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The need for a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan in Kansas is a topic of much discussion and debate among civic and business leaders throughout Southeast Kansas. This discussion, ongoing for over a year, has been facilitated by organizations such as city councils, Chambers of Commerce, county commissioners, economic development groups, civic clubs, SEK, Inc., Economic Lifelines, and the US 69 Highway Association of Kansas.
A clear consensus and vision has been formed across the region and state as a result of these discussions, and as a result of the benefits brought about by over twenty years of experience with the previous two similar initiatives — the 1989 Comprehensive Highway Plan and the 1999 Comprehensive Transportation Plan. These benefits include job creation, robust economic development activity, improved safety, convenience, and efficiency. This is true not only for the general public, but for business, commerce, and industry as well. In short, these transportation plans have produced needed improvements for all elements of transportation: highways, rail, airports, transit, and intermodal connections — and positive benefits for each and every Kansan.
The evidence in support of all of this is clear:
n All 105 counties in the state have passed resolutions in support of a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
n Most cities in the state have done the same, including Arma, Fort Scott, Pittsburg, and Parsons.
n Empirical data from studies conducted by KU, K-State and private economists conclusively demonstrates that each of those previous programs produced well over 100,000 jobs, provided a direct economic impact of three dollars for each dollar spent, and generated upwards of $1.5 billion in wages.
n Further, the previous two programs produced millions of dollars in income and sales taxes going into the state general fund to finance other state programs as well as having significant long term economic benefits in the communities receiving the projects.
n The two decades in which these previous programs were in effect constituted the largest single economic development/jobs program in the state. No other single program produced more jobs, created a greater positive impact on the Kansas economy, generated more new state revenue, nor had a more significant impact on local communities.
We are within 65 miles of achieving the long-held goal of constructing a four lane highway from Kansas City south to a connecting point with Interstate 44 in southern Cherokee County. That highway is now complete from Overland Park to Fort Scott. The final segments from Fort Scott south are currently undergoing formal preliminary planning, design, and engineering and enjoy a high priority for completion.
But first, the 2010 Legislature must pass a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan that is of sufficient size and scope to accommodate the completion of the transportation vision for Highway 69 and the state.
There are two choices:
n Continue to suffer through the difficult process of cutting more and more funding from vital state programs, including education, and then do nothing but wait for the economy to recover on its own, or
n Implement the model that has proven so successful during the last 20 years in immediately improving and growing the state’s economy by enacting a large multi-year transportation program to allow the state’s economy and its citizens to immediately begin to accrue its benefits.
US 69 Highway Association of Kansas and Economic Lifelines believe the latter choice is much better and a much less painful path to take and strongly urge the passage of a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan which will produce jobs and greater prosperity for Kansans.
James M. AuBuchon is the executive director of the US Highway 69 Association of Kansas, Inc.
The need for a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan in Kansas is a topic of much discussion and debate among civic and business leaders throughout Southeast Kansas. This discussion, ongoing for over a year, has been facilitated by organizations such as city councils, Chambers of Commerce, county commissioners, economic development groups, civic clubs, SEK, Inc., Economic Lifelines, and the US 69 Highway Association of Kansas.
A clear consensus and vision has been formed across the region and state as a result of these discussions, and as a result of the benefits brought about by over twenty years of experience with the previous two similar initiatives — the 1989 Comprehensive Highway Plan and the 1999 Comprehensive Transportation Plan. These benefits include job creation, robust economic development activity, improved safety, convenience, and efficiency. This is true not only for the general public, but for business, commerce, and industry as well. In short, these transportation plans have produced needed improvements for all elements of transportation: highways, rail, airports, transit, and intermodal connections — and positive benefits for each and every Kansan.
The evidence in support of all of this is clear:
n All 105 counties in the state have passed resolutions in support of a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
n Most cities in the state have done the same, including Arma, Fort Scott, Pittsburg, and Parsons.
n Empirical data from studies conducted by KU, K-State and private economists conclusively demonstrates that each of those previous programs produced well over 100,000 jobs, provided a direct economic impact of three dollars for each dollar spent, and generated upwards of $1.5 billion in wages.
n Further, the previous two programs produced millions of dollars in income and sales taxes going into the state general fund to finance other state programs as well as having significant long term economic benefits in the communities receiving the projects.
n The two decades in which these previous programs were in effect constituted the largest single economic development/jobs program in the state. No other single program produced more jobs, created a greater positive impact on the Kansas economy, generated more new state revenue, nor had a more significant impact on local communities.
We are within 65 miles of achieving the long-held goal of constructing a four lane highway from Kansas City south to a connecting point with Interstate 44 in southern Cherokee County. That highway is now complete from Overland Park to Fort Scott. The final segments from Fort Scott south are currently undergoing formal preliminary planning, design, and engineering and enjoy a high priority for completion.
But first, the 2010 Legislature must pass a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan that is of sufficient size and scope to accommodate the completion of the transportation vision for Highway 69 and the state.
There are two choices:
n Continue to suffer through the difficult process of cutting more and more funding from vital state programs, including education, and then do nothing but wait for the economy to recover on its own, or
n Implement the model that has proven so successful during the last 20 years in immediately improving and growing the state’s economy by enacting a large multi-year transportation program to allow the state’s economy and its citizens to immediately begin to accrue its benefits.
US 69 Highway Association of Kansas and Economic Lifelines believe the latter choice is much better and a much less painful path to take and strongly urge the passage of a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan which will produce jobs and greater prosperity for Kansans.
James M. AuBuchon is the executive director of the US Highway 69 Association of Kansas, Inc.
