi-modal users. 

As a result, new development projects have been constructed and are continuing to be constructed in downtown Olathe.

Since the early 1980s, downtown Overland Park has hosted a farmers' market. In 1991, the City constructed a dedicated structure for these activities, though it was privately managed. In 2011, the city assumed operations, and by 2017, it was consistently recognized as the best farmers' market in Kansas, hitting an estimated 190,000 visitors in 2018. Simultaneously, the existing structure began to deteriorate, and site conditions, including slope and drainage issues, made navigation challenging. 

Recognizing the site's significance as a cultural and community asset, the city initiated a planning effort to evaluate the farmers’ market’s future. The city also understood that any expansion of the market's size or function would require improved transportation access to and from downtown. 

As downtown evolved into a walkable, mixed-use district, the City needed to consider transportation beyond just automobiles. The updated 2024 plan includes creating an indoor market space for year-round use; improving the existing outdoor market area with shade structures and a more accessible ground slope; adding access to utilities like power and water for vendors; increasing access to restrooms for vendors, staff, and shoppers; allowing for potential expansion of existing market operations; and maintaining parking spaces during non-market hours.

The Overland Park Farmers' Market is more than just a place to shop; it is a community hub that directly promotes a healthy lifestyle by supporting a vibrant local food system. The market allows for the continued support of local farmers and provides a direct source of fresh, healthy produce for the community. By offering a convenient and accessible way to purchase locally-grown food, the market encourages healthier eating habits and strengthens the connection between residents and the source of their food. 

To combat the urban heat island effect, the design incorporates specific pavement colors and solar shade structures to reduce the temperature of outdoor spaces. Energy efficiency will be enhanced with the use of LED lighting and solar-powered exterior lighting. Furthermore, the project emphasizes environmental stewardship through the use of native landscaping, which helps to conserve water and support local ecosystems.

The OP Central Plan is a land use and transportation planning effort to support the long-term vitality of the College Boulevard Corridor and the Overland Park Convention Center. The plan’s goals were intended to help the City define the corporate campus of the future; address the needs of visitors, employees, and residents to work and recreate in a quality environment; create a gathering place for the City; and define the needs for a walkable environment that supports multiple modes of transportation. 

A major goal of the plan was to transition the area from an auto-dependent environment to one that encourages and provides opportunities for active transportation for employees, visitors, and residents. The plan identified two primary components for creating such an environment:  mixing uses to create destinations and 18-hour activity along the corridor, and providing safe, enjoyable paths and crossings to encourage walking and biking.

Overland Park received Transportation Alternative funds to make improvements along the corridor to enhance active transportation options. A new linear park will connect employees, visitors, and residents to employment, hotels, and other amenities along the corridor. In addition to the linear park on the south side of College Boulevard, a multi-use path will connect pedestrians to Summercrest Park.

The project corridor, Southwest Boulevard, runs through the heart of the Westside Neighborhood, a traditional Mexican-American neighborhood. This neighborhood is culturally significant with many Mexican-owned and operated stores, restaurants, and services that has served the immigrant community for at least three generations.  

It is an established neighborhood that is vibrant, with mixed uses of residential, commercial, and even industrial uses within a small distance.  Even more, the Westside is widely recognized as a Hispanic cultural hub, a unique destination for dining and cultural experiences with an established reputation in the Kansas City region. 

The Southwest Boulevard Transportation Plan, funded through the Planning Sustainable Places program, addressed issues related to transportation, neighborhood identity, elements within the public right of way, and the natural environment.

The vibrancy of this neighborhood is limited by the Boulevard itself, which is 4-lanes of high-speed traffic and offers limited pedestrian, cycling, and transit amenities.  The Boulevard itself divides the neighborhood and is a high-crash corridor.

Recommendations being implemented through the reconstruction of the Boulevard will reduce roadway width from four to two lanes with a center lane and refuge islands, reconstructed sidewalks and ADA ramps, bike paths, new traffic signals and removing slip lanes from interstate traffic.

Through the design process, it was determined that the community wanted to see more greenspace and trees.  As a result, green health considerations like infrastructure mitigating stormwater runoff, tree plantings, as well as increasing the size of the small park along Cesar Chavez Avenue.

The Gillham Road Corridor Bike Connections Plan identified a preferred alternative for a bike facility running along Gillham Road. 

The preferred alternative was a separated cycle track running along the eastern curb line that the city installed in phases. The first phase was from Brush Creek Boulevard to Armour Boulevard. The second phase continued the cycle track from 19th Street to Armour Boulevard. The city has since installed further phases north of the original PSP study area.

The purpose of the PSP project was to establish a plan to make Gillham Road more friendly to all road users beyond motorists. As a result of the changes, the area saw a dramatic increase in use from both bicyclists and pedestrians.

The project gives a 3.5 miles connection between large employment centers and along densely populated residential areas. The areas connected by this project include Downtown Kansas City, Crown Center, Hospital Hill, Union Hill, Hyde Park, Plaza area, Kauffman Foundation, and Brush Creek.