A report from the resident committee tasked with making recommendations to improve the City’s infrastructure is clear: Much of Overland Park’s transportation infrastructure will need to be updated to guarantee the safety of the thousands of residents who travel across the City’s roadways, bridges, and sidewalks each day.
Under optimal conditions and with regular maintenance, the lifespan of a street can be up to 50 years. Nearly nine percent of Overland Park’s streets have already exceeded their useful life. With the average age of a City street nearing 36 years, significant rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts are needed in order to ensure they continue to function safely.
A rapidly increasing number of bridges maintained by the City are also nearing the end of their estimated useful life. By 2024, nearly half of all essential City bridges will have reached or surpassed 50 years-old.
Overland Park’s Sales Tax and Infrastructure Spending
Street and traffic management spending in Overland Park is currently supported by the city’s one-eighth cent dedicated sales tax, which is currently set to expire in March 2024. Continued funding for the City’s infrastructure depends on the results of a June 2023 mail-in ballot election that would raise the City’s sales tax to three-eighths cent. If approved by the community, the election in June would allow the city to make extensive improvements to Overland Park’s streets, bridges, sidewalks, and related traffic management devices.
Upcoming Mail-in Ballot Election for Overland Park Voters
Registered voters in Overland Park will receive mail-in ballots from the Johnson County Election Office in late May and early June 2023. For additional information about the upcoming election and proposed traffic safety upgrades, visit opkansas.org/OPMoves.