This infrastructure has given us tremendous freedom to drive our cars and trucks just about anywhere we want to go.
But there are a couple of down sides to all that construction...
(1) It's tremendously expensive to maintain and improve all the transportation infrastructure we've already built (even as we continue to build more).
(2) The increasing number of cars and trucks on our streets and highways has contributed to a couple of unwanted problems:
- traffic congestion can create bottlenecks and make travel frustrating and difficult.
- engine emissions can increase pollution and decrease air quality, especially in larger urban areas.
Every year the Federal Government allocates federal tax dollars to fund local transportation projects across the United States that seek to fix or improve those two problems. These funds are primarily allocated through three different programs:
- Surface Transportation Program (STP)
- Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)
- Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
Each program approaches the transportation puzzle and problems from a little different angle:
Surface Transportation Program (STP)
Supports projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance on any Federal-aid highway, bridge and tunnel projects on any public road, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital projects, including intercity bus terminals.
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)
Supports projects and other related efforts that contribute to air quality improvements and provide congestion relief on roadways.
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
Supports projects that help increase transportation choices and access, enhance the built and natural environment and the transportation experience, and provide a sense of place.
This is a competitive grant process as there are many more potential projects than there are dollars to fund them.
One part of MARC's overall selection process is getting public input on the proposed projects. MARC is currently asking for public opinion for projects nominated by local governments in the metro. The Unified Government submitted 9 projects applications, (see list below).
I invite everyone to click the link below, learn more about the proposed projects and submit comments if you wish.
MARC Transportation Department - 2014 Call for Projects
(Instructions: Click above link; Sort by Organization; Select Unified Government; Select Project. A window showing a summary of the application will appear for your information. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to submit your input. You may provide comments to one or all of the projects).
Unified Government – List of Project Applications
- Bus Route 107 – Southern Extension (CMAQ)
- Bus Route 107 Bus Stop/Station Improvements (STP)
- 12th & 10th Street Bikeway, Metropolitan to Quindaro (CMAQ & STP)
- Central Ave and 18th Street Intersection (CMAQ & STP)
- Leavenworth Road Modernization, 63rd to 38th (STP)
- Minnesota Ave 9th to 5th (STP)
- Safe Routes KCK Phase D: TE Edison, Midland Trail & Hazel Grove (TAP)
- Safe Routes KCK Phase E: Rushton, White and Noble Prentis (TAP)
- Safe Routes KCK Walking School Bus Expansion (TAP)
Have a great weekend!
~ Brian
bmckiernan@wycokck.org
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