Topeka infrastructure committee approves package of street, bridge and signal projects

The Topeka Public Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 18 voted 3-0 to approve a package of street, bridge and traffic-signal projects, ranging from sidewalk and curb repairs to full-depth roadway reconstruction and bridge repairs.

Committee members Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz, Councilman David Banks and Councilman Neil Dobler voted to approve each action after staff summarized the scope and funding sources.

Committee staff said the projects will be funded from a mix of the citywide half-cent sales tax, stormwater revenue bonds and operating funds, general-obligation bonds and federal funds for bridge work. Steve Groen, the staff presenter for most of the items, told the committee the first two items were on the prior month's committee but returned to fix language in the resolution. Braxton, a staff member who led discussion on several projects, said the Southwest Topeka Boulevard reconstruction recommendation was for full-depth replacement after core sampling found the original concrete to be "absolutely failing." Braxton said, "we did make the recommendation that we do full depth reconstruction on this."

Notable projects approved included:

- Southwest Topeka Boulevard (20 First Street to 15th Street): described as full reconstruction including curb and gutter, sidewalk and pedestrian ramp replacement and stormwater repairs. Staff presented a project budget described in the meeting as "just shy of $8,000,000," with $6,117,060 from the citywide half-cent sales tax and about $1.8 million from the water main replacement program. During discussion Braxton noted prior estimates from 2015 and said the current estimate had risen; he said, "The 2015 estimate for Topeka Boulevard, Fifteenth to 20 First was $4,900," and later said, "The current estimate is $9,200,000." The committee approved the project 3-0.

- Southeast Sixth Avenue (Golden Avenue to Rice Road): a mill-and-overlay with full-depth patching, curb and gutter, sidewalk work, storm sewer repairs and bridge repairs on the Deer Creek Bridge. The cost cited was $5,326,612, funded largely from the half-cent sales tax with stormwater bonds and federal funds for the bridge portion. Approved 3-0.

- 20 Ninth Street (Kansas Avenue to Adams Street): an intensive project including mill and overlay, full-depth panel replacements, curb-and-gutter work, a new traffic signal at Fremont Avenue, water-main and wastewater replacements and storm-sewer work, with a total cost cited at $7,853,229, funded by sales tax, bonds, operating funds and federal dollars. Approved 3-0.

- Southwest Roosevelt Street (Eighth Avenue to Sixth Avenue): mill and overlay with full-depth patching, curb and gutter, sidewalk and stormwater repairs, budgeted at a little over $650,000 with a mix of half-cent sales tax and stormwater revenue bonds/operating funds. Approved 3-0.

- Southeast Greenfield Court: mill and overlay with full-depth patching, plus curb, sidewalk and ramp work, estimated at $258,000 from the half-cent sales tax. Approved 3-0.

- Bridge maintenance program amendment and Branther Bridge repair: staff said the items correct language in last month's resolutions and reallocate funds between projects; both passed 3-0.

- Traffic signal replacement at 21st Street (20 First Street at Randolph Avenue): part of the 2025 signal program, including sidewalk and ramp upgrades and bicycle detection; the cited cost was $443,029 using GO bonds. Approved 3-0.

- Northwest Minnegar Road (Green Hill Road to Rochester Road): mill and overlay with full-depth patching and replacement of a reinforced concrete box plus water-main relocations, estimated at $845,000 with half-cent sales tax and stormwater revenue bonds/operating funds. Approved 3-0.

During debate members asked about scope and budgets. Councilman Banks asked whether the full-depth reconstruction recommendation had been revisited; staff described core sampling that showed concrete failure and said the reconstruction will also allow utility and stormwater improvements. Council members and staff repeatedly noted inflation had increased costs since earlier project estimates and that the finances and scheduling for the JATO (sales-tax) program will be reviewed at upcoming finance briefings.

Votes at a glance

- Action 4a: Amendment to 2023 bridge maintenance program — approved, 3-0. - Action 4b: Branther Bridge repair project — approved, 3-0. - Action 4c: Southwest Topeka Boulevard (20 First to 15th) — approved, 3-0. Funding cited: roughly $6,117,060 (half-cent sales tax) + ~$1.8M (water main replacement program); staff also cited a separate current estimate of $9,200,000. - Action 4d: Southeast Greenfield Court — approved, 3-0; est. $258,000 (half-cent sales tax). - Action 4e: Southwest Roosevelt Street (8th to 6th) — approved, 3-0; est. a little over $650,000 (mix of sales tax and stormwater bonds/operating funds). - Action 4f: Southeast Sixth Avenue (Golden to Rice) — approved, 3-0; est. $5,326,612 (sales tax, stormwater bonds, federal funds). - Action 4g: Traffic-signal replacement at 20 First at Randolph — approved, 3-0; est. $443,029 (GO bonds). - Action 4h: 20 Ninth Street (Kansas to Adams) — approved, 3-0; est. $7,853,229 (sales tax, bonds, federal funds). - Action 4i: Northwest Minnegar Road (Green Hill to Rochester) — approved, 3-0; est. $845,000 (sales tax and stormwater funds).

What's next

Staff and committee members said approved resolutions will go to the governing body for final action where required by ordinance or resolution language. Committee members requested maps showing project locations before the council hearing to help members unfamiliar with some corridors, and staff agreed to provide them.

Ending

Committee chair David Banks closed the agenda items after thanking staff; all project items moved forward without opposition.