08/17/2026
CITY OF COLUMBUS SECURES $801,000 STATE GRANT FOR MAPLE STREET SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
The City of Columbus has officially been awarded $801,000 in federal grant funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Transportation Alternatives (TA) program. The grant will fund the city’s Safe Routes to School Improvements - Priority 3 project, designed to significantly enhance pedestrian safety, accessibility, and stormwater management on Maple Street – the city’s main thoroughfare.
The funding is part of a statewide announcement made by Governor Laura Kelly and KDOT, distributing over $37 million to 33 active transportation and infrastructure projects across Kansas. Construction on these projects will take place in 2028.
The Columbus project is divided into two primary sections aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety and local connectivity:
• Section 1 (West Maple Street & Lakewood West): Sidewalk construction will begin on the north side of the road at the intersection of Washington Avenue and West Maple Street, extending west to Riverside Drive. This phase includes critical drainage improvements along West Maple Street to mitigate steep ditches. From Riverside Drive, the path will extend north, terminating near the new Lakewood West subdivision.
• Section 2 (East Maple Street & Reeves Park): Construction begins on the south side of East Maple Street, east of Highway 69, extending east to the Apple Glen Apartments. The sidewalk will then cross to the north side of East Maple Street at North 4th Avenue, continue east to North 6th Avenue, and turn north to end at the entrance of Reeves Park.
"This vital work will effectively link our west city limit boundary to the east with a safe, accessible sidewalk along Maple Street," said Jake Letner, Columbus City Administrator. "This project will connect the new Lakewood West subdivision to the interior community, while providing a safe pedestrian trafficway for residents at the Apple Glen Apartments to easily access the interior town and Reeves Park. Additionally, it will include vital drainage improvements on the north side of Maple Street, reducing the number of steep ditches and improving overall stormwater management."
The Transportation Alternatives program prioritizes projects that increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly around school routes and residential hubs. KDOT evaluated 40 statewide applications using data from the state’s Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment Tool, selection criteria based on safety countermeasures, local readiness, and geographic distribution.
To view the full press release, please visit this link: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KSOG/bulletins/4255ea4
