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County approves supplemental agreement to seek federal Safe Streets for All construction funding
Summary
The county approved a supplemental agreement to produce construction-level plans and cost estimates for two county corridor projects eligible for Safe Streets for All implementation grants; staff said completed studies and letters of support improve competitiveness.
Leavenworth County commissioners approved a supplemental agreement with a consultant to prepare engineering exhibits and construction-level estimates needed to apply for federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) implementation grants.
County staff said the county is eligible for implementation (construction) funding because it completed an SS4A study under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Staff described the supplemental contract as funding AutoCAD schematics and a 12‑page report that will fix the construction estimate used in the federal application. The consultant will refine project limits along two county corridors south of K‑302 that connect to the two Kansas River crossings and that staff identified as high-accident corridors with increasing traffic from nearby economic development.
Staff said the initial SS4A study cost $380,000 and that federal and state sources covered the bulk of that study; the county paid a portion. Staff also said the county has letters of support from U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, KDOT (Secretary Reed), and the Kansas Department of Commerce. County staff said they will seek a Build Kansas grant to help cover the county match required for construction; Build Kansas is a state set‑aside created in 2022 to support local matches for federal projects.
Commissioners asked questions about accident counts and project priorities; staff highlighted five fatalities, eight serious injuries and roughly 10 other crashes along the corridors over the past eight years. The board approved the supplemental agreement by roll-call vote.
If the county receives an award, staff said the construction project could require additional right-of-way purchases, utility relocations and local matching funds; staff estimated design and acquisition could still cost “in excess of a million dollars” beyond grant proceeds.
