Kansas has made progress in improving state road and bridge conditions, largely through increased transportation funding provided by the T-WORKS program, which was authorized by the state legislature in 2010. But, the state still faces challenges in addressing traffic safety, state and local road and bridge conditions, and further modernizing the state’s transportation system to support economic growth, finds a new report released today by TRIP, a Washington, DC-based national transportation organization.
According to the TRIP report, “Modernizing Kansas’ Transportation System: Progress and Challenges in Providing Safe, Efficient and Well-Maintained Roads, Highways and Bridges,” since the T-WORKS program was passed by the Kansas legislature in in 2010, it has allowed for the completion of over 1,000 transportation projects, the improvement of nearly 8,000 miles of roads, and the repair or replacement of nearly 600 bridges. But, further improvements to the state’s transportation program are jeopardized by the uncertainty over future levels of funding from the federal surface transportation program, which expires in May 2015.
Twenty-nine percent of Kansas’ major locally and state-maintained urban roads and highways have pavements in poor condition, while an additional 46 percent of the state’s major roads are rated in mediocre or fair condition and the remaining 25 percent are rated in good condition. Road conditions across the state have been improved largely through funding provided by the T-WORKS program, which allocates approximately $7.8 billion to highway preservation, modernization and expansion projects throughout Kansas over a 10-year period. Funding provided by the T-WORKS program allowed Kansas to improve 7,714 miles of state-maintained roadway since 2010. Through the second half of the 10-year program, the state plans to make improvements to an additional 5,000 miles of roadways.
Seventeen percent of locally and state-maintained bridges in Kansas show significant deterioration or do not meet current design standards. Ten percent of Kansas’ bridges are structurally deficient, meaning there is significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components. Structurally deficient bridges are often posted for lower weight or closed to traffic, restricting or redirecting large vehicles, including commercial trucks and emergency services vehicles. The Kansas Department of Transportation in 2014 set aside $10 million to reduce the number of deficient locally-maintained bridges. The additional funding will allow improvements to 77 locally-maintained bridges. Seven percent of Kansas’ bridges are functionally obsolete. Bridges that are functionally obsolete no longer meet current highway design standards, often because of narrow lanes, inadequate clearances or poor alignment. Funding provided by the T-WORKS program has allowed the state to repair or replace 559 bridges since 2010. `
“KDOT has done an outstanding job delivering the first half of our 10-year TWORKS transportation program. Specifically in the Kansas City metro area, troubling bottlenecks are being removed, safety enhancements are being made, and economic development is increasing due in great part to TWORKS. There is much left to do over the next five years to saves lives, create jobs, and expand our economy,” says Rick Worrel, owner of Affinis Corp, president of ACEC Kansas, and long-time champion of transportation and quality of life efforts at the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. “Passing a long-term federal transportation program, maintaining the state’s 4/10-cent transportation sales tax, and fully funding TWORKS will ensure Kansas is a safe place to move people, goods, and services and remain a catalyst for economic growth.”
Kansas’ traffic fatality rate is significantly higher than the national average, and the fatality rate on the state’s rural roads is approximately three times higher than on all other roads in the state. Between 2008 and 2012, 1,993 people were killed in traffic crashes in Kansas, an average of 399 fatalities per year. Kansas’ overall traffic fatality rate of 1.32 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in 2012 is significantly higher than the national average of 1.13. The traffic fatality rate on Kansas’ non-Interstate rural roads in 2012 was approximately three times higher than on all other roads and highways in the state – 2.26 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel compared to 0.74. It is estimated that roadway features are likely a contributing factor in approximately one-third of all fatal and serious traffic crashes. Improving safety features on the state’s roads and highways would likely result in a decrease in traffic fatalities and serious crashes.
