Rural Transportation Infrastructure Preservation in Kansas: Issues and Challenges

Rural transportation infrastructure, owned and maintained largely by local governments, has a unique role in the mobility of the United States. Local transportation infrastructure is maintained mostly by property taxes. Federal assistance for local governments for rural infrastructure preservation is minimal. Cities and counties across the state of Kansas have an enormous task in maintaining their roads and bridges: 90% of the roads and 80% of the bridges in the state are their direct responsibility. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 1990 and 2000, 59 of the 105 counties in Kansas lost population, some as much as 14%. Adequate funding for transportation infrastructure is the biggest concern in the counties where population is decreasing, followed by maintenance and rehabilitation issues. Some counties with falling population have experienced a decrease in travel in terms of average daily vehicle miles traveled. However, truck travel increased in some counties, which resulted in deteriorated pavements. Very little data exist to assess highway and bridge maintenance needs. An asset management system for the counties would be ideal to assess current and future needs. Rural transportation infrastructure development should be part of regional plans for economic development. Although the number of structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges is higher on the county roads than on the city or state routes, no separate funding exists for local bridges in Kansas. More federal assistance in this area is also urgently needed.