Gov. Parkinson Signs Transportation Bill
New Program Will Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs 

In a move that promises to puts tens of thousands of Kansans to work, a beaming Gov. Mark Parkinson signed the state's recently passed $8.2 billion transportation bill on May 26.

"With the passage of this transportation bill, we will create jobs in the short term and the mid-term, and then create economic prosperity in the long term," Parkinson said at a signing ceremony at the Kansas Speedway.

Known as the Transportation Works for Kansas (T-WORKS) Program, this 10-year program will enable Kansas to move forward with transportation improvements as the state fights its way out of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Money for the program will come from higher state sales taxes, expanded bonding authority and higher registration fees for large trucks.

Parkinson said T-WORKS will give Kansas the resources it needs to restart cancelled transportation projects and spend more than $8 billion on transportation infrastructure over the next 5 to 10 years, "a huge amount of money that will put tens of thousands of people back to work, and create all sorts of opportunities for companies that supply those employers."

Kansans can expect T-WORKS to provide enormous benefits in the long term, Parkinson said. "We all know from the last 20 years of experience that when we build great roads, when we build great intersections, that economic development occurs. Businesses locate at those intersections. Cities have an increase in population near those intersections, and economic development will occur."

The Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City strongly advocated for this crucial transportation program. "This is huge," said HCAGKC Executive Director Edward DeSoignie. "Not only was it such long odds to try to get this thing passed. But the fact is it continues the progress Kansas has made for the last 20 years. While the bills were passed during a very difficult time in our state's economy, they're going to provide jobs to tens of thousands of men and women in the construction industry, and those dollars will flow back in the community, while at the same time we're fixing roads. It's just a great day for the state of Kansas. I can't say enough about the leadership that was shown by members of both the House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats, in getting sales tax bill as well as the highway bill passed. I also want to thank Bridgette Williams, deputy director at the Heavies, for her hard work on both bills which greatly helped in getting them passed"

Phyllis Strozier, an operating engineer with Superior Bowen Asphalt Co., said the new transportation bill has given her hope for a better tomorrow.

"I've never seen times this tough," said Strozier, who has worked in heavy construction for 23 years. "I'm hoping that it comes around to me. I'm hoping that our company can get some of the work, so that we can get back to work."

Butch Ohl, a grading supervisor with Clarkson Construction Co., said the long-anticipated transportation plan has "got to be nothing but good for Kansas, and mainly all the workers in the industry. It's going to put a lot of people to work and do a lot of improving. I'm sure they're going to have a whole lot safer roadways."

This legislation includes funding for road and highway preservation, modernization, expansion and economic opportunity projects. he bill specifies that between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2020, at least $8 million is to be spent on transportation projects in each Kansas county.

The legislation also lets municipalities use loans from the Transportation Revolving Fund, and lets the Secretary of Transportation recommend construction of new toll or turnpike projects. The Secretary also will be allowed to designate an existing highway or portion thereof as a toll or turnpike project, if warranted by a feasibility study.

The Heavies and other transportation advocates hope the legislation will pave the way for much-needed highway projects, such as rebuilding the I-35 /I-435/K-10 interchange in Lenexa and Olathe, and widening U.S. 69 from I-435 to 119th Street in Overland Park.