Build Kansas panel advises awards for Safe Streets grants and airport projects; denies county match exemptions

Jason Fitzell, interim executive director of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub, presented the committee with a packet of applications and asked for final advice on a set of Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) planning, demonstration and implementation grants and several airport infrastructure grant requests. Fitzell summarized the state dashboard and walked members through individual applications before the committee voted on approvals and motions regarding match waivers.

The committee advised approval of multiple SS4A applications and a group of airport infrastructure projects but rejected—or asked for more detail on—requests for exemptions from the committee's suggested local match for two multi-jurisdictional applicants.

Why it matters: SS4A funding supports roadway safety planning, demonstration projects and implementation measures intended to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on streets. The Build Kansas hub acts as the state's screening and recommendation body before applications or award administration proceeds to federal and state channels. Local-match requirements are intended to ensure community commitment and to leverage state dollars.

Key approvals and committee direction

- The committee advised approval of SS4A requests for a mix of planning/demonstration and implementation projects across dozens of small cities and counties. Notable SS4A requests presented and advanced for final advice included: - City of Douglas (application 141): $54,150 for a CSAP-focused package to address pedestrian access and crossings on Highway 77; approved by the committee. - City of Halstead (application 147): $47,500 for a CSAP covering town corridors with a history of crashes; approved. - City of Coffeyville (application noted in packet): $30,000 for a US-166 corridor safety audit and engineering study; advanced for advice. - Valley Falls (application 152): $1,615,000 for 17 implementation projects including sidewalks, ADA ramps and street reconstruction; advanced for advice. - Cowley County (application 157): $365,433.40 to realign a top-risk intersection and add safety features; advanced for advice. - Chase County (application 158): $100,985 for demonstration projects including curb extensions and a road diet pilot; advanced for advice. - Franklin County (application 159): $165,164.15 for multi-city demonstration projects and a requested exemption from the 5% suggested match; the committee moved to require the county provide the 5% match and sent the application back for that change (motion by Representative Hoffman; second by Representative Waymaster; motion carried). - Junction City (application 161): $145,855.40 for EMS-informed demonstrations including vehicle-to-vehicle communications and ambulance retrofit; advanced for advice. - Flint Hills Regional Council (application 162): $346,673.80 for a regional CSAP and nine pilot demonstrations across prioritized rural locations; the committee voted to send the application back and request the applicant provide the proposed local match rather than an exemption (motion carried). - Wallace County (application 163): $672,523 for Safe Routes to School and sidewalk work near schools; advanced for advice. - Mid‑America Regional Council (application 164): $35,477 to design and test regional whole-blood distribution for post-crash care across a bi-state region; the committee approved the application with a condition that any Kansas-allocated funds be used within Kansas counties if Missouri does not provide its share (substitute motion carried).

- Airport infrastructure grants: the committee advised approval of a slate of smaller airport projects totaling roughly $254,725 in Build Kansas requests, including design of a Colby hangar (application 142, $9,513), airfield lighting in McPherson (143, $9,629), snow-equipment storage building in Winfield/Struther Field (144, $10,450), apron reconstruction design in Eureka (145, $40,037), electrical vault and beacon replacement in Kearney County (146, $10,524), a medical helipad in Greeley County (148, $7,906), Liberal parallel taxiway design (151, $149,781), Brooks County taxi lane and hangars (153, $22,201), Eureka fuel farm (154, $6,625), Chanute taxiway repairs (155, $8,800) and Great Bend runway/taxiway rehabilitation (156, $15,260).

Match exemptions and committee direction

Several applicants requested exemptions from the committee's suggested 5% local match (the hub noted the committee previously framed the match as ‘‘skin in the game’’). Committee members pressed for clearer documentation when exemptions were requested. Representative Hoffman argued that Franklin County—a county of about 25,000 people—should be able to provide the roughly $8,000 local match cited in its application and moved to ask the county to return with the 5% match; the motion passed after a second by Representative Waymaster.

Similarly, the committee asked Flint Hills Regional Council to clarify and provide local matching commitments rather than an exemption. For the Mid‑America Regional Council (a bi‑state applicant), members sought clarity on Missouri's intended contribution; after back-and-forth the committee approved the application conditional on any Kansas-allocated funds being used only within Kansas counties if Missouri does not provide its portion.

Quotes

"We have been reaching out to local communities and providing support for all manner of grant, applications, not just IIJA related," Jason Fitzell said as he summarized the hub's technical-assistance activity.

"I think I'd make a motion that we ask them to come back with, with their 5% match," Representative Hoffman said when the committee considered Franklin County's exemption request; Representative Waymaster seconded the motion.

What the committee did not decide

The committee provided final advice on applications but did not itself award federal funds. Several awards remain contingent on federal review and grant agreements; Jason Fitzell noted some federal awards were still being ranked and reviewed at the federal level.

Next steps

The hub will relay the committee's advice to grant administrators and requested applicants provide clearer matching documentation where required. The committee also approved a brief administrative amendment to an Emporia award after the city received $1,000 less than requested, which reduced its match amount accordingly.

Votes at a glance (final-advice actions recorded in meeting)

- Approvals by consensus or committee advice: applications 141, 147, (Coffeyville application), 152, 157, 158, 161, 163, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 148, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156 (see actions array for structured records). - Motions requiring applicants to provide local match or clarification: Franklin County (159) — motion to require 5% match (motion carried); Flint Hills Regional Council (162) — motion to require match documentation (motion carried); Mid‑America Regional Council (164) — substitute motion approving with condition that Kansas funds be used only in Kansas if Missouri does not provide its share (motion carried).

(Committee minutes for June 17 were approved during the meeting.)