Governor Kelly Announces KDOT Awarded
Nearly $98M for I-35, Santa Fe Corridor Project
in Olathe

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has awarded the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) a nearly $98 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to improve the I-35 and Santa Fe Street corridor in Olathe.

“This announcement is a win for Kansas and everyone who travels I-35 through Olathe,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This project represents my administration’s work to modernize and strengthen the infrastructure and transportation links that support commerce and economic growth across the state.”

The I-35 Santa Fe Forward project, which targets one of the region’s most congested corridors, seeks to eliminate bottlenecks at two interchanges: Santa Fe Street and Old Highway 56, address access management issues on Santa Fe Street, replace aging infrastructure, and provide multimodal access across I-35 to connect communities on both sides of the interstate.  Currently, the crash rate on I-35 surrounding the Santa Fe interchange is more than two and half times the state’s average, with nearly half of all crashes consisting of rear-end crashes at lower rates of speed.

INFRA, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a competitive grant program supporting multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of transportation for freight and people in and across rural and urban areas. The grant application was submitted by KDOT in partnership with the City of Olathe.

Governor Kelly sent letters to the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of this project.

“Since coming to Congress, I’ve made it a priority to advocate for our community’s local infrastructure needs,” said Representative Sharice Davids, KS-03. “That’s why I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law. This law creates good-paying jobs, strengthens our supply chains, helps lower costs, and will make our roads more efficient and dependable. I’m thrilled to see these funds coming to Kansas with the I-35 Santa Fe Forward project and investing in improvements that our region will see for generations.”

“We are grateful to our federal and local partners who have been working with KDOT to move this project forward,” Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed said. “With this funding, we can tackle important infrastructure improvements that will enhance efficiency and connectivity, providing smoother travel for residents and businesses across the region.”

Construction on the I-35 and Santa Fe Street corridor between Ridgeview Road and Mur-Len Road is scheduled to begin in late 2026 with a total project cost of nearly $278 million. The City of Olathe is contributing $40 million. KDOT will contribute $140 million through the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation (IKE) Program, a 10-year program that addresses highways, bridges, public transit, aviation, short-line rail, and bike/pedestrian needs across Kansas.

“The new I-35 and Santa Fe interchange wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of KDOT and the leadership shown by our congressional delegation, including Sen. Jerry Moran, Sen. Roger Marshall, and Rep. Sharice Davids,” Olathe Mayor John Bacon said. “We are grateful for the support of our partners and for their understanding of just how important this project is to Olathe and to the region.”

More information on the KDOT IKE Program can be found here: https://ike.ksdot.gov/.

For additional details on the U.S. DOT Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Program, visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/infra-grant-program.

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Register by Friday, October 25

Registration for the 2024 Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas closes this Friday, October 25. The conference will take place on Wednesday, November 13 and Thursday, November 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan, KS. Register here before Friday to reserve your spot.

The conference will feature presentations on:

• Surface and Groundwater Issues
• Emerging Issues and Research
• Education and Outreach

For more information, including the draft conference agenda and speaker bios, visit the Governor’s Water Conference page at kwo.ks.gov under the News & Events section.

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As the state’s water office, KWO conducts water planning, policy coordination and water marketing as well as facilitates public input throughout the state.

The agency prepares the KANSAS WATER PLAN, a plan for water resources development, management and conservation.

Commerce Announces New Round of Funding for HEAL Grants

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that $1.5 million is available for a fifth round of Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants to revitalize dilapidated and underutilized downtown buildings in small communities across the state. These grants help close the financial gaps for communities striving to make their downtown districts economically vibrant.

Since Commerce launched the program in 2021, nearly $5 million has been awarded to fund 87 different community projects throughout Kansas.

“In order to succeed, brick and mortar businesses need the brick and mortar – and all the parts of their building – to be in good condition,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “With $20 billion of new private investment pushing into all parts of Kansas, HEAL grants give communities a chance to create their own momentum, turning downtown buildings that were once storage or pigeon roosts into stores, coffee shops and upper floor lofts.”

