On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Representative Sharice Davids toured three roads in Wyandotte County identified for safety concerns and announced new bipartisan infrastructure law funding to improve them.
Last year, Davids released a report examining the state of transportation safety in the Third District of Kansas, which found 21 percent of Kansas’ pedestrian crash related deaths in 2020 happened in the Third District.
“One Kansan loses their life every 20 hours to a motor vehicle accident. These deaths are preventable with the right policy approach,” said Davids. “This new bipartisan infrastructure law funding will make the streets in Wyandotte County I saw today safer for all Kansans, including drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and emergency and construction workers. I’ll continue working to ensure the bipartisan infrastructure law is implemented effectively and responsibly to meet our community’s needs.”
The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program was established by the bipartisan infrastructure law to redesign roads and streets to prevent deaths and serious injuries. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS will receive $1 million from this program to develop a new, comprehensive Vision Zero safety plan, the number one priority identified in their recently adopted goDotte countywide mobility strategy.
“We are extremely grateful to Representative Davids for the continued support and partnership,” said Mayor Tyrone A. Garner, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. “As we work toward improving the quality of life for all residents, providing a safe, reliable transportation network is key to improving access to jobs, education, healthcare, recreation and all the wonderful amenities that Wyandotte County has to offer. This funding will help us take a data-driven approach to prioritizing the most dangerous intersections and roadways for improvements to protect the welfare of this and future generations.”
“In KCK we know that the freedom of mobility is a privilege and not a right for all roadway users,” said Gunnar Hand, Director of Planning and Urban Design, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. “This grant will help the Unified Government identify the most dangerous roads and intersections in Wyandotte County and redesign them for a safer, more comfortable and walkable future.”
“Our goDotte countywide mobility strategy highlighted the need to focus on improving equitable access to opportunity through safe, reliable transportation,” said Cheryl Harrison-Lee, Interim County Administrator, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. “Funding to help us develop a Vision Zero Action Plan for KCK, Bonner Springs, Edwardsville and Wyandotte County will guide future investment to keep our county and local economy moving.”
Davids was joined by Unified Government Mayor/CEO Tyrone Garner, Unified Government District 3 Commissioner Christian Ramirez, and other Wyandotte County officials for a presentation on the safety projects and a bus tour of the 18th Street Expressway, Metropolitan Avenue, and 7th Street/ Rainbow Blvd., which will all benefit from federal funding. The City of Olathe will also receive $280,000 from the SS4A program to develop a holistic action plan to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries on local roadways.
The bipartisan infrastructure law is implementing the most comprehensive and holistic approach to improving roadway safety ever. The law is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings and has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.