Southwest Kansas legislators discuss road program

Returning fiscal soundness to the state’s budget will help in long-term plans to improve roads and bridges and that serve rural Kansans.

That was the view expressed by three Kansas House members attending a legislative update Feb. 10 at High Plains Journal’s communications center.

During a legislative update in Dodge City, Rep. Leonard Mastroni, R-LaCrosse, said House leadership has indicated a desire to put together a committee to look at highway needs. During a question-and-answer session, a constituent asked if building a four-lane highway on U.S. Highway 50 from Dodge City to Cimarron was still a priority.

As the state dealt with budget problems in recent years funds for highway programs were diverted. The four-lane highway between the two cities was a Kansas Department of Transportation priority as southwest Kansas depends on large trucks to move commerce and agriculture products.

Mastroni hopes those who will study the next highway plan will include carryover projects that were not funded.

In western Kansas, there are more semi-tractors and trailers using highways that at minimum lack wide shoulders, Mastroni said. Those should be priorities, too.

Rep. Boyd Orr, R-Fowler, voiced the same hope as Mastroni but acknowledged it is largely unknown what will unfold. “The jury is still out,” he said.

Rep. Brad Ralph, R-Dodge City, said each year is a new year and the coalition of western Kansas legislators are on board with highway improvements that will benefit their constituents.

“We will do the best we can,” Ralph said. “We share your concern.”

Orr said another infrastructure need in rural areas was broadband and high speed internet, which are key to attracting younger people to come back and live in rural areas.

In one of his committee hearings a telecommunications company said it would come to Fowler and it would cost customers $860 a month, Orr said. While that cost per month was unrealistic he commended the company for its willingness to offer dialogue on the subject.

“I propose we have broadband like how we did with the REA to get electricity to the farms many years ago,” Orr said. “Roads are more important now in how we do our business, and broadband is the information highway and we need both.”

Mastroni also talked about autonomous vehicles to handle commerce.

The lawmakers said the development of the industry has been quick. Fiber optics needs to be in installed to allow the vehicles to have consistent communication.

The House Transportation Committee has given its blessing to allow testing, Mastroni said. He believes by the year 2035 autonomous vehicles will be common throughout the state.

“It is not here today, but someday,” Orr said.

The lawmakers also:

• Expressed hope new Gov. Jeff Colyer will bring pragmatism and openness and they were encouraged by Colyer’s wanting to reach out to them.

• Discussed K-12 funding and said while the Kansas Supreme Court has given them to the summer find a long-term solution it will take time to find the right number of dollars. The lawmakers also noted the state will have other issues to look at including prisons and mental health services.

The update was sponsored by Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce and High Plains Journal.

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].