The HEAL grant helps communities bring revitalize downtown buildings as spaces for new or expanding businesses, housing, arts and culture, civic engagement, childcare or entrepreneurial activities.

Submitted projects must show potential to be economic drivers in the community and demonstrate that the space will be occupied by the end of the project. There must be proof of 1:1 matching funds from the building owner that will be required at the time of application.

The application opens November 1 and closes January 31, 2025. Awardees will be notified in April. Communities that received HEAL grants in spring 2023 or fall 2024 are not eligible to apply for this round of funding.

A virtual webinar about the specifics of the program is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Monday, November 4. Registration is required for the webinar. A Zoom link will be provided after registration is completed. To register for the webinar, please click here.

For additional information about HEAL grants, the webinar and the online application, please visit here.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

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Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Halts Sale of Senior Lifetime Pass for Hunting and Fishing

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) announced today that it has stopped selling the 10-year combination of hunting and fishing licenses for Kansas residents aged 65 to 74. The decision follows the discovery that the statute authorizing the department to sell the licenses at a reduced rate had expired. The licenses were commonly called a Senior Lifetime Pass because after a resident reaches age 75, they are no longer required to purchase Kansas hunting and fishing licenses.

The Senior Lifetime Pass was established by the Kansas Legislature in 2012 through Senate Bill 314 (K.S.A. 32-9,100), along with several other discounted licenses for seniors. In 2023, the other discounted hunting and fishing licenses were made permanent with the passage of House Bill 2039.

“When we discovered the authorization for the Senior Lifetime Pass had lapsed, I instructed staff to stop selling them,” said KDWP Acting Secretary Christopher Kennedy. “All licenses were sold in good faith, and the Senior Lifetime Passes already issued will remain valid. While we must stop selling this pass, we are exploring regulatory and statutory options to offer additional discounted rates for seniors in the future.”

Annual senior licenses for Kansas residents ages 65 to 74 remain available at significantly discounted rates. The Resident Senior Annual Hunting License is $15; the Resident Senior Annual Fishing License is $15; and the Resident Senior Annual Combo license for hunting and fishing is $25.

Licenses can be purchased online at license.gooutdoorskansas.com or by phone at 1-833-587-2164. Licenses are also available at various locations statewide.

For more information about licenses, permits and fees, visit ksoutdoors.com/license-permits.

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Kansas Talking Books Launches NovemBARD:

Be a Super Reader with BARD

TOPEKA – This November, Kansas Talking Books invites all eligible Kansans to discover BARD, the free Braille and Audio Reading Download service, and “Be Super Readers.” “NovemBARD” introduces Kansans who cannot read standard print due to visual, physical or reading disabilities to the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled’s (NLS) collection where they will find a variety of books, magazines and music scores, all instantly available with BARD.

With BARD, patrons select from over 150,000 titles in audio and braille formats, allowing them to read or listen anytime and anywhere. BARD can be accessed in multiple ways by Kansans with print disabilities: through the BARD mobile app, BARD Express program for Windows-based computers, or with a web browser to use materials on a digital player provided by Kansas Talking Books.

“The NovemBARD campaign is about empowering our patrons and ensuring they have the tools to explore the limitless world of books,” said Michael Lang, Director of Kansas Talking Books. “BARD provides the freedom to download and access thousands of titles, opening doors to new stories, adventures, and learning. It’s your reading superpower.”

If you are eligible for Kansas Talking Books and want to learn more about BARD, visit library.ks.gov/talking-books/bard or contact the Talking Books team for assistance with setup by phone, 800-362-0699, or email, [email protected]. Kansas Talking Books is committed to ensuring everyone has the chance to enjoy reading without barriers.

Join us for NovemBARD and discover how BARD can make you a Super Reader!

Kansas Talking Books, a division of the State Library of Kansas, is a free, statewide library service providing books in accessible formats to eligible persons. Kansas Talking Books is a Regional Network Library of NLS, which is part of the Library of Congress. Learn more about Kansas Talking Books at library.ks.gov/talking-books.

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