County accepts Safe Streets for All planning contract and approved consultant procurement step

County staff told commissioners the federal Safe Streets for All contract has been returned and the county is prepared to begin the planning phase, which staff described as a roughly 2.5-year effort to develop a countywide safety plan and small-scale demonstrations.

Elizabeth (county project staff) said the county will advertise for a qualifications-based selection of a consultant to lead the work, form a coalition with participating cities, and use federal and KDOT funds already secured. “Approximately a week and a half ago, we got our Safe Streets for All contract back from the feds,” she said. She cited several line items discussed in the packet — a demonstration amount she referenced as $240,000, an action-plan amount she referenced as $275,000, and other planning figures mentioned in the materials — and clarified that the grant funding allocated for planning and demonstration activities does not include construction of permanent projects.

Commissioners voted to authorize the county to accept the grant and proceed with consultant procurement as described.