The Kansas Department of Transportation says a $50 million funding cut will mean Kansans will have to live with deteriorating road conditions for the foreseeable future.
No major highway projects – or projects funded by the federal stimulus program – will be impacted. But many resurfacing projects around the state will be put on hold.
“KDOT will have to reduce operations and lower maintenance projects,” said Duane Goossen, the state’s budget director.
KDOT will also postpone some purchases – new dump trucks, for instance – until the cut is restored. Several transportation studies will be halted as well. One is a regional transportation study focusing on the metro area.
The $50 million cut was part of a $258.9 million budget adjustment announced by Gov. Mark Parkinson yesterday.
Kansas Department of Transportation says the cuts “will cost the state jobs and impact the quality of the state’s highway system."
"Cutting projects will impact jobs, not only of contractors but of suppliers. It will also eliminate the spinoff spending that happens in communities during construction,” said KDOT Secretary Miller. “We’re going to do a lot fewer maintenance jobs and that will result in rougher roads and more vehicle maintenance.”
KDOT has lost $229 million in funding since January.
The 2010 construction budget is now $279 million, about 40 percent of the annual construction spending during the past 10 years.
I can hope and pray that KDOT doesn't have any money...
for the proposed intermodal project in Edgerton, Ks. If that project was stopped the Kansas taxpayers would certainly be winners but if it is not, the citizens will be paying thru the nose for eons to come and in many ways.