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County agrees in principle to share $17,500 for cost-benefit analysis of US-24 corridor connection if partners commit
Summary
Metropolitan planning staff reported KDOT will not fund the cost-benefit analysis; the county agreed in principle to its prior share ($17,500) if the city of Manhattan and Pottawatomie County also commit to their shares and the regional partner assumes the balance.
Planners updated the commission on the US-24 corridor management study and a related cost-benefit analysis examining a potential second connection between Manhattan and Blue Township.
Planning manager George Bland (Flintstones MPO) said Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will fund and lead only the corridor study; KDOT will not provide the previously expected 65% share of the separate cost-benefit analysis. Bland said the cost-benefit study would produce options and estimated costs for alternate connections (upgrading Blue River Road, new bridge locations, and other roadway options) to move discussion from speculation to detailed trade-offs.
Bland said the original cost estimate for the analysis was $150,000 with KDOT contributing $97,500. After KDOT's change, Bland said Dallas County (Potawatomi County in transcript) had signaled willingness to take on KDOT's share. He asked whether Riley County would still support its previously discussed $17,500 contribution; the commission agreed in principle, with the vote and motion phrased as contingent on other partners agreeing to the same terms.
Commissioners emphasized they were not committing funds until formal interlocal agreements arrive. Chair moved and commissioners seconded and approved a motion authorizing the chair to schedule the county's portion (17.5k) on the condition the other partners sign the same agreement; the county will return a formal interlocal to the board for signature once partners are confirmed.
Bland said the analysis would support a later political decision about whether to advance engineered designs or seek funding for construction.
