| In our on-going effort to provide information to you about the K-61 System
Enhancement Project between McPherson and Hutchinson, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT)
would like to take this opportunity to provide a review and update of the status of the Study Phase.
The study team has spent the past two years developing a concept to make travel on K-61 safer and more
efficient for its users. The team began by looking at the area, evaluating the current traffic situation
on K-61 and talking with residents about what is important to them when they drive on K-61. A number of
alternatives were developed and presented at drop-in centers, shown to the Community Advisory Group,
presented at public meetings, posted on the project website, and publicized in the media. From these
alternatives a preferred corridor was selected for the proposed improvements to K-61 Highway.
This preferred corridor was presented at two public meetings in December 2002 and again to public
officials in March, 2003. The preferred alternative relocates fewer homes, creates better options for
local traffic circulation, and provides additional safety benefits when compared to other alternatives
considered. A map of the preferred corridor is included with this letter to serve as a refresher.
Let's review the project. In the mid-1990's the communities of McPherson and Hutchinson began
looking at the need for a four-lane road between the two cities. Those communities submitted a request
for a project to construct a four-lane highway between Hutchinson and McPherson. In 2000, KDOT
announced that K-61 was one of 29 projects selected to receive funding from the System Enhancement
Program. The first step in designing a project of this magnitude is to study the options available.
A study team was formed and began by examining an approximately 6 mile wide corridor along existing
K-61 from 17th Street in Hutchinson to the present four-lane road southwest of McPherson. The study
considered the impact of a four-lane road built on the existing location as well as locations away from
the existing route. Both freeway and expressway options were analyzed. Initially, several corridors
were reviewed and then narrowed down to three alternatives. These three alternatives were studied in
greater detail and a preferred corridor, that is about 1000 feet wide, was selected. The preferred
corridor generally follows the existing K-61 alignment except in Reno County and at the bypasses to
the west of Inman and Medora. Please see the attached map. The new roadway will be located within
this preferred corridor. The right of way width needed for the roadway will be approximately 300 to
350 feet and wider at intersections or interchanges. The highway type selected is a freeway in Reno
County with access provided only at interchanges. In McPherson County, K-61 will be an expressway
with at-grade intersections, which means the new highway and the side roads will be at the same level,
and there will be stop signs to control the side road traffic. There will also be two interchanges in
McPherson County--one at Inman and the other at the junction of K-153. Sufficient right of way will be
acquired as part of this project for the future construction of interchanges at Arapaho Road, Comanche
Road, and Eisenhower Road as future traffic levels dictate. How public input was used.
Public input has been utilized throughout the study to help develop the preferred corridor and determine
what issues are important to the residents of Reno and McPherson Counties. Comments and suggestions
were gathered through a telephone survey, public meetings, drop-in centers, emails, and letters. The
Community Advisory Group also provided valuable input to the study team. The telephone survey,
conducted in the fall of 2001, let the team know that driver safety was the number one concern for those
traveling on K-61 between Hutchinson and McPherson. Ninety-three percent of those surveyed expressed
their desire for a four-lane highway between Hutchinson and McPherson. The study team received a
great deal of input throughout the process. All input was reviewed and considered. In many cases the
information that you provided gave the study team better knowledge of the corridor. While there will be
relocations of homes and businesses along the preferred corridor, the study team worked hard to minimize
impacts to land, homes, and businesses. What we are working on now.
Currently the study team is preparing the Environmental Assessment (EA) for submission to the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA). The EA is a document that evaluates the impacts a highway project may
have on the natural and human environment. The subjects discussed in the EA are:
Need for the project-this section explains who is initiating the project and why it is needed.
Alternatives considered-this section describes, evaluates and compares all the alternatives for
improvements.
Impacts to the area-this section explains the potential effects on the natural and human
environment.
Coordinating Agencies-this section contains a list of other governmental agencies that were
consulted during the preparation of the EA.
Once the EA is approved by FHWA there will be a 30-day public comment period during which anyone may
review the document and provide written comments to KDOT. To alert the public about the 30-day comment
period, the local media will be notified of the availability of the EA and where it may be reviewed
locally. All written comments and e-mail responses received during the comment period will be
incorporated into the public record. In addition to the EA document, the study team will be
developing a Location Concept Study Report. This report will document the activities and detail the
results of the work completed to this point. A KDOT survey team has been surveying the area to gather
accurate information about the existing physical features such as the roads, ground elevations, trees,
fences, utility locations, section corners, and other features. The team will complete these field
activities by late August 2003. What is the next step? In the fall of 2003 the Environmental
Assessment (EA) will be submitted to FHWA for review and approval. The Location Concept Study will
also be completed this fall. Both reports will be distributed to county and community government
offices in the study area. The local public officials will be encouraged to use these documents to
manage future growth in the project area.
During the next phase of the project design, details for the new four-lane highway will be developed.
Once the final roadway alignment is developed, interchanges will be designed and the right-of-way
acquisition process will begin. The present schedule has the right-of-way appraisals being completed
by late 2007. The right-of-way acquisition process will begin in late 2007 and will be completed by
the end of 2008. Construction is not expected to begin until 2009.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the K-61 Enhancement Project, please do not hesitate
to contact us via the toll free number 1-888-276-8787, emailing to: blubaugh@ksdot.org or by
writing our project address: K-61 Enhancement,
c/o Joseph Blubaugh, Bureau of Public Involvement, 915 SW Harrison St., Topeka, KS 66612.
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