Overland Park plans to add more than a dozen new speeding signs that tell motorists how fast they’re going.
Exactly where those new signs will be placed in the city is unclear, though councilmembers are already lobbying for certain speeding hotspots.
Last week, the Overland Park City Council Public Works Committee unanimously recommended for approval an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation to share the cost of purchasing the signs.
Additionally, the committee unanimously voted in favor of approving the purchase of the signs from TraffiCalm, effectively waiving the standard bid process usually used on government projects.
How do the signs work?
- According to city documents, the signs are a type of “traffic calming device.”
- They work by displaying the speed a vehicle is traveling.
- If the speed is higher than the posted speed limit, the sign will typically flash or signal some other kind of alert to the driver.
- These particular devices from TraffiCalm are solar-powered.
- Overland Park currently has about 20 TrafficCalm signs at locations throughout the city.
KDOT kicking in $100K for the signs
- The money from KDOT comes from the federal government’s Carbon Reduction Program.
- With that $100,000 contributing to the purchase, Overland Park will be responsible for the remaining expense, estimated at $25,000.
Future feedback sign locations unclear
At this point, the city hasn’t officially made any decisions about where to place these signs throughout the city. Public Works Director Lorraine Basalo said Overland Park is making a list of priority locations based on data.
However, Councilmember Scott Mosher, during committee discussion, seemed keen to have one placed on Switzer Road. He said he hears a lot of complaints about speeding on that thoroughfare.
Other committee members proposed roads that might benefit from the driver feedback signs, including Lowell Avenue and Santa Fe Drive.
“This is a great project, and a great effort to slow down drivers in our city,” Councilmember Drew Mitrisin said, noting that he hears a lot from constituents about speeding, too. “I’m glad to see action on this.”
City documents do not specify exactly how many driver feedback signs will be purchased, but Basalo estimated the city would be able to acquire between 15 and 20 units with the amount of federal and city funds set aside.
Next steps:
- The KDOT agreement and the actual purchase of the signs go to the Overland Park City Council for consideration next.
- In the future, the Public Works Committee will weigh in on sign placement, Basalo said.
- She also added that more action items related to this particular project are anticipated to follow.
- Down the line, Overland Park is also expected to complete a Transportation Safety Action Plan that is would help the city identify other conflict areas and risks in the traffic system.
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