Governor Kelly Announces More than $8M for Safer Roads

Dec 20, 2023

Governor Kelly Announces
More than $8M for Safer Roads


TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 19 communities across the state will receive $8.3 million for projects that improve safety on local roadways. This is the third round of Kansas grant recipients through the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program for 2023.  

“Safer roads mean parents can commute to work faster, businesses can get goods to market at lower cost, and tourists can get out to explore Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I applaud our local communities for seeking this funding to improve their local roads.” 

The SS4A program is structured so the federal government covers 80% of the project costs and the local government covers up to 20%. KDOT’s SS4A Match Pilot Program contributes to the local match requirement, covering part or all of the local match cost requirements. 

Combined with the first two rounds of SS4A announcements made earlier this year, to date, 38 Kansas communities have submitted successful applications. The combined total is nearly $14.8 million in federal funds, $3 million in state contributions, and $743,00 in local match contributions.   

While most recipients’ applications were for Planning and Demonstration activities, the City of Independence is one of only 48 successful Implementation grants announced nationally this round. Independence will receive nearly $1.3 million in federal funds to implement proven safety countermeasures recommended in its previously adopted safety action plan.  

Kansas’ largest SS4A grant this round ($1.5 million) was awarded to the North Central Regional Planning Commission to conduct a regional safety action plan. Sizable grants were received by the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization ($940,000) to conduct supplemental planning and demonstration activities and Gray County ($800,000) to develop a new safety plan. 

“Each time a step is taken to improve safety in a community, it’s a step in the right direction,” said Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “KDOT is happy to support safety-conscious investment decisions. State and local partnerships like this help us compete nationally for Federal funds and bring critical investments to Kansans.” 

Administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, SS4A is a five-year, $5 billion competitive grant program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program plans to emphasize responsible driving, safer roadway designs, appropriate speed-limit settings, and improved post-crash care, among other strategies.  

Additional information regarding the Kansas SS4A Match Pilot Program can be found online at https://www.ksdot.gov/ss4a/programinformation.asp.  

Below is an overview of the December 2023 awarded projects in Kansas from the SS4A program: 

Lead Applicant  Federal Funding    

Local Match 

 

 KDOT Contribution  Total Project Cost 
City of Emporia  $240,000   $15,000    $45,000   $300,000 
City of Eudora  $100,000   $6,250    $18,750   $125,000 
City of Independence  $1,284,000   $—    $321,000   $1,605,000 
City of Junction City  $160,000   $ 20,000    $20,000   $200,000 
City of Leawood  $452,000   $56,500    $56,500   $565,000 
City of Mission  $160,000   $10,000    $30,000   $200,000 
City of Overland Park  $500,000   $ 62,500    $62,500   $625,000 
City of Paola  $120,000   $ 7,500    $22,500   $150,000 
City of Prairie Village  $80,000   $10,000    $10,000   $100,000 
City of Spring Hill  $200,000   $12,500    $37,500   $250,000 
Finney County  $240,000   $15,000    $45,000   $300,000 
Geary County  $160,000   $10,000    $30,000   $200,000 
Gray County  $800,000   $—   $200,000   $1,000,000 
McPherson County  $560,000   $—   $140,000   $700,000 
North Central Regional Planning Commission  $1,520,000   $—   $380,000   $1,900,000 
Unincorporated Johnson County  $240,000   $30,000    $30,000   $300,000 
Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization  $940,000   $58,750    $176,250   $1,175,000 
Mid-America Regional Council  $400,000   $70,750    $ 29,250   $500,000 
St. Joseph Area Transportation Study Organization  $160,000   $37,600    $2,400   $200,000 
TOTAL   $8,316,000  $422,350  $1,676,650  $10,395,000 

 

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