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This bill establishes a new comprehensive transportation program, to be called the T-Works Program. The Kansas Department of Transportation estimated that, over the next ten years, the program will have available to it approximately $8.2 billion and produce approximately 175,000 new jobs
Not only does this bill create 175,000 jobs which is the number one issue for Kansans, but the bill sets out legislative intent regarding the program and provides that program expenditures can be made for purposes including, but not limited to, the following:
- Preservation projects, as determined by Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) performance measures;
- Expansion and economic opportunity projects;
- Modernization projects (such as widening lanes or shoulders and upgrading interchanges);
- Assistance to cities and counties as under current law, and adding programs to allow local governments to exchange federal aid funds for state funds;
- Railroad, aviation, and public transit programs, as in existing law; and
- A multi-modal economic development program to provide assistance for transportation-sensitive economic opportunities on a local or a regional basis.
The bill specifies that, between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2020, $8 million is to be spent in each county for transportation projects. It also specifies that motor fuel taxes will remain at current rates and that the distribution of motor fuel taxes will stay at the current ratio of 66.37 percent into the State Highway Fund and 34.63 percent into the Special City and County Highway Fund.