Traffic impact studies for the I-35 corridor near the New Trails development in Gardner, Kansas, are critical given the area's significant traffic volume and ongoing infrastructure challenges. I-35 near New Trails, at the intersection with Highway 56, sees approximately 40,000 vehicles per day, as noted in the Valbridge Property Advisors appraisal report from January 2024. This high traffic volume highlights the corridor's potential for commercial developments like the proposed New Trails project by J2J New Trails, LLC, which includes retail, dining, and a hotel across 43.00 acres. However, it also underscores the need for thorough traffic impact analysis to address existing congestion and safety issues.
Historical data reveals persistent traffic concerns at the nearby Gardner Road exit. A 2017 Kansas City Star report highlighted dangerous peak-hour congestion (6:30–7 a.m.), driven by workers heading to Logistics Park Kansas City, including Amazon and Jet.com employees. Long wait times for left turns onto 191st Street caused backups onto the exit ramp and I-35 shoulder, posing safety risks. Sheriff Calvin Hayden noted the potential for fatalities due to high-speed oncoming traffic, though none were reported then. The exit’s outdated design, dating back 50 years, wasn’t built for such volumes, a problem exacerbated by the BNSF Intermodal Facility’s growth.
Recent incidents further illustrate the corridor’s challenges. A semi-truck fire and collision near Gardner Road in February 2024 shut down I-35 northbound, causing delays, while a police chase in April 2024 closed both lanes near Moonlight Road, close to New Trails. Sleet and poor driving conditions have also impacted I-35, with warnings issued in January 2025 for sections between Gardner Road and Lone Elm Road, affecting 1.27 miles. These events highlight the need for traffic studies to assess how new developments like New Trails might add to existing strain.
The $25 million I-35/U.S. 56 interchange modernization, announced by KDOT in March 2024, aims to mitigate these issues by improving access and traffic flow, directly benefiting sites like New Trails. KDOT’s 2024 Request for Proposals for this project emphasized traffic engineering, travel demand forecasting, and a phased approach, with interchange concepts due by fall 2025 and significant progress by summer 2025. The project’s fiscal year is set for FY2029 (July 2028–June 2029), indicating long-term planning to accommodate growth [Web ID: 8].
Johnson County’s broader efforts to study rural roads south of K-10 and west of I-35, including Gardner, also reflect the need for traffic impact analysis. A 2024 study, prompted by developments like the Panasonic plant, aims to reconnect rural roads but has faced public skepticism about transparency, with residents historically opposing increased traffic, as seen in past projects like the South Metro Connection (dropped in 2007) and recent truck restrictions on Gardner Road [Web ID: 17].
For New Trails, a traffic impact study would likely evaluate the additional load from proposed commercial developments—such as a C-Store, coffee shops, restaurants, retail strips, and a hotel—on I-35 and Highway 56. With 40,000 daily vehicles, the study would need to assess peak-hour impacts, access points (e.g., via Clare Road or adjacent properties, as noted in the Valbridge report), and mitigation measures like signalization or lane expansions. KDOT’s ongoing projects, like the 2018-funded I-35/Gardner Road interchange improvements (including a diverging diamond interchange set for 2022 construction), provide a framework for such studies, focusing on safety and congestion relief [Web ID: 19].
In summary, traffic impact studies for I-35 near New Trails must address high existing volumes (40,000 vehicles/day), historical congestion at Gardner Road, recent disruptions, and the added demand from new commercial developments. KDOT’s modernization efforts and regional studies are steps toward mitigation, but careful planning is essential to ensure safety and efficiency.
