TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Governor Laura Kelly announced last week two Kansas communities have secured over $3.3 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Crossing Elimination program.
Combined with almost $413,000 in matching funds from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund, plus $427,830 in local contributions, the investment totals more than $4 million.
The two Kansas projects receiving funding are:
Eastern Kansas Communities Rail Corridor At-Grade Crossing Elimination Plan
- Build Kansas Funding – $107,500
- Federal Funding Awarded – $1,720,000
- Applicant Contribution – $322,500
- Total Project – $2,150,000
The project is a collaboration between the cities of Spring Hill, Fontana, and Fort Scott to improve railroad crossing safety along the BNSF Fort Scott Subdivision.
Liberal Crossing Analysis for Routes Enhancing Safety (Liberal CARES)
- Build Kansas Funding – $305,000
- Federal Funding Awarded – $1,639,520
- Applicant Contribution – $104,880
- Total Project – $2,049,400
The project will support development activities to identify an at-grade railroad closure location and develop a grade separation plan in Liberal.
With this award, the Build Kansas Fund has provided the required match dollars for 38 federal grant awards across Kansas. The combined total investment by the Build Kansas Fund in all projects is over $34.6 million, which has resulted in federal grant awards of more than $75.9 million.
The Kansas Infrastructure Hub connects multiple state agencies and serves as a resource center for Kansas communities to identify best practices for maximizing BIL funding opportunities.
The Build Kansas Fund provides state matching dollars for projects throughout Kansas that successfully apply for federal grants under BIL. In 2023, the Kansas Legislature and Governor Kelly approved $200 million for the Build Kansas Fund to provide state-matching dollars to Kansas entities and projects to meet federal local match requirements.
Copyright 2025 WIBW. All rights reserved.