TOPEKA, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly announced on Thursday two Kansas communities have secured over $3.3 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Crossing Elimination program.
“Improving railroad crossings in Kansas is crucial for enhancing safety and connectivity in our communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’m proud these two projects are receiving vital infrastructure planning grants, which will not only improve our railroad crossing safety but also strengthen the entire state’s transportation network.”
Combined with almost $413,000 in matching funds from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund, plus $427,830 in local contributions, the investment totals more than $4 million.
The two Kansas projects receiving funding are:
Eastern Kansas Communities Rail Corridor At-Grade Crossing Elimination Plan
- Build Kansas Funding – $107,500
- Federal Funding Awarded – $1,720,000
- Applicant Contribution – $322,500
- Total Project – $2,150,000
The project is a collaboration between the cities of Spring Hill, Fontana, and Fort Scott to improve railroad crossing safety along the BNSF Fort Scott Subdivision.
Liberal Crossing Analysis for Routes Enhancing Safety (Liberal CARES)
- Build Kansas Funding – $305,000
- Federal Funding Awarded – $1,639,520
- Applicant Contribution – $104,880
- Total Project – $2,049,400
The project will support development activities to identify an at-grade railroad closure location and develop a grade separation plan in Liberal.
“I want to thank the Build Kansas Fund for partnering with the City of Spring Hill. This partnership has helped make this project a reality,” said Lane Massey, Spring Hill City Administrator. “Without this funding, we wouldn’t have been able to pursue the crucial Railroad Crossing Elimination funds.”
With this award, the Build Kansas Fund has provided the required match dollars for 38 federal grant awards across Kansas. The combined total investment by the Build Kansas Fund in all projects is over $34.6 million, which has resulted in federal grant awards of more than $75.9 million.
“Our communities in Kansas have consistently expressed that with technical assistance and matching funds, they can access additional federal resources to improve safety and infrastructure,” said Matt Volz, Executive Director of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub. “The support offered through the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund showcases Kansas’ leadership on a national scale while equipping local communities with the tools they need to fully capitalize on the opportunities provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.”
The Kansas Infrastructure Hub connects multiple state agencies and serves as a resource center for Kansas communities to identify best practices for maximizing BIL funding opportunities. The Build Kansas Fund provides state matching dollars for projects throughout Kansas that successfully apply for federal grants under BIL. In 2023, the Kansas Legislature and Governor Kelly approved $200 million for the Build Kansas Fund to provide state matching dollars to Kansas entities and projects to meet federal local match requirements.
