By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
An early Christmas present for the city of Hays was announced Friday afternoon by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, (R-Kansas), a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Hays has been awarded $6.05 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation for infrastructure improvements along U.S. Highway 183, also known as Vine Street.
The funding would be used for the Access Managed Roundabouts Corridor to create traffic roundabouts at 32nd/33rd, 37th and 41st streets along Vine. The estimated cost of the project this summer was $7.6 million.
City commissioners were told about the grant award by City Manager Toby Dougherty prior to Thursday night’s commission work session.
“By us getting this grant we can definitely do it the right way the first time and it’s going to save us a lot of our local tax money to pay for it,” Commissioner Shaun Musil said Friday.
Musil said the initial project plan will be adjusted somewhat to comply with federal government requirements.
“So, it’ll cost a little bit more, the total project, but what we will have to spend will be a lot less, which is the best part.”
On June 14, city commissioners approved a charter ordinance for a 2 percent increase in the Transient Guest Tax (TGT) to 7 percent. The increase, which went into effect Oct. 1, is projected to raise $6.2 million over 20 years to fund the roundabout project.
“Now we’ll be able to pay it off much faster,” Musil said.
During discussion about raising the TGT, Musil asked Dougherty if the 2 percent increase could be lowered pending any grant awards.
Dougherty responded, “If you raise the TGT in anticipation of prepaying the project and there’s added grant monies or the future commission decides we’re only going to do part of the project and not all of it, which would be a lower price tag, the commission could determine what the net income needed to be… They could either modify the TGT down to 1 percent or leave it at 2 percent for a shorter duration.”
Musil thanked city staff for their role in submitting the grant application.
“They probably should get the most credit for putting this together. We’re going to save a lot of money.”
Current traffic conditions on north Vine Street are considered unsafe, lack pedestrian access, and are difficult for visitors and travelers to navigate.
Engineering and design of the three roundabouts is underway by WSP engineers, Lenexa, which was hired in May.
Several community members have spoken against the project. Musil understands not everybody supports roundabouts.
“I know there’ll be people that don’t like the roundabouts, but this will be not only for now, but for the future of Hays for many years to come.
“This will make it a lot easier for Hays to grow a little bit more rapidly.”