The Kansas Department of Transportation has selected 35 projects for inclusion in its Transportation Enhancement program.
Transportation Enhancement is a federally-funded program that provides funding for 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; and establishment of transportation museums.
Estimated cost of the 35 selected projects is $17.9 million. A minimum of 20 percent of the project cost must come from the applicant. KDOT received 91 applications from local units of government requesting more than $63 million.
Projects selected are listed below by category:
V Historical Projects
Augusta – restoration of Frisco Station Depot; Abilene – repair bridge abutment on Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad bridge; Chanute – replacement of Santa Fe Depot roof; Dodge City – repairs to AT&SF Depot; Topeka – restoration of rail cars and depot at Great Overland Station; Lawrence – restoration of Breezedale gateway monuments; Lawrence – restoration of Santa Fe Depot.
Scenic/Environmental Projects
Barton County – construction of Scenic Overlook at Cheyenne Bottoms; Fredonia – streetscape improvements in downtown area; Garnett – wayfinding signage leading to the downtown area; KDOT – informational kiosk on U.S. 66; Lindsborg – streetscape improvements in downtown area; Olathe – interchange beautification and signage project; Pratt – streetscape improvements in the downtown area; Rossville – streetscape improvements in the downtown area.
Pedestrian/Bicycle
Andover – construction of Redbud Trail between 13th and 21st and 159th and Patricia Street; Council Grove – construction of a shared use path connecting the Flint Hills Nature Trail to the existing River Walk Trail; De Soto – new shared use path connecting existing Lexington path to Community Center; Dodge City – extension of existing shared use path through Chilton Park; Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism – continued development of the Flint Hills Nature Trail; Garden City – extension of a shared use path along K-156; Hays – implementation of Phase 1 of the Bike Hays Master Plan; Hiawatha – completion of a shared use path that provides a neighborhood connection to schools, commercial area and nursing home; Hutchinson – extension of shared use path connecting to Buhler Elementary School; Iola – construction of shared use path that will provide a community link to the Prairie Spirit Trail; Lawrence – extension of the Burroughs Creek Trail between K-10 and 29th Street; Overland Park – construction of shared use paths on U.S. 69 between 135th and 138th, and 140th and 143rd; Parsons – construction of shared use path through Forest Park and along 13th Street; Pittsburg – construction of shared use path starting at 4th and Water Street and continuing through Schlanger Park; Topeka – implementation of Phase 1 of the City of Topeka’s Bicycle Plan; Unified Government of Kansas City – construction of trail and ramp structure to provide a link to the Riverfront Heritage Trail and Kaw Point Park; Wichita – bicycle lanes on 1st and 2nd Street; Wichita – wayfinding signage along the K-96 Path from Grove Park to the intersection of K-96 and Central Avenue; Wichita – bike lanes and shared lane marking on Market Street and Topeka Avenue from 21st Street to Mount Vernon; Wichita – continuation of the Redbud Trail from Oliver Avenue to Woodlawn Avenue.
