HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission will spend money for a traffic study of the proposed bike routes in the county as proposed by the bicycle committee.
That committee is seeking the support of the county for these routes, which they say would assist them in getting grant funding for signage along these routes. The cost for the study is estimated at between $800 and $1,200, according to Commissioner James Schlickau.
The idea of a traffic study came from County Commissioner James Schlickau, who wants the study for safety qualities and what signs might need to be placed on those routes whether it be warning signs of bike riders and a full designation of those routes as official bike routes.
The six routes would be part of phase one to make routes around the county.
That includes a route from Hutchinson to Yoder, going south on Yoder Road.
There would be two from Hutchinson to Buhler. The first would start at Orchard Park, go east along 43rd to the old K-61 highway, north to Medora, then east on 82nd to Buhler. The other route would follow 30th to Buhler-Haven Road, then north to Buhler.
Another route would be from Hutchinson to the Highlands, going north on Plum to 82nd, then west to Monroe, then north on Monroe to the Highlands.
The fourth route would be from Hutchinson to Nickerson, going north on Hendricks from Rice Park in Hutchinson to 82nd, then west along 82nd to Nickerson.
The final one would start in South Hutchinson, going down K-14 to Trail West Road, then west on Trail West to Partridge.
With the decision to do the study on a fast track, the county made no decision of the bike committee’s desires for the bike routes designation.
That most likely will happen at the conclusion of the study.