Kansas Governor announces over $13 million for public transit projects
Governor Laura Kelly, joined by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Nuria Fernandez and Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz, announced $13.2 million will go toward 48 public transit projects across the state.
“A strong, safe public transportation system is critical to our state’s economy and quality of life,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Projects like wheelchair accessible buses, upgraded bus facilities, and route and parking lot enhancements will ensure Kansans have access to adequate, safe, and well-maintained public transportation.”
That money will go to 26 transit agencies as part of the Access, Innovation, and Collaboration (AIC) Public Transit Program.
Locally, the projects will include
* $1, 043,802 to the Community Health Center (CH)-Southeast Kansas in Crawford County for a Regional Transportation Facillity for Southeast Kansas and;
* $103,437 for the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEK-CAP) – Crawford and Neosho Counties for Innovative Scheduling.
Both urban and rural transit providers receive support from the AIC program, which will improve transit access and services for Kansans. The projects have a total cost of about $17M, with the AIC program providing about $13M ($2M state, $11M federal) of the funds.
In the first two years of the AIC program, KDOT will have awarded $21 million in funding for a total project cost of $26 million.
“The AIC Public Transit Program combines state and federal resources that will enhance access to transit, invest in emerging technologies and form collaborations with public and private transportation providers,” Secretary Lorenz said. “I’m proud of the partnerships we’ve established to improve transportation services and options for Kansans.”
Project types include constructing bus maintenance facilities to aid in fleet management, upgraded transit accessibility following the Americans with Disabilities Act, advanced technologies, and expanded low emissions transit operations.
A map of AIC Transit projects can be found here.