The federal government is a critical source of funding for Kansas’ roads, highways and bridges and provides a significant return to Kansas in road and bridge funding based on the revenue generated in the state by the federal motor fuel tax. Congress recently approved the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, an eight-month extension of MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act), the long-term federal surface transportation program, on which states rely for road, highway, bridge and transit funding. The program, initially set to expire on September 30, 2014, will now run through May 31, 2015. From 2008 to 2012, the federal government provided $1.22 for road improvements in Kansas for every dollar the state paid in federal motor fuel fees.
Many needed projects throughout the state will require significant federal funding in order to proceed. These projects include the reconstruction of mainline US-69 in Kansas City, the completion of the Gateway Project to modernize Kansas’ portion of the highway network in the Kansas City area, the reconstruction and modernization of a portion of I-70 in Topeka, the construction of a bypass around the northwest portion of Wichita connecting US-54 to I-235/K-96, the reconstruction of the I-135/I-235/K-254/K-96 interchange in Wichita, and the construction of highway bypasses around Pratt, Kingman and Pittsburg. A full list of projects threatened by a lack of federal funding can be found in the report’s Appendix.
“In recent years, the Kansas legislature has provided funding that was instrumental in improving the state’s surface transportation system,” said Will Wilkins, TRIP’s executive director. “In order for the state to continue its progress in maintaining and modernizing this system, adequate funding must be made available at the local, state and federal levels of government. The quality of life of the state’s residents and the health of Kansas’ economy are riding on it.”
MODERNIZING KANSAS’ TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM:
Progress and Challenges in Providing Safe, Efficient and Well-Maintained Road
Executive Summary
Kansas’ extensive system of roads, highways and bridges provides the state’s residents, visitors and businesses with a high level of mobility. This transportation system forms the backbone that supports the state’s economy and quality of life for all Kansas residents.
As Kansas looks to retain its businesses, maintain its level of economic competitiveness and achieve further economic growth, the state will need to continue to maintain and modernize its roads, highways and bridges by improving the physical condition of its transportation network and enhancing the system’s ability to provide efficient, safe and reliable mobility for motorists and businesses. Making needed improvements to Kansas’ roads, highways and bridges could also provide a boost to the state’s economy by creating jobs in the short term and stimulating long term economic growth as a result of enhanced mobility and access.
With the state’s population continuing to grow, Kansas must continue to improve its system of roads, highways and bridges to foster economic growth and keep and attract businesses to the state. In addition to economic growth, transportation improvements are needed to ensure safe, reliable mobility. Meeting Kansas’ need to further modernize and maintain its system of roads, highways and bridges will require significant local, state and federal funding.
Kansas has undertaken a sustained commitment to upgrade the condition and efficiency of its roads, highways and bridges and modernize its transportation network. Kansas’ Transportation Works for Kansas (T-WORKS) program, which was authorized by the state legislature in 2010, provides $7.8 billion in transportation funding over 10 years. T-WORKS projects are funded primarily through a 4/10 cent sales tax. By improving Kansas’ network of roads, bridges and transit, the program also creates jobs, preserves and improves the state’s infrastructure assets, and promotes economic development across the state.
To date, the T-WORKS program has allowed for the completion of over 1,000 transportation projects, the improvement of nearly 8,000 miles of roads, and the repair or replacement of nearly 600 bridges. These improvements have benefited the entire state, as the T-WORKS legislation mandates that at least $8 million is invested in each county.
As the T-WORKS program moves into its middle years, the state has made significant progress in improving road and bridge conditions, expanding transit and multi-modal options, and improving the state’s rail and aviation systems. While the T-WORKS program has allowed for significant modernization and improvements to Kansas’ transportation system, further progress in improving the state’s transportation system is needed to address traffic safety, road and bridge conditions, including those that are locally maintained, and further modernization to support economic growth. Yet the state’s ability to address these challenges could be jeopardized by uncertainty in the future levels of federal transportation funding. In order to fulfill its promise, the T-WORKS program must be coupled with a strong, sustainable source of federal transportation funds.
