May 9, 2000 (Release 00-077)
FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Contact: Stan Whitley, (785) 296-3585

Transportation Enhancement Projects Selected

The Kansas Department of Transportation has selected 21 projects for inclusion in its Transportation Enhancement program for Federal Fiscal Year 2001.

KDOT received 100 applications from local units of government for funding consideration totaling more than $53 million. The applications for Federal Fiscal Year 2001 projects were accepted during an application period of June 1999 through September 1999.

Transportation Enhancement projects under this federal program include facilities for pedestrians and bicycles; pedestrian and bicycle safety and education activities; acquisition of scenic or historic easements and sites; scenic or historical highway programs; landscaping and scenic beautification; historic preservation; rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities; conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails; control or removal of outdoor advertising; archaeological planning and research; environmental mitigation of runoff pollution; and establishment of transportation museums.

Total cost for the 21 selected projects was $10.5 million. A minimum of 20 percent of the project cost must come from the applicant.

Historical Projects

Marion - Preservation of the 1912 Santa Fe Railroad Depot and reuse as the Marion City Library; Ellis County - Stone arch bridge and road repair 4.8 miles south of Walker over Big Creek; Elk County- Replank flooring of historic bridge over the Elk River; Franklin County - Improvements to the Midland Railway connecting with the Prairie Spirit Trail and Ottawa, Kansas and the former Santa Fe Depot; Marysville - Restore brick pavement along three blocks in downtown area; Linn County - Acquisition of right of way for Mine Creek Battlefield state historic site 2 miles south of Pleasanton.

Scenic/Environmental Projects

Merriam - Construction of scenic enhancement on right of way at the corners of Shawnee Mission Parkway/Eby Street/Frontage Road; Franklin County - Visitors Information Center located 1/2 mile west of I-35 exit 187; Liberal - Streetscape and safety improvements along U.S. 83 from U.S. 54 to Sixth Street; Lawrence - Migation of environmental degradation created by runoff 1,000 feet south of East 23rd Street and 900 feet west of Haskell Avenue; Cottonwood Falls - Street improvements on Broadway Street from Pearl Street to Main Street and on K-177 from Pearl Street to Main Street; Phillipsburg- Landscape improvement of the City of Phillipsburg's old water treatment plant at U.S. 36/U.S. 183; Olathe - Landscape improvements on K-7 from K-10 to 1/4 mile south of the 119th Street interchange.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects

Shawnee - Construct pedestrian/bicycle path from the Charles J. Stump Memorial Par to the Mill Creek Streamway Trail; Hutchinson - Construct pedestrian/bicycle path connecting to the existing trail system around Carey Park; Derby - Construct pedestrian/bicycle path on Madison Avenue from east of Rock Road to High Park; Topeka - Construct pedestrian/bicycle path east from Topeka Boulevard along Shunganunga Creek to Kansas Avenue along the abandoned Missouri Pacific Railroad right of way; Pittsburg State University - Construct pedestrian/bicycle path starting at Pittsburg State University to Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center; Wichita - Construct pedestrian/bicycle path along the Arkansas River from the Old Cowtown Museum to the First Street bridge; El Dorado - Construct pedestrian/bicycle path from Butler County Community College through East Park, Central Park to North Main Park; Lawrence - Bicycle education program.

This page last updated 05/31/00