UG Vision Zero Steering Committee Tours Wyandotte County

Published on May 27, 2025

Recently, a group of area stakeholders representing diverse sectors, including the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department (KCKFD), KCK, Piper, and Turner school districts, Children’s Mercy Hospital, The Whole Person, the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA), the City of Bonner Springs, and various departments within the Unified Government, participated in a Vision Zero Action Plan “Safety Tour” of the county.

This bus and walking tour involved the area stakeholders visiting 12 identified high-crash locations across Kansas City, Kansas, Bonner Springs, Edwardsville, and Lake Quivira to discuss critical safety issues and visible improvements aligned with Vision Zero principles.

VZAP Map Map 2025

At the four stops in an orange circle on the map, the group got off the bus to experience firsthand, discuss, and identify safety concerns at each location. The stops were at:

James St from Central Ave to 3rd Street

Parallel Pkwy and 10th St intersection

State Ave from 75th St to 78th St

Kaw Dr (K-32) and 4th St intersection

Group moderators posed the following questions at each stop:

What specific visual elements and characteristics are immediately apparent upon observing this location?

Based on your professional or personal experiences, what are your typical interactions or encounters at this location?

Considering various transportation modes and user groups, what specific safety risks or hazards are evident or potential at this location?

Drawing upon Vision Zero principles and best practices, what implementable measures can be undertaken to enhance the safety and overall experience for all individuals utilizing this location?

Tour participants identified and proposed improvements that included:

Updating crosswalk signals with audible and visual enhancements

Installing additional lighting in areas with low visibility

Redesigning roadways to address excessive speed and safety concerns

Addressing accessibility improvements for persons with various disabilities

Installing pedestrian refuge islands, sidewalks and signage on roadways

Next Steps

Over the next few months, the Vision Zero Project Team will work to utilize safety data and community input to identity Wyandotte County's high injury network (HIN). This data-driven process will help us prioritize the most dangerous intersections and streets in our county and what we can do to address it.