The Capital Improvement Project Summary (Project #2008000) outlines a major street reconstruction for SW Huntoon Street from Gage Road to Harrison Street in Shawnee County. Identified back in 2010 by the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDCO), the project is funded entirely through the Countywide Sales Tax with an initial local budget of $185,000 and a total estimated cost reaching $18.5 million. The scope could range from a basic mill-and-overlay with patching to a full reconstruction that includes new curbing, lighting, sidewalks, bike lanes, and shared-use paths. An RFP is currently being developed to hire a consultant, with public engagement and conceptual planning slated for 2024, design in 2025, right-of-way and utility work in 2026, and construction stretching from 2027 through 2029.
Given where we are today with our local budgets and pressing priorities—tight revenues, rising inflation, and critical needs in core services like public safety, roads maintenance, and essential infrastructure repairs—this project simply makes no sense to be advancing right now. Pouring millions into what amounts to a luxury "quality-of-life" upgrade on one street, complete with bike lanes and tree trimming, feels wildly out of step when everyday roads are crumbling and taxpayers are already stretched thin. It's hard to justify moving forward with conceptual plans and consultant hiring in 2024 when so many other county responsibilities are falling behind.
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