PASSED: Davids Secures Federal Investment for 14 Local Projects in the Kansas Third

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced that $14.8 million is coming to the Third District of Kansas to benefit local projects. If accepted by local recipients, the projects will help purchase new law enforcement training vehicles, modernize a bridge that connects Kansas and Missouri, improve water access during extreme weather, and more. Out of hundreds of bipartisan submissions, 14 Davids-requested projects were passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today as part of a broader bipartisan government funding bill. The president is expected to sign the projects into law this week.

“My job is to advocate for the Third District in Washington and make sure the priorities of folks in our community are being addressed,” said Davids. “Our team worked in tandem with local officials and conducted detailed reviews of each proposal to ensure they met strong standards with a high return on investment. I’ve long fought for responsible budget policies that protect taxpayers, and these investments maintain that commitment to fiscal responsibility while making a difference for Kansas.”

These 14 projects were included in the bipartisan government funding package that funds six federal agencies and averts a partial government shutdown this Friday. Davids has consistently called for a bipartisan, commonsense solution that keeps our government open for the long term and protects Kansans’ ability to support their families. Before March 22, Congress must pass an additional government funding package to fund six other federal agencies.

“Since coming to Congress, it’s been my mission to ensure the federal government actually works as it’s intended and makes life easier for Kansans,” said Davids. “While it took longer than I’d have hoped, Republicans and Democrats have united behind legislation that keeps our government open, lowers costs for hardworking Kansans, creates good-paying jobs, protects women’s rights, honors our commitments to veterans, and confronts the climate crisis. I urge Congressional leadership to continue negotiating in a bipartisan manner on the additional funding bills needed to avert a costly shutdown.”

Each of the 14 Davids-requested projects were submitted in tandem with local officials and selected for their potential to improve health and safety in the community, bring economic opportunity to the Third District, and tackle climate change. Appropriations requests are subject to strict transparency and accountability rules, which can be found here.

Read more about how each project will improve lives in our community, if accepted by local recipients:

Roads and Bridges

• The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City was awarded $3,500,000 towards a complete reconstruction of the Kansas Avenue Bridge, which connects Kansas and Missouri and supports 8,000 daily trips. The project will reconnect the two states using modern streetscapes with improved pedestrian, bicycle, and ADA accommodations.
  • This was a joint request with Representative Jake LaTurner (R-KS-02).

• The City of Overland Park was awarded $1,466,279 toreconfigure 82nd Street at Metcalf Blvd. with a traffic signal and small park. The project will allow for safer travel through the Metcalf corridor for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. The project will help the roadway match the City's Vision Metcalf Plan to address aging infrastructure along Metcalf Avenue.

• The City of Leawood was awarded $500,000 to raise an important roadway above the floodplain, reducing emergency response times and enhancing the safety of Leadwood citizens. Bike lanes and two pedestrian crossings will also be added along the road, which houses the current Justice Center and a future fire department facility.

• The City of Mission was awarded $850,000 to make roadway improvements that include pavement reconstruction, curb and gutter replacement, and the installation of new sidewalks and streetlights. These improvements, which will enhance safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists traveling through the Foxridge corridor, also include a new stormwater system to address flooding.

Public Safety

• Johnson County Community College’s Johnson County Regional Police Academy was awarded $150,000 to help purchase three law enforcement training vehicles for their Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. Recruits will utilize these vehicles to enhance their training opportunities, allowing for the rehearsal of more realistic traffic stop and driving scenarios.

• The City of Overland Park was awarded $850,000 to update 190 traffic signal controllers that are too old for future maintenance. This project would improve safety for drivers and help ensure the city’s systems are less susceptible to cyber threats. The City's current traffic signal controllers, which conduct real-time road traffic control, are too outdated for upgrades, posing safety risks for the essential daily commutes of Kansans.

Water

• Johnson County Wastewater was awarded $1,509,000 to relocate, modify, and protect sanitary sewage lines along Highway US-69. The project, identified as a necessity by the Kansas Department of Transportation, will address safety and congestion issues that have been identified along Highway US 69 for the past 25 years.

• The City of Edgerton was awarded $959,752 to install 2,000 feet of new sewage pipe, which is a project that has stalled due to high-cost hurdles and the intersection of a water way, rail line, and high-pressure gas pipeline. The project will pave the way for population growth and continued success at logistic Park Kansas City, which already generates about 3.4 percent of the entire state's economic output.

• The City of Olathe was awarded $791,000 toreplace the existing generator at the Renner Water Pump Station, making the facility compliant with modern electrical, building, and safety code requirements. The current generator, which is required to provide reliable standby power during extreme weather events, is at the end of its service life and spare parts are no longer available for repairs.

• The City of Olathe was awarded $959,752 to install backup generators at two of the City's underground water wells, providing necessary risk mitigation during extreme weather events. Currently, if power is lost, the City loses almost half of its water capacity, as two of the four wells do not have backup capabilities.

• The City of Gardner was awarded $850,000 to construct new underground water pipes that move wastewater to the water treatment facility. Gardner has the highest projected growth rate in Johnson County through 2030 and this project will ensure the City’s water infrastructure can keep up with projected population growth.

• The City of De Soto was awarded $959,752 to replace aging equipment at the City’s water treatment plant, which will soon support the largest economic development project in the state of Kansas, the Panasonic EV Battery plant. The project will also ensure the plant meets safety standards when supporting more than 9,300 new acres of development.

• The City of Garnett was awarded $959,752 to help construct a new water treatment plant that will provide safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water to 3,400 Kansans. The current plant, constructed in the 1930's, no longer meets regulatory guidelines. Without construction of a new plant, the City may cease water treatment and be forced to truck it from more than 28 miles away.

• The City of De Soto was awarded $500,000 to build a new water tower, a crucial component for supporting the upcoming Panasonic EV battery plant and managing water flow across the 9,300 acres of new development. The new tower, in conjunction with the existing Astra Water Tower, will also provide fire protection for billions of dollars in government and private investment.