In Olathe, Kansas, a significant traffic issue has emerged near school zones. With the possibility of increased truck traffic from K-10, the situation is causing concern among the mayor and council members. At the intersection of Lone Elm and College Boulevard, there are four schools along with the district activities center, creating a busy area. The parking lot for high schoolers is on the opposite side of Lone Elm, leading to students crossing multiple lanes of traffic.

"Olathe's Schools Struggle with K-10 Truck Traffic - Find a Solution!"

School Zone Traffic Challenges

Anyone who lives near a school zone or shuttles kids to and from school is familiar with the backup of traffic during release time. In Olathe, this problem could be exacerbated by the potential addition of an interchange onto Lone Elm Road. The existing traffic situation is already challenging, with cars often stacking on surrounding roads. The introduction of significant commercial truck traffic and drivers unfamiliar with the area would only compound these issues.

For example, at the intersection of Lone Elm and College Boulevard, there are four schools and a district activities center clustered together. High schoolers have to cross four lanes of traffic to get to and from their cars. This creates a dangerous situation for students and adds to the overall traffic congestion.

The K-10 Corridor Capacity Improvements Project

KDOT is currently working on a massive undertaking with the K-10 Corridor Capacity Improvements Project. The plan includes adding a third lane in each direction from I-435 in Johnson County to the Douglas County line. The goal is to prevent rear end collisions from bottlenecks. Other parts of the plan involve bridge improvements and evaluating potential overpasses or interchanges at K-10/Clare Road and K-10/Lone Elm Road.

However, the concern about truck traffic stems from an Aldi Distribution Center two miles west of the schools. The distribution center sits at the existing K-10/K-7 interchange, but the only way in is via College Boulevard. City officials worry that GPS systems set to avoid left turns might direct westbound traffic onto Lone Elm if an interchange is added.

Olathe vs. Lenexa

Lenexa, located on the north side of K-10, supports the Lone Elm interchange. A capital improvement plan there includes $11 million for the interchange to be incorporated into KDOT's expansion project. This includes widening Lone Elm Road to a four-lane arterial street in certain areas.

The letter from Olathe's elected officials to KDOT references Lenexa's role and demands that KDOT pay for any necessary improvements in Olathe. They believe that KDOT is prioritizing economic development in Lenexa over safety concerns in Olathe. Olathe expects KDOT to ensure that semi-trucks are kept out of the school zones and to fund all improvements to accommodate increased traffic on Lone Elm.

The Need for an Overpass

Lone Elm currently dead ends on both sides of the highway. The city supports the idea of an overpass to connect local traffic, with a focus on local needs. This would help alleviate some of the traffic congestion and improve safety for students.

Despite the strident tone of the letter, Olathe has built a strong relationship with KDOT over the years and is optimistic that a solution can be found that accommodates both Lenexa and Olathe. In-person open houses on the K-10 project have concluded, but a virtual open house is still available online. Comments can be left at the end of the presentation or by scrolling to the bottom of the main page and clicking "fill out comment form."

KCTV reached out to KDOT to ask about their consideration of the requests in the letter, but no response has been received yet. Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.