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Commission forwards three Build Kansas Fund applications to federal review, approves minutes
Summary
The commission consented to forward three applications — Wichita (BUILD), Lawrence (airport apron), and Montgomery County (road upgrade) — to federal grant programs and approved meeting minutes from Nov. 20, 2024.
The State Building Advisory Commission reviewed three Build Kansas Fund applications and, by consensus, forwarded all three to the relevant federal grant programs for consideration. The commission also approved minutes from its Nov. 20, 2024, meeting.
The three applications and committee advice
Matthew, an Infrastructure Hub staff member, presented three applications for final advice:
- City of Wichita (application 2025-080): A BUILD (formerly RAISE) planning application to improve multimodal connections at the Eisenhower Airport interchange. The project requests $540,000 in Build Kansas Fund match with a $60,000 local contribution to unlock $2,400,000 in federal funds, for a total projected cost of $3,000,000. The committee raised questions about the project’s pedestrian and transit scope; Matthew said planned work includes sidewalks and additional transit-stop capacity. The commission recorded no objection and forwarded the application on consensus.
- City of Lawrence (application 2025-081): An Airport Infrastructure Grant request for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the apron at Taxiway C at Lawrence Regional Airport. The application requests $28,456 in Build Kansas Fund match and $14,200 in local contribution to unlock $569,136 in federal funds for a $599,015 total. Matthew disclosed a potential conflict of interest: his wife is employed by Garver Engineering; he said she is not involved in these projects. The commission recorded no objection and forwarded the application on consensus.
- Montgomery County (application 2025-084): A County Road 44100 upgrade to support heavy truck traffic to the Azure Bartlett BioAg facility. The county requested $2,948,232 in Build Kansas Fund match and cited a $155,171 local contribution to unlock $12,413,608 in federal funds for a $15,517,011 total project cost. The commission recorded no objection and forwarded the application on consensus.
Committee questions and comments
Senator Patty asked whether Wichita’s project included sidewalks; Matthew confirmed the planning scope includes sidewalk improvements and transit stops. Representative Pelverson raised a policy question about prioritizing auxiliary pedestrian and transit projects over core road and water infrastructure, saying he had reservations about the $3 million planning cost; Matthew replied that planning funds are intended to develop alternatives and community engagement to strengthen future funding applications.
Minutes approval
The commission approved the Nov. 20, 2024, minutes. Representative Francis moved to approve the minutes, Representative Helgerson seconded, and members voted aye; staff recorded Senator Billinger as abstained.
Ending
All three applications will be forwarded to federal agencies for their award decisions; the Hub said state match commitments for projects that do not win federal awards will be returned to the Build Kansas Fund for reallocation.
