Population growth could influence changes in driving patterns along K-68 corridor
By CLEON RICKEL, Herald Senior Writer
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A decision to study K-68 from Ottawa to Missouri was a matter of propitious timing, public officials from two counties and three cities were told Monday.
K-68 runs through the heart of the fastest-growing area in the state — even faster than many had projected, consultants told the officials.
Ten years after experts issued their 20-year forecasts for population growth in Franklin and Miami counties, the counties are close to the 20-year marks, Treveeca Harvey, consultant from Patti Banks Associates, Kansas City, said.
Over the last 10 years, the percentage of growth in Franklin County has been at least double the average rate for Kansas, she said.
According to Kansas Department of Transportation studies, traffic increases four times faster than the population.
Officials from KDOT, Franklin and Miami counties, Ottawa, Paola and Louisburg met in Ottawa Monday to receive the first of what will be many updates on a “corridor study” of K-68 this year. KDOT, the cities and counties are sharing the cost of the study.
They’ve wanted to do the study and establish a set of standards for dealing with residential growth and commercial development along the highway before it gets out of hand.
KDOT wants to avoid a repeat of the gridlock that occurred because of uncontrolled development along U.S. 54, also known as Kellogg Avenue, in downtown Wichita. The traffic chaos damaged Wichita’s economy and KDOT spent billions correcting the situation.
The corridor along K-68 is starting to experience some rapid development especially in and next to the cities, Harvey said.
Missouri cities along the highway, which is Missouri 2 in that state, are experiencing even faster growth and development, she said.
Local officials also pointed out that once the new U.S. 59 expressway between Lawrence and Ottawa and a proposed Burlington Northern Santa Fe intermodal freight center at Gardner are built, the amount of truck traffic on K-68 will increase.
However, consultants and officials noted there could be some wild cards that may slow development:
• Because many people in Franklin and Miami counties commute to the Kansas City area, the sharply-increasing cost of fuel may slow growth, especially if people decide to move closer to work.
The cities will be under more pressure to attract new, well-paying jobs to keep people from moving, Ted Hayden, Louisburg city administrator, said.
Paola officials wistfully remembered the city’s history when it was served by passenger trains to Kansas City.
• Water issues could mean that Franklin County won’t continue growing at the same rate as it has in the past, Franklin County Commissioner Don Stottlemire said.
Because of the soil that underlays much of the county, there’s not a lot of water underground. Septic tanks, the most common form of rural septic treatment, also don’t work well, he said.
The county’s rural water districts now have difficulty adding new customers, he said.
In addition, some rural water districts have problems with “ghost meters,” he said. Some property owners and developers have bought up several meters but haven’t used them, he explained.
Although the meters aren’t being used, the rural water districts must keep enough resources in reserve for the time when the meters are installed, he said.
However, if a regional wholesale water district wins new federal grants and loans to expand its water plant at Melvern Lake, rural water districts in the county will be likely to expand, he said.
A public hearing on the first draft is tentatively scheduled for November, with the final draft to be unveiled in March, prior to spring municipal elections, Harvey said.
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