By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
With the City of Salina's approval of the 9th and Water Well roundabout and considerations of road improvement projects/installations, a decision awaits whether to use state financial assistance, as Saline County has decided.
The City is considering applying for the Kansas Department of Transportation's Cost Share Program, which provides financial assistance to local entities for transportation projects. The program allows local government bodies to save taxpayer dollars.
The Cost Share program allows communities to apply for assistance with a wide range of highway, local road, bridge, rail, airport, bicycle, pedestrian and public transit projects.
According to KDOT, there are four categories a local unit of government or entity would need to have on the project for the application to get accepted, which includes:
- Economic development.
- Local support.
- Safety.
- Provide at least a 15% local cash match.
The funds are used exclusively to match construction costs for these projects.
Additionally, if a local entity or unit of government provides over the 15 percent match, then the application process becomes more competitive for each applicant.
Recipients are awarded based on the amount they requested.
According to City Manager Jacob Wood, the city will most likely apply but have not identified a specific project.
Several road improvement projects that were approved in the 2026-2030 City of Salina Capital Improvement Program (CIP), included:
- S. Ohio and Schilling roundabout. Project cost: $2,300,000
- E. Magnolia Road and Bridge improvement. Project Cost: $7,600,000
- N. Ohio Overpass painting. Project Cost: $1,000,000
- Berkley Family Recreation Area Runway Repairs. Project Cost: $300,000
In addition, the project cost for the 9th and Water Well roundabout that was approved December 8 is up to $4,000,000. The roundabout expected to be completed by end of 2026.
The Cost Share program opens its application twice a year, generally in the fall and in the spring.
In the past, the city's application was accepted fall of 2019 and 2023 for specific projects.
In 2019, KDOT awarded $39 million to the city along with twenty-one other entities based on the amount each requested. In 2023, $12 million was awarded to the city and fifteen other entities based on the amount each requested.
Saline County also benefited from the program in the past. In spring 2021, KDOT awarded $21 million to the county and twenty-nine other entities based on the amount each requested. Last fall, the agency awarded $5.9 million to the county and nine other entities based on the amount each requested.
According to Saline County Engineer Justin Mader, the county will submit its second application in a row.
In consideration is two to three miles of a gravel road stabilization project.