Kansas T-Link

Salina Journal, September 19, 2008
Tim Unruh

Group leaders praised the large turnout at the governor's transportation task force meeting and the plethora of ideas to enhance transportation in Kansas.

But suggestions for ways to pay for the enhancements were lacking at the Thursday morning meeting at Sterl Hall in Abilene.

"There are not a lot of thoughts out there about funding," said Terry Heidner, a legislative liaison for the Kansas Department of Transportation.

He helped lead a discussion on highways. There were also sessions on rail, aviation, public transportation and bicycle and pedestrian transportation.

The Abilene meeting was the third in a series of eight public gatherings on transportation. A 35-member task force, co-chaired by Time Rogers, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority, said Kansas Transportation Secretary Deb Miller is putting together a multiyear transportation program for consideration by the 2009 Kansas Legislature.

The current $ billion, 10-year Transportation 2000 plan, ends in 2009.

Worries about the economy, the stock market and gas prices have task force member Sen. Greata Goodwin, D-Winfield, concerned about whether the state can handle upcoming enhancements.

When legislators were putting together the 2000 plan under then Gov. Bill Graves, Kansas didn't have the same challenges, Goodwin said. She was on the task force then, along with Rogers. That group began meeting in 1999.

"The discussion on Transportation 2000 was much easier to do. We had some money that we could be fairly certain would be there," she said.

"Right now, I don't feel we have that. The economy is something we can work through, but it is a fear of people across Kansas."

Money will be there

Rogers said funding was just as big of an issue in Transportation 2000 and he's confident the country will cycle out of its current economic woes, as it did after the late 1990s.

"Today it looks bleak, but the economy will improve. With a well-thought out program, Kansas will be able to maintain, fund and improve the system," Rogers said. Without a plan, you can't take advantage of opportunities."

He was pleased at the ideas that were bouncing around in Sterl Hall from 96 people who attended. It was the largest crowd of the three gatherings so far. The others were in Hays and Ulysses. Five more are planned.

In the sessions Thursday, folks expressed needs for specific roads and there were common complaints about truck traffic, Heidner said.

Session members were more specific about concerns with the growing number of wind farms in Kansas. As the various components are hauled to sites around the state, "they are taxing infrastructure," Heidner said.

Some were interested in bridge clearance with respect to the trucking of windmill parts.

Those long wind turbine blades are "difficult to transport," said Dennis Lauver, president and chief executive officer of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.

The switch to wind farms is an example, he said, of the state's need to revisit the transportation plan more often.

"They're thinking about every five years, with respect to the changing markets," Lauver said.

Heidner suggested that infrastructure changes would aid in economic development.

"We may be missing the boat on getting some manufacturers that build the wind turbines and towers," he said.

The suggestion that Kansas have more toll roads produced "frowning faces," Heidner said.

Other parts of the state are more open to toll roads, said Julie Lorenz, KDOT director of public affairs.

More people riding bikes

With more people battling high prices by riding bicycles and walking, Chris Hess, KDOT public involvement coordinator, said people talked about ways the state could be involved in catering to the efficient and healthy mode of transportation.

The cycling public is broken into those who race on bicycles, those who ride to school and the grocery store, and children and elderly who ride for fun, he said. He noted there has been a "big increase" in the number who ride to school and the grocery store, "and there is definitely an increase in people riding bikes."

Session members expressed strong interest in "modernization," he said, such as adding to the shoulders of roads to accommodate the pedaling public.

Lisa Koch, KDOT public transit manager, said the private and public sectors need to mesh to improve systems between big towns and small, to get people to and from appointments, work and shopping.

"There is a lot of concern about how they can afford to operate their vehicle with high gas prices," Koch said.

A public transportation system could be a factor in attracting or keeping businesses in an area, she said. There is a need for a way to take people to and from larger cities, such as Wichita, and for more passenger rail service.

To fund improvements, she said, local resources should be leveraged with federal and state funds.

"Look at other options, other than fare increases," she said.

John Maddox, KDOT's rail manager said there was a lot of talk about preserving rail lines.

"We really can't afford to get much smaller," he said. "Not all shortlines (railroads) carry a lot of traffic, but those lines need to stay in place for potential future use."

Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by email at tunrun@salina.com.