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Comprehensive Transportation Program Funding Plan

April 2, 2004 (04-042)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News Contact: Krista Roberts, (785) 296-3585  

Governor and KDOT Secretary optimistic about CTP funding plan

Topeka – Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Deb Miller said today they were cautiously optimistic that a funding plan approved by the Legislature would be sufficient to complete the Comprehensive Transportation Program (CTP.)

Governor Sebelius and Miller praised the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate transportation committees for their work on the compromise legislation that dedicates a percentage of the state sales tax to the State Highway Fund and authorizes the sale of $150 million in State General Fund (SGF) bonds to complete the CTP. The measure also authorizes the sale of an additional $60 million in SGF bonds if an expected increase in federal funds falls short of projections. Both Governor Sebelius and Secretary Miller said they remained concerned that the bill is based on overly optimistic assumptions about how much of an increase Kansas will receive in federal transportation aid.

“We have a workable transportation plan that should assure communities that their projects will be completed,” Governor Sebelius said. “However, if Congress doesn’t provide the funds we’re counting on, we may need to revisit this important issue in the future.”

Secretary Miller said, “Transportation leaders in the Legislature have responded to Governor Sebelius’ call to restore the financial integrity of the highway program with a responsible plan. We’ll just keep our fingers crossed that the federal dollars come in as projected.”

The bipartisan, compromise plan assumes that federal transportation legislation now working its way through Congress will provide Kansas with an additional $50 million per year over the next six years.

The funding plan passed the Kansas House 121-4 and cleared the Senate 35-5. It is needed to replace hundreds of millions of dollars withheld from the CTP in recent years because of an historic downturn in state revenues. Miller warned legislators early in the session that she would be forced to start cutting highway projects this summer if they failed to pass the Governor’s CTP plan or a compromise that contained a comparable amount of funding.

“I am cautiously optimistic that this funding plan will be sufficient to prevent the cancellation of any announced projects,” Miller said. “In the meantime, all of us at KDOT are eager to get back to what we do best, designing and building better and safer roads for Kansans and those who travel through our state.”

The Kansas Legislature authorized the CTP in 1999. It is a ten-year, $13.2 billion transportation program.

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This information can be made available in alternative accessible formats upon request.
For information about obtaining an alternative format, contact the Bureau of Transportation Information,
915 SW Harrison St., Rm 754-S, Topeka, KS 66612-1568 or phone 785-296-3585 (Voice) (TTY).