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Locals skeptical of plan for roads

By CHRIS ROBINETTE
Traveler Correspondent

Arkansas City might see a change in how traffic flows from Wichita south to the casinos in Oklahoma. Or, more precisely, it might see less of a change if Cowley County accepts a proposal put forth by the Ponca tribe in Oklahoma.

The Ponca tribe has finalized plans for a 50,000 square-foot casino in Oklahoma, the Ponca Fancy Dance Casino. Unlike the other casinos on U.S. 77, the Ponca Fancy Dance Casino and its hotel will sit about 1.3 miles off U.S. 77 on Chilocco Indian School property.

The Ponca tribe is looking to improve a network of roads in Cowley County that would direct traffic from U.S. 166 west of Ark City to U.S. 77 near the Chilocco Indian School property. This would direct traffic around Ark City and put the Ponca tribe casino first in line to be viewed by incoming drivers.

The improvements are expected to cover around 8.7 miles of road in Kansas. According to County Manager Leroy Alsup, the cost for the project could be as high as $3 million, however, Cowley County would not pay for any portion of the work. The roads would have to be widened, along with drainage improvements.

The proposed improvements would start at U.S. 77 and Stateline Road and go west 1.7 miles to 41st road. The route continues one mile north to 322nd road, also known as Cowley 22. From Cowley 22 the work continues three miles west to 11th, or Cowley 10. The work goes for another three miles north to U.S. 166.

Some businesses owners in Ark City are concerned with the effect that the decreased traffic flow would have on the amount of business they get.

City Commissioner Patrick McDonald, owner of McDonald's Used Books and Vacuum Center, doesn't see the need for the route.

"I personally can't see any benefit at all to going around Ark City," he said. McDonald thinks the increased traffic will cause problems on the rural roads, to both the drivers and the residents living on the road.

"I can't understand why they would want to take a rural route, thats more intersections, more danger," McDonald said.

McDonald has seen an increase in business since the construction of the casinos along U.S. 77 directly south of the Kansas-Oklahoma border. He thinks more traffic flow would benefit Ark City. "People will drive by and see our signs," said McDonald.

Others in Ark City share the same worries. City Commissioner Mell Kuhn said that Ark City will suffer from a decrease in traffic through the city. "All increased traffic flow is beneficial," he said. Kuhn doesn't agree with the addition of another casino south of the state line, however.

"They're a bad thing socially, morally and economically."

Kuhn believes the casinos cause a drain on Ark City's economy. "People can't buy what they would normally buy because they've lost all their money," he said. Nonetheless, Kuhn opposes the plan to route traffic heading to the casinos around Ark City. "If there is such a thing as a benefit, we get nothing," he said.

"You get to the point where, what is more important; to line your coffers or do what is right?"

City commissioners are not the only people worried. Though Convention and Visitor's Bureau Director Connie Kimsey hasn't spoken to business owners on the issue, she does oppose the planned improvements. "I want people to come through Ark City to stop and see what we have," she said.

Kimsey sees more traffic as beneficial to Ark City, and hopes to try and take advantage of presence of the casinos. "We're working to try to work with the casinos to try to direct people to our town," said Kimsey.

A spokesman for the Ponca Tribe could not be reached for comment.

While more traffic could mean more business, more drivers on the road produces a higher risk of accidents.

"Anytime you have increased traffic flow you're gonna have situations where you have more accidents," said Cowley County Sheriff Bob Odell. However, Odell said he hasn't seen any accidents in Cowley county caused directly by the casinos. "So far we've been pretty fortunate."

Odell said the increased traffic on the improved route will affect residents along the road. "It's gonna make it more difficult for . . . them to get in and out (of their driveways)."

Alsup called any ongoing discussions about the proposed route "very preliminary" at this time.

"At this point it's way too early to jump on or off of this project," said City Manager for Ark City, Doug Russell. Russell is still discussing how to best benefit from the proposed project.

He said that there is traffic that does take the proposed route at this time, though he did not give any statistics on how many drivers chose that route over passing through Ark City.

"I think its way too preliminary to render an opinion," said Russell.

Above: Casinos are crowded in the afternoons, and more are in the works south of Arkansas City in Oklahoma.