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2009-11-21

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2009-11-05

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Friday, November 14, 2008 10:59 PM

State says U.S. 59 work to continue despite fund shortfall

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

Despite funding uncertainties, plans for the new U.S. 59 between Ottawa and Lawrence will go on as scheduled.

The Kansas Department of Transportation recently announced that it is suspending most construction bid letting for two months, but U.S. 59 won’t be one of the affected projects.

“We are operating in a time of extreme financial uncertainty, and it would be irresponsible for us to begin work on projects without knowing whether we will be able to pay for them,” Deb Miller, secretary of transportation, said in a news release.

Phases of the U.S. 59 project in Franklin County already under way will continue, and the planned $27 million letting in December in Douglas County will proceed as scheduled.

“KDOT’s first priority will be to preserve our system and complete local projects and those projects already under way,” Miller said. “We will continue to evaluate our financial situation to determine whether we can afford to let additional scheduled projects.”

KDOT was scheduled to let $203 million worth of projects in December, which will be reduced to $57 million. In January, $111 million worth of projects were scheduled to be let, and that number has been reduced to $48 million.

This decision to delay lettings will impact most remaining projects under the state’s 10-year Comprehensive Transportation Program.

Among the December lettings that will be suspended is the first phase of the Highway K-61 project in Reno County, which at nearly $58 million is the largest project in the December reduction. Also suspended for the December lettings is the $53 million expansion of U.S. 169 in Montgomery County.

KDOT will continue to let smaller, preservation projects that have been identified as crucial for maintaining the state’s infrastructure.Those include emergency repair projects, critical preservation projects and projects funded primarily with local and federal funds.

Congress passed an $8 billion transfer to the Highway Trust Fund in September to shore up funds for fiscal year 2009, but the shortfall for 2010 remains unresolved.

The federal shortfall is attributed to lower-than-expected heavy truck sales resulting from new diesel emissions standards, increased outlays during the latter years of the current federal transportation funding bill and flat motor fuels tax revenue.

Compounding the problem is the uncertainty of state revenues. This month’s budget estimates indicate revenues to the state’s general fund will be $211 million less than expected for state fiscal year 2009 and are expected to worsen.

Also of concern is the anticipated decrease in revenue from vehicle registrations fees, motor fuels and sales tax collections. The combined net loss in federal and state funds to KDOT could be nearly $250 million in fiscal year 2010.

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State says U.S. 59 work to continue despite fund shortfall

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.