By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Plans for a new north Hays multi-use path from 41st and Hall Street to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History are underway.
This is another step toward the goal of having a continuous trail all around the city.
The city was awarded $1.55 million from the Kansas Department of Transportation's Carbon Reduction Program, which will be matched with $500,000 in city funds.
Whether utilized by walkers, joggers or bicyclists, the multi-use path design must provide uninterrupted and safe travel for all users, city staff said.
A Topeka engineering firm, Cook, Flatt & Strobel, P.A., was hired to design the path in conjunction with KDOT and the city of Hays.
Tom Howie, Hays project manager, presented the city's favored option to city commissioners during last week's work session.
The project is in two sections, a west side and an east side, joining together on Vine Street at the existing pedestrian crossing just north of 37th Street.
Alignment along 41st Street has fewer conflicts on the north side of the street, rather than on the south side, and would be more cost-effective, Howie said.
The south side of 41st would require significant improvements to the section between Hall Street and Autumn Lane to accommodate drainage and grade issues.
For the east stretch from Vine to Sternberg Museum, it was determined the safest and most uninterrupted route of travel would be KDOT right-of-way along the interstate on-ramp to access private easements over to the museum property.
Mayor Shaun Musil said he was "a little concerned" about how close the multi-use path would be to the on-ramp traffic. "It's a pretty good distance," Howie said, ... "and would still require fencing for the section along the I-70 on-ramp."
Howie, who is from Colorado, noted he's seen many similar multi-use path designs close to busy roads in that state.
Utilizing 33rd Street was considered but it has major conflicts with utilities along with nine street and business entrance crossings, Howie said.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to move the preferred layout on to a regular meeting for approval and start of the design process.
A 1.25 mile-long multi-use path on the east side of Hays was completed in 2021 connecting Hays Medical Center, USD 489 and the Hays Recreation Commission.
The multi-use paths are part of the 2008 Hike and Bike Masterplan as part of a future "loop" path which could eventually connect to the levy path that runs through Frontier Park and Fort Hays State University. The end goal is to create a continuous path that provides connectivity to all parts of the city.