Southeast Douglas Street Project

This project will improve Douglas Street from Blue Parkway to Fourth Street. The project includes, but is not limited to, paving, sidewalks, curbs, storm drainage work and street lighting. This project will reconstruct the existing infrastructure that has deteriorated over the long life of the roadway. The City has received many service requests in this area related to roadside ditching, stormwater, sidewalks and routes to school.

These project investments will be impactful, yet beneficial to residents and businesses along the corridor, in adjacent neighborhoods and community-wide. The City has received many service requests in this area related to roadside ditching, stormwater, sidewalks and routes to school. The project supports the City’s Livable Streets Policy.

The project is currently in the design phase, and then will move into the right-of-way acquisition phase. Construction is expected to begin in late spring or early summer 2027.

No, this is a different project although there are similarities in the types of improvements that are proposed. The Northeast Douglas Street project is further along in the process, with construction expected to begin in summer 2026. 

The two projects have some similar proposed improvements such as lighting, stormwater upgrades, water line replacements, new sidewalks, and limited on-street parking. Tree removal and subsequent re-plantings are also required for both projects.

However, they differ in that the Southeast Douglas Street section will not have a shared use path and will have sidewalk on both sides of the street. Southeast Douglas Street also has a lower traffic volume than Northeast Douglas Street, and is a residential collector whereas Northeast Douglas Street is an arterial.

The projects are also at different stages, with the Northeast Douglas Street project nearing construction in summer 2026, and the Southeast Douglas Street project still in the design phase as of spring 2026.

While the two projects have similar federal funding, the Northeast Douglas Street project is funded by the 2017 Capital Improvement Sales Tax renewal and the Southeast Douglas Street project is funded by the 2023 No Tax Increase General Obligation Bonds.

Some trees along the corridor are dead, dying, or unhealthy and are being removed or replaced. Other trees that are being removed conflict with planned infrastructure improvements including stormwater utilities, water utilities, or sidewalk. More trees are planned to be replanted than are being removed, and there are more existing trees not being removed than the number of removals. Because the project is still in the design phase, and right-of-way acquisition has not taken place yet, tree removal and tree re-planting totals are not yet available.

This project was planned as part of a community strategic initiative to improve and reinvest in the downtown gateway corridors such as Douglas Street. It was included in the planned projects for the 2023 No Tax Increase General Obligation Bond election. The project also supports the Ignite! Strategic Plan developed by citizens and community stakeholders, and has been included and adopted in the City's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) annually. 

The public has been engaged in both the planning and design phases. There was significant public engagement in community-wide planning processes such as the Strategic Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and development of projects for the 2023 No Tax Increase General Obligation Bond election. There was a public meeting held in 2025, to review the project concept design. There has been communication with property owners regarding preferences for on-street parking. There is an upcoming design public meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026, as well as online public comments accepted from March 26 - April 9, 2026. There will be individual discussions with property owners during right-of-way acquisition, and another public meeting to meet the contractor prior to construction. 

No, there will be no new lanes added and the existing pavement will be made more narrow, except for areas of on-street parking.

No, there will not be any turn lanes added.

Yes there is proposed on-street parking allowed on the east side of Southeast Douglas Street between Fourth and Seventh streets as desired by residents.

There are other construction projects that have taken place on or near Southeast Douglas Street such as Water Main Rehabilitation and the 291 North and 50 Highway Interchange Improvements. Those projects were planned, sequenced and funded at different times; however, the City has planned the Southeast Douglas Street improvements to tie into the work completed on those projects. For example, there will be additional water main work between Fourth and Fifth streets that was not completed as part of the previous Water Main Rehabilitation work. The Southeast Douglas Street project also will realign the intersection at the improved Blue Parkway. There may also be utility work, such as Spire, Evergy, or AT&T. The City does not perform that work and often does not know when those utilities have work planned until they are beginning construction.