Home: City Manager's Updates

Posted 2/6/08

Transportation Projects

Last night the City Commission approved on first reading an ordinance that would allow the City to borrow $6,000,000 from the Kansas Department of Transportation’s revolving loan program. The program is designed to provide low interest loans to City’s across the state for improving streets. The City has two existing loans from the program. The first loan was completed in 2005 for approximately $3,000,000. These funds were used to repair existing streets through out the community. The repayment of this loan is completed through the use of special highway dollars that come to the City from the State of Kansas.

The second revolving loan in the amount of $6,000,000 is funding numerous road improvements such as K18 and Spring Valley Road intersection; Spring Valley Road improvements from Old 40 to Strauss Blvd; resurfacing 18th Street and Washington; Spring Valley Road Improvements from K18 to Rucker Road and Spring Valley Road Improvements from McFarland Road to Spring Valley Drive. The repayment of this loan will be through the general fund.

The third loan will provide matching dollars for the projects listed below. The City’s share of the cost follows each project. The loan will be repaid through annual appropriation in the general fund.

• K18 and Karns (New Middle School Entrance) $342,162
• Rucker Road – Faith Tabernacle Church to Olivia Farms $937,676
• Rucker Road at US 77 Intersection $1,023,388
• Ash Street at & US 77 Intersection Traffic Signal $270,500
• 6th & Jackson Intersection Improvements $173,543
• 6th & Webster Intersection Improvements $131,320
• Chestnut Street Improvements $715,203
• East Street Intersection $1,361,285
  

The Kansas Department of Transportation will be providing dollars on all but two of these projects.

The growth in the community has forced the City to find partnerships to complete projects. One of the best partnerships to date has been the Kansas Department of Transportation. They have made our area a priority for improving our state road system. Many of the projects being funded by the City through the revolving loan will improve traffic safety at busy intersections and provide sidewalks for children to get to school easily. In addition, many of the projects have matching funds coming from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

If you have questions about the City’s transportation system feel free to email me or the City Engineer. The email addresses are available on the website.

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