MPO policy board approves TIP Amendment 2, adds one project and adjusts schedules and funding

The Lawrence–Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board on Aug. 7 unanimously approved Amendment 2 to the Federal Fiscal Year 2025–2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), adding a new resurfacing project, consolidating transit bus-stop funding, and adjusting schedules and funding for several local transportation projects.

Jessica, MPO staff, told the board the amendment is "the second scheduled amendment for the 2025 to 2028 transportation improvement program" and that the TIP implements the region’s long-range transportation plan. She said the amendment includes edits to comply with recent U.S. Department of Transportation guidance on the interpretation of federal nondiscrimination laws and that the proposed changes were posted for a 15-day public comment period from July 22 to Aug. 6; no public comments were received.

The amendment adds one new project (TIP 154), described in the amendment materials as a resurfacing project proposing to mill and overlay Main Street, Tenth Street and Church Street and to add ADA ramps, bike pad markings, signage and new curb and gutters. Amended items include: merging TIP 402 (bus stop funding) into TIP 607 (the mastery multimodal improvement project); moving K‑33 reconstruction funding from 2030 to 2025 (TIP 152); shifting construction of the Bob Billings expansion to 2026 (TIP 250); revising funding for Safe Routes to School projects (TIPs 519, 524 and 525) in Lawrence and Eudora; and adjusting TIP 607’s budget and schedule to include a turf award and 2027 costs.

MPO staff said the amendment was released with a press release to the MPO email list (including media), a paid public notice in the Lawrence Journal-World, posting on the MPO website, and paper copies available on request at advertised locations. The amendment was reviewed by the MPO Technical Advisory Committee on Aug. 5, which recommended approval; staff said no written or in-person public comments were received at TAC or during the public comment period. If approved by the MPO Policy Board, staff will forward the amendment to the Kansas Department of Transportation for inclusion in the September Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) update.

A motion to approve Amendment 2 passed on a roll-call vote with Dorsey, Eldridge, Larson, Littlejohn and Smith recorded as "yes." Board members asked clarifying questions during discussion, including whether merging TIP 402 into TIP 607 meant bus-stop and accessibility work would continue; Jessica replied that the work remains and was consolidated under TIP 607.

The amendment materials posted online include redline markups showing edits made to comply with USDOT nondiscrimination guidance, the MPO staff said. The board’s action is procedural: the MPO forwarded the approved amendment to KDOT for inclusion in the September STIP.

The amendment modifies schedules and funding in the MPO’s short-term program; the projects described will proceed subject to the normal design, procurement and construction steps and subject to inclusion in the state STIP.