Hays mayor encourages homeowners to be involved in 37th St. extension as part of roundabouts project

Before the Hays city commission voted 3-1 Thursday night to approve an engineering design supplement to the North Vine Street Corridor roundabouts project, two residents spoke during citizen comments against a portion of the project affecting 37th Street.

The $49,904.65 supplement agreement with WSP Engineers, Lenexa, includes the scope and fee for services related to right-of-way property acquisition. The original $396,895.26 engineering contract was approved May 25, 2018 with WSP. Both will be funded out of the Convention and Visitors Bureau contingency fund.

Four traffic roundabouts are to be constructed on Vine Street/U.S. Highway 183 at 32nd/33rd, 37th, 41st Streets, and a partial roundabout at the eastbound exit ramp of Interstate 70. Some nearby homeowners are concerned about increased traffic with the extension of 37th and the possibility of falling property values. Mayor Henry Schwaller noted the city commission has not taken action and has had only informal planning discussions about the project. He encouraged residents in the audience to attend the commission meeting when the street extension is on the agenda for discussion. “We want you to be involved as we move forward.”

(Read more: Hays Post)