Brief⁽¹⁾

H.C.R. 5054 urges the United States Congress to support modernization of US-59 highway by designating it as a demonstration project. The resolution notes that:

• according to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), within a 20-mile stretch on US-59 highway from Lawrence to Ottawa, there have been 468 accidents within the last five years;



• according to KDOT, 103 of those 468 accidents have involved personal injury and bodily harm;



• because of the persistent and continuing economic and population growth in the area, the traffic count on US-59 will continue to increase, providing a greater threat to the safety of the traveling public;



• engineering deficiencies in the past have led to the existence of a highway with scant passing areas and nonexistent shoulders;



• this highway is the only viable connecting link between the major traffic arteries of Interstate 70 and Interstate 35 between K-7 to the east and the Kansas Turnpike to the west;

• the large costs of purchasing rights-of-way and engineering makes this an ideal project for the State of Kansas to partner in cost sharing with the federal government;



• the danger and risk of traveling on US-59 highway has reached proportions that exceed the reasonable risks associated with driving on our public highways;



• the tragic loss of life has become too great on US-59 highway and corrective measures are needed immediately to remedy the unsafe and hazardous conditions and improve the safety of this highway; and



• the State of Kansas is financially unable to remedy this life-threatening situation in the near future.

The Secretary of State is directed to send copies of this resolution to each member of the Kansas Congressional Delegation.

Background

H.R. 2400, a bill in the U.S. Congress, designates a portion of US-59 highway from the northern terminus of Ottawa north to the Franklin-Douglas County line as a demonstration project and provides $10 million for highway improvements. H.R. 2400 is currently in conference committee.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext-bill.html.