Parsons will spend $30,000 for assistance in designing a proposed $25 million highway project that would use federal funds.
After discussing the details of the proposal in a Thursday work session, city commissioners quickly approved an agreement with transportation planning and engineering firm TranSystems on Monday evening.
TranSystems will assist the city in applying for a grant of up to $25 million, the maximum amount allowed for cities, through the federal BUILD program. BUILD stands for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development.
The plan as it stands now calls for widening of North 16th Street to four lanes from south of the Labette Creek bridge to the north city limits. The street, which also is U.S. 59, would be overlaid with new concrete and the bridge widened as well. An acceleration/deceleration lane also would be included on one stretch of the highway. Commissioner Kevin Cruse said he had lengthy discussions with people about the proposed project, and he hopes he alleviated their concerns. He understands why some people could be concerned because there is no guarantee that the money spent on application assistance will lead to a grant.
“Thirty thousand dollars is a lot of money,” he said.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)