Quivira Road Corridor Study

The high traffic, high-profile Quivira Road corridor in eastern Lenexa is a major transportation and commercial hub for the city. Bisected by Interstate 35, the corridor encompasses a wide range of uses, including residential neighborhoods, shopping areas, business parks and schools.

Within a half-mile of the corridor (which includes parts of Overland Park) there is 3.6 million square feet of retail space and about 5,200 residents. Virtually all land in the corridor is close to being fully developed.

The corridor has seen significant public and private redevelopment over the last several years including redevelopment north of 95th Street and spot redevelopment throughout the corridor.

Recent improvements

Significant investment was made on Quivira from 75th Street to 87th Street Parkway in 2022, including:

• New street lights
• Upgrades to the traffic signals
• Completed missing sidewalk segments
• New bus landing pads
• Pedestrian accommodations on all approaches at all signalized intersections
• Additional and extended turn lanes as needed at key intersections
• Reconstruction and improvements of the storm sewer system
• New pavement overlay and updated pavement markings including enhanced pedestrian crosswalk markings.

The City of Shawnee, in coordination with Lenexa, completed a full reconstruction of the 75th Street and Quivira Road intersection.

Background

In July 2017, the City of Lenexa received a grant from the Mid-America Regional Council’s Planning Sustainable Places program to study the Quivira Road corridor from 79th to 99th Street and make recommendations regarding appropriate land uses and multimodal opportunities along the corridor by building upon recent redevelopment activity. The project was funded with a $122,950 grant from MARC and a city match of $32,000.

This community-driven process was led by an advisory committee of business and property owners along the corridor, a representative from the Shawnee Mission School District, Lenexa Chamber of Commerce, Lenexa Planning Commission and Lenexa City Council. This team identified three overall goals:

1. We want the corridor to be a major reinvestment opportunity that is positioned for long-term financial prosperity.
2. We want the corridor to be accessible for multiple modes of transportation and walkable, workable, and livable for all.
3. We want the corridor to be unique, attractive and branded to support the distinct character of its place.

Three open houses were held throughout the process to allow stakeholders along the corridor to provide input. The consultant team also conducted focus groups with real estate companies, bicycle and pedestrian advocates and staff from the cities of Shawnee and Overland Park.

Final Recommendations

The Lenexa City Council accepted the final Quivira Road Corridor Study(PDF, 15MB) in July 2018. The recommendations from the corridor study are designed to act as a guide to help ensure that each individual project, public or private, that occurs throughout the corridor is well-suited to the community’s vision for the area as a whole.

The final recommendations are centered around the three project goals and strategies for development, transportation network and placemaking opportunities.

Development Strategies

Three sites along the corridor were identified as prime areas for redevelopment. Broadway Plaza/Orchard Corners South and Oak Park Commons East were well-suited for mixed-use lifestyle centers, which incorporate restaurants, retail destinations, housing and public green space. The study also suggested an independent senior living facility as a good fit for redevelopment at Four Colonies Plaza.

Most property in the study area is privately owned, so this redevelopment activity will have to be led by private developers. However, there are ways the city can help to promote this activity, such as reexamining Lenexa’s existing code and regulations to make them more flexible and approachable for redevelopment and infill.

Transportation Network

The study found that Quivira Road currently maintains a good level of service and safe roadway environment for vehicles but needs more comfortable accommodations and better connectivity for cyclists, pedestrians and public transit. The final report includes recommendations that balance the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and users of public transit.

Placemaking Opportunities

Stakeholders reported they wanted to see improvements that helped the corridor to feel safe and beautiful while enhancing the area’s unique character. The study suggests placemaking strategies that can be worked into other development or improvement projects.

Contact information

Scott McCullough, Community Development Director, smccullough@lenexa.com, 913.477.7532.