Achieving the state’s goals for a modern, well-maintained and safe transportation system will require staying the course with Kansas’ current transportation program and proceeding with further transportation improvements well through the next decade. The level of local, state and federal funding will be critical in allowing for the continued improvement and modernization of Kansas’ transportation system.
Population and economic growth have placed increased demands on Kansas’ major roads and highways, leading to mounting wear and tear on the transportation system.
- Kansas’ population reached approximately 2.9 million in 2012, a 16 percent increase since 1990, when the state’s population was approximately 2.5 million. Kansas has approximately 2,018,029 million licensed drivers.
- Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in Kansas increased 34 percent from 1990 to 2012 – from 22.8 billion VMT in 1990 to 30.6 billion VMT in 2012.
- By 2030, vehicle travel in Kansas is projected to increase by another 15 percent.
- From 1990 to 2012, Kansas’ gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the state’s economic output, increased by 54 percent, when adjusted for inflation.
Largely through funding provided by the T-WORKS program, Kansas has been able to improve approximately 8,000 miles of state-maintained roads and highways since 2010.
- The T-WORKS program allocates approximately $6 billion to highway preservation, modernization and expansion projects throughout Kansas over a 10 year period.
- Funding provided by the T-WORKS program allowed Kansas to improve 7,714 miles of state-maintained roadway since 2010. Through the second half of the 10-year program, the state plans to make improvements to an additional 5,000 miles of roadways.
A large percentage of urban roads and highways in Kansas are in poor condition. The urban roads in the state which are in poor condition are largely maintained by local governments.
- Twenty-nine percent of Kansas’ major locally and state-maintained urban roads and highways have pavements in poor condition, while an additional 46 percent of the state’s major roads are rated in mediocre or fair condition and the remaining 25 percent are rated in good condition.
- Ninety-five percent of the urban roads and highways in Kansas that are in poor condition are maintained by local governments.
- Roads rated in poor condition may show signs of deterioration, including rutting, cracks and potholes. In some cases, poor roads can be resurfaced, but often are too deteriorated and must be reconstructed.
Seventeen percent of locally and state-maintained bridges in Kansas show significant deterioration or do not meet current design standards often because of narrow lanes, inadequate clearances or poor alignment. This includes all bridges that are 20 feet or more in length.
- Ten percent of Kansas’ bridges are structurally deficient. A bridge is structurally deficient if there is significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components. Structurally deficient bridges are often posted for lower weight or closed to traffic, restricting or redirecting large vehicles, including commercial trucks and emergency services vehicles
- Ninety-seven percent of the structurally deficient bridges in Kansas are maintained by local governments.
- The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) in 2014 set aside $10 million to reduce the number of deficient locally-maintained bridges. The additional funding will allow improvements to 77 locally-maintained bridges.
- Seven percent of Kansas’ bridges are functionally obsolete. Bridges that are functionally obsolete no longer meet current highway design standards, often because of narrow lanes, inadequate clearances or poor alignment.
- Funding provided by the T-WORKS program has allowed the state to repair or replace 559 bridges since 2010.
Kansas’ traffic fatality rate is significantly higher than the national average. Improving safety features on the state’s roads and highways would likely result in a decrease in traffic fatalities and serious crashes. It is estimated that roadway features are likely a contributing factor in approximately one-third of all fatal and serious traffic crashes.
- Between 2008 and 2012, 1,993 people were killed in traffic crashes in Kansas, an average of 399 fatalities per year.
- Kansas’ overall traffic fatality rate of 1.32 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in 2012 is significantly higher than the national average of 1.13.
- The traffic fatality rate on Kansas’ non-Interstate rural roads in 2012 was approximately three times higher than on all other roads and highways in the state – 2.26 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel compared to 0.74.
- Several factors are associated with vehicle crashes that result in fatalities, including driver behavior, vehicle characteristics and roadway features. It is estimated that roadway features are likely a contributing factor in approximately one-third of fatal traffic crashes.
