Douglas, Johnson Counties receive slice of $8.1M for rural road improvements
TOPEKA, Kan. (KCTV) - Douglas and Johnson Counties are set to receive part of an $8.1 million grant program to repair rural roadways.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says 11 rural roadway projects will split the federal funds through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s High Risk Rural Roads Program.
“Made possible through the IKE Transportation Program, these projects address much-needed upgrades of rural roadways,” Gov. Kelly said. “By improving intersections, signage, and other critical roadway features, we are building momentum for a safer, stronger Kansas.”
State leaders noted that the HRRR program is federally funded through the Highway Safety Improvement Program and is meant to improve the safety and efficiency of rural roadways. An additional $1.6 million in local funds will also be put toward the chosen projects.
According to the Governor, this year’s projects were chosen from 29 applications that sought a total of $29.9 million.
“With over 20% of fatal and serious injury crashes occurring on county roads, strong partnerships will be necessary to achieve the goal of zero roadway fatalities,” said Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “KDOT’s collaboration with local governments through programs like HRRR benefits our communities and strengthens connections across the state.”
Kelly indicated that projects in the program fall into one of two categories - Systemic, which encompasses a local roadway network, or Site-Specific. The chosen projects are as follows:
| County | Category | Award | Match | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas | Systemic | $500,000 | $128,000 | High friction surface on CR 1055 and CR 1061. |
| Ellsworth | Site Specific | $1.3 million | $240,000 | Add aggregate shoulders on Avenue L from K-156 to the west city limits of Kanopolis. |
| Finney | Site Specific | $600,000 | $60,000 | Add aggregate shoulders and rumble strips to old U.S. 83 from U.S. 83 to U.S. 83 Business. |
| Johnson | Systemic | $250,000 | $60,000 | Add edge line rumble strips to paved county roads. |
| Labette | Site Specific | $250,000 | $70,000 | Install pavement markings and rumble strips, upgrade signage on 24000 Road west of Parsons. |
| Meade | Site Specific | $800,000 | $400,000 | Add shoulders at 26 Rd., Cemetery Rd., Old 54, 10th Ave. and 27th Rd. |
| Montgomery | Site Specific | $1.7 million | $480,000 | Add shoulders and widen culverts on Peter Pan Rd. from County Road 4600 to County Road 4800. |
| Osborne | Systemic | $600,000 | N/A | Upgrade signing on 160 miles of county roads west of U.S. 281. |
| Pratt | Site Specific | $1.1 million | $150,000 | Add shoulders to NE 70th Ave. |
| Stafford | Site Specific | $500,000 | $50,000 | Add safety edge wedge to NW 30th St. from NW 70th St. to the west city limits of St. John. |
| Trego | Systemic | $500,000 | N/A | Upgrade singing on all rural local roads. |
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