Governor Kelly and KDOT Announces Lots of Funding for Northwest Kansas Projects

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Transportation announced tons of funding for many projects in Kansas, including a few in the Northwest part of the state.

Below are the official press releases from KDOT as well as details about local projects.

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Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced that $37.2 million in federal funds has been awarded to 33 projects selected for inclusion in KDOT’s Transportation Alternatives (TA) program. The TA Program provides federal funding to promote and enable use of active transportation and for certain scenic and historic improvements, such as:

• Pedestrian/Bicycle/Non-motorized transportation infrastructure

• Abandoned railway corridors to trails conversion

• Safe Routes to School – construction and non-construction

• Historic transportation facility preservation and rehabilitation

• Scenic and environmental improvements

“Improving alternate modes of travel provides better mobility and connectivity opportunities that keep people moving across the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “As the state’s largest program that funds community projects focused on active transportation, the Transportation Alternatives program provides crucial support in every corner of Kansas.”

KDOT evaluated the 40 applications from this cycle and made selections based on the program criteria and input provided by internal and external partners. Criteria consisted of including proven safety countermeasures, demonstrating readiness and need, population size, and geographic distribution. KDOT also assessed data available as part of the state’s Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment Tool.

“The TA program prioritizes safety and accessibility for people who walk, bike, or roll to work, school, appointments, and other activities,” said Jenny Kramer, KDOT State Active Transportation Manager. “With the focus on safety, it is exciting that the Highway Safety Improvement Program is also investing $6 million towards this round. More funding allows for more projects, which enhances safety in more communities.”

The next call for projects is expected to open in spring 2028.

For more information and a map showing each project location, visit: https://www.ksdot.gov/programs/multimodal-programs/transportation-alternatives.

One local project:

Wallace County - Safe Routes to School Plan Implementation - $2,736,000

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Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Transportation announced that $24.1 million will be awarded to 32 projects to improve intersections and roads across the state through KDOT’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP).

“Improving regional connectivity is a vital step in expanding accessibility across the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Thanks to programs such as the CCLIP, we’re building a strong transportation foundation that will continue to deliver long-lasting benefits in Kansas.”

The CCLIP provides funding for cities to make improvements on city connecting links that are on state highways. Selected projects are funded for the state fiscal years 2028 and 2029 selection cycle.

With additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL) coming to Kansas this year, the funding level was increased by nearly $7 million for this selection cycle. Local contributions also expanded the scope and total impact of the selected projects, bringing their combined value to nearly $33 million.

“KDOT and our local partners are committed to working together and making these transportation enhancements possible,” said Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “These improvements to infrastructure allow areas across the state to continue to serve the public and encourage economic opportunities in the future.”

Projects in the CCLIP fall into one of three categories: Surface Preservation (SP), Pavement Restoration (PR), or Geometric Improvement (GI). SP projects extend the life of the driving surface, such as overlays or joint repair. PR projects typically involve extensive pavement rehabilitation or full-depth pavement. GI projects focus on roadway geometrics that address safety, capacity, or operational needs, such as adding turn lanes or improving intersections.

The city, location, and amount awarded for each local CCLIP project are below:

Norton - U.S. 283 - $1,500,000

Downs - K-181 - $1,500,000

Colby - K-25 - $400,000