- Where appropriate, highway improvements can reduce traffic fatalities and crashes while improving traffic flow to help relieve congestion. Such improvements include removing or shielding obstacles; adding or improving medians; improved lighting; adding rumble strips, wider lanes, wider and paved shoulders; upgrading roads from two lanes to four lanes; and better road markings and traffic signals.
- Investments in rural traffic safety have been found to result in significant reductions in serious traffic crashes. A 2012 report by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) found that improvements completed recently by the Texas Department of Transportation that widened lanes, improved shoulders and made other safety improvements on 1,159 miles of rural state roadways resulted in 133 fewer fatalities on these roads in the first three years after the improvements were completed (as compared to the three years prior). TTI estimates that the improvements on these roads are likely to save 880 lives over the next 20 years.
- KDOT maintains a Highway Safety Improvement Program which provides funding for safety improvements including lighting, pavement marking, signage, rail crossings, intersections and rural roads, including the addition of shoulders, widening lanes and improving sight distance.
The efficiency of Kansas’ transportation system, particularly its highways, is critical to the state’s economy. Businesses are increasingly reliant on an efficient and reliable transportation system to move products and services. A key component in business efficiency and success is the level and ease of access to customers, markets, materials and workers.
- Annually, $123.5 billion in goods are shipped to sites in Kansas and another $149.2 billion in goods are shipped from sites in Kansas, mostly by truck.
- Seventy-one percent of the goods shipped annually from sites in Kansas are carried by trucks and another 10 percent are carried by courier services or multiple mode deliveries, which include trucking.
- Businesses have responded to improved communications and greater competition by moving from a push-style distribution system, which relies on low-cost movement of bulk commodities and large-scale warehousing, to a pull-style distribution system, which relies on smaller, more strategic and time-sensitive movement of goods.
- Increasingly, companies are looking at the quality of a region’s transportation system when deciding where to re-locate or expand. Regions with congested or poorly maintained roads may see businesses relocate to areas with a smoother, more efficient and more modern transportation system.
- Highway accessibility was ranked the number one site selection factor in a 2011 survey of corporate executives by Area Development Magazine.
- A 2007 analysis by the Federal Highway Administration found that every $1 billion invested in highway construction would support approximately 27,800 jobs, including approximately 9,500 in the construction sector, approximately 4,300 jobs in industries supporting the construction sector, and approximately 14,000 other jobs induced in non-construction related sectors of the economy.
- The Federal Highway Administration estimates that each dollar spent on road, highway and bridge improvements results in an average benefit of $5.20 in the form of reduced vehicle maintenance costs, reduced delays, reduced fuel consumption, improved safety, reduced road and bridge maintenance costs and reduced emissions as a result of improved traffic flow.
The federal government is a critical source of funding for Kansas’ roads, highways and bridges and provides a significant return to Kansas in road and bridge funding based on the revenue generated in the state by the federal motor fuel tax.
- If Congress decides to provide additional revenues into the federal Highway Trust Fund in tandem with authorizing a new federal surface transportation program, a number of technically feasible revenue options have been identified by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
- From 2008 to 2012, the federal government provided $1.22 for road improvements in Kansas for every dollar the state paid in federal motor fuel fees.
- Many needed projects throughout the state will require significant federal funding in order to proceed. These projects include the reconstruction of mainline US-69 in Kansas City, the completion of the Gateway Project to modernize Kansas’ portion of the highway network in the Kansas City area, the reconstruction and modernization of a portion of I-70 in Topeka, the construction of a bypass around the northwest portion of Wichita connecting US-54 to I-235/K-96, the reconstruction of the I-135/I-235/K-254/K-96 interchange in Wichita, and the construction of highway bypasses around Pratt, Kingman and Pittsburg. A full list of projects threatened by a lack of federal funding can be found in the report’s Appendix.
Sources of information for this report include the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the U. S. Census Bureau, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO),the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)