Davids Announces $1.4 Million Grant to Improve Road Safety in Kansas’ Rural, Suburban Communities

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced a $1.4 million investment coming to Kansas’ Third District to improve roadway safety and prevent fatal crashes in rural and suburban communities. The Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program was established by the bipartisan infrastructure law, which Davids was the only member of the Kansas delegation to support.

“From neighborhood streets to major corridors, roadway safety affects every family,” said Davids. “These bipartisan investments are about fixing problem areas, reducing crashes, and protecting people — whether you’re driving to work, biking to school, or crossing the street. This is what delivering concrete results looks like, literally.” 

Davids previously released a report examining transportation safety in Kansas’ Third District, which found that 21 percent of the state’s pedestrian crash–related deaths in 2020 occurred within the district. The grants announced today are intended to address these safety challenges and improve outcomes, including:

• Franklin County: $660,656
  • Funds will be used to develop a statewide Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, including data-analysis, community engagement, and identifying risk factors to develop harm mitigation strategies.
• City of Olathe: $691,200
  • Funds will be used to develop a citywide Speed Management Plan, a quick-build compact roundabout, and a road safety audits to inform standards and future projects. 

“The City of Princeton and Franklin County are excited about the funding coming to the city from the Safe Streets for All program,” said Paul Bean, Executive Director, Franklin County Economic Development Council. “This economic impact is only possible due to the great support we have received from Representative Davids. The City of Princeton has never received federal funding. This signifies that Rep. Davids works for all of her district to provide support and opportunity for our families, local municipalities, and businesses.”

“We know being able to drive throughout Olathe in a safe and timely manner is a top priority for our residents, and it is for us as well,” said John Bacon, Mayor, Olathe. “This grant money will help us protect our residents while also improving the quality of life for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Thank you to our federal partners for your support of Olathe.”

Davids also announced a separate grant to expand enrollment for Johnson County Community College’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program. The $62,991 federal investment is expected to help JCCC enroll at least nine students, covering a $6,999 tuition cost per student. Davids has visited the program multiple times, including alongside former U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. The nine-week program prepares graduates for in-demand jobs, with many earning between $50,000 and $70,000 in their first year.

“In 2025, JCCC's fully accredited CDL-A training program received grant support from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for full-tuition scholarships available for a limited number of veterans and their immediate families,” said Nick Gonzalez, CL Programs Director, Johnson County Community College. “This is the ninth time the program has received this grant award. To date, these awards have allowed JCCC to provide scholarships to 111 veterans and their family members. Contact the CDL program staff at (913) 469-2323 or by email at cdl@jccc.edu for details.”

The bipartisan infrastructure law, which has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in the last decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is funded through a combination of new revenues and existing savings. To date, more than $3.2 billion has been invested in Kansas through the bipartisan infrastructure law – from expanding statewide rural broadband access, lead pipe replacements in Olathe, safety initiatives in KCK, and long-overdue upgrades to K-68 in Miami County.