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Governor Graves reconvenes Transportation 2000

January 23, 2002 (02-109)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Contact: Marty Matthews, (785) 296-3585 

Governor Graves reconvenes Transportation 2000

Governor Bill Graves has reconvened the “Transportation 2000” study group, asking members to review the status, funding, and future of the state’s Comprehensive Transportation Program (CTP) and to seek public input on those issues. The group has scheduled four public meetings around the state in October.

Governor Graves first convened the “Transportation 2000” study group in 1998 to review the state’s transportation needs.As a direct result of those efforts, the Comprehensive Transportation Program (CTP) was enacted in 1999.

In a letter to study group members, the Governor wrote, “I believe it is important for the public to understand how much the state transportation program will be impacted should funding for the CTP continue to be used to make up the State General Fund deficit. I am asking the Transportation 2000 study group to reconvene to review CTP funding, confirm that there is a real problem, and discuss these issues at several public meetings across the state.”

The group will once again be chaired by Mary E. Turkington, former Executive Director of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association and a member of the Kansas Turnpike Authority’s Board of Directors. “Many Kansans were elated by the projects promised for their area by the CTP,” said Turkington. “I hope the public will join us at the meetings so that they’ll have a better understanding of how the tremendous pressures on the state budget could impact the future of the state’s transportation system.”

The meetings will be held at the following locations and times:

October 2, 2002 - Fort Scott - 5:30 p.m.
The Fort Scott Middle School, 1105 E. 12^th Street

October 8, 2002 - Overland Park - 5:30 p.m.
The Doubletree Hotel, 10100 College Blvd.

October 17, 2002 - Dodge City - 5:30 p.m.
The Dodge House, 2408 Wyatt Earp Drive

October 23, 2002 - Wichita - 5:30 p.m.<
Hyatt Regency Hotel, 400 W. Waterman

Information regarding the meetings, including maps to the locations, can be found at www.ksdot.org under “Public Information.”

The members of Transportation 2000 are: Mary E. Turkington, Chairman, Topeka, Former Executive Director of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association; James M. AuBuchon, Pittsburg, Vice President, Pittsburg State University; , Steve Baccus,Manhattan, President, Kansas Farm Bureau; Virginia B. Beamer, Oakley, Logan County Commissioner; Marcia Bernard, Kansas City, Transit Manager, Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas; E. Dean Carlson, Ex-Officio Member, Topeka, Secretary, Kansas Department of Transportation; Marlee Carpenter, Topeka, Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ann K. Charles, Parsons, Publisher, Parsons Sun; Chris Cherches, Wichita, City Manager; D. Ted Dankert, El Dorado, President, Dustrol, Inc.; Jim M. DeHoff, Topeka, Executive Director/Treasurer, Kansas AFL-CIO; , Ed DeSoignie, Olathe, Executive Director, Heavy Constructors Association of the Greater KC Area; , Les Donovan, Wichita, State Senator, Chairman, Senate Transportation and Tourism Committee; Greta H. Goodwin, Winfield, State Senator, Member of Senate Transportation and Tourism Committee; Gary K. Hayzlett, Lakin, State Representative, Chairman, House Transportation Committee; Charles Johnson, Andover, President, Cessna Aircraft Company; Steve Kelly, Topeka, Kansas Dept. of Commerce and Housing; Daniel G. Koenig, Overland Park, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce; , Don R. Landoll, Marysville, CEO, Landoll Corp.; Margaret Long, Kansas City,State Representative, Ranking Minority Member House Transportation Committee;  T. Nelson Mann, Lake Quivira, Greater Kansas City Transportation Committee, Attorney; Carol Marinovich, Kansas City, Mayor/CEO, Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas; Ken I. Meier, Newton, Harvey County Commissioner; Kevin Mitchelson, Pittsburg, Highway Advisory Commission; Timothy F. Rogers, Salina, Executive Director, Salina Airport Authority; Bill Sepic, Lawrence, President, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce; ,Orville (Butch) Spray, Great Bend, President, Venture Corp.; Max Zimmerman, Liberal, Owner, Zimmerman and Company Insurance.