Rural Safety Innovation Program
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is in the process of applying for a grant through the Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, along with K-DOT (Kansas Department of Transportation). The application will be under the Rural Safety Innovation Program. The goal of the program is to improve rural road safety by assisting rural communities in addressing highway safety problems and by providing them to compete for project funding to address these problems. The Tribal Government is eligible for this partnering with the K