🎥 City commission to vote on roundabout design; Schwaller wants public discussion first

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners know there are traffic flow problems on north Vine Street between 32nd and 41st Streets. The configuration has been studied several times the past 25 years.

The most recent recommendation, in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Transportation, is installation of three traffic roundabouts.

The plan calls for an hourglass or double roundabout at 32nd and 33rd, another at 37th, and a third roundabout north of Interstate 70 at 41st and Mopar Drive.

During last week’s work session, Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller said he is not ready to commit $400,000 to an engineering design without more discussion with the effected business owners.

“Number 1, we need to know our alternatives which we discussed a long time ago. That would be refreshing. Number 2, we need to be prepared to talk to the public and listen to the businesses and property owners on Vine as well as the major employers and get their feedback on this. I think that’s critical,” Schwaller said.

Earlier studies have called for reverse access roads.

Commissioners acknowledged there are some residents adamantly opposed to roundabouts, while some others are very supportive.

Commissioner Sandy Jacobs favors the project.

“We can argue all day long whether people can drive them or not. I think people learn to adjust to whatever is there. They may not be the happiest people, part of them. Some of them will love it,” Jacobs said. “I think if you don’t want to go that way you’ll find an alternate. And there are alternate ways to get to wherever you want to go, especially Walmart.”

Mayor James Meier suggested the design work be flexible enough the roundabouts could be built at different times, any or all of them, instead of as a single large project.

Project Manager John Braun warned that would likely cost more money.

The commission is scheduled to vote Thu., May 24, on whether to proceed with hiring design engineer WSP, the low bidder, for three roundabouts.

The WSP bid is $399,000 which would be paid out of the Convention and Visitors Bureau contingency fund. Estimated cost of the corridor project is $7.6 million with construction to start in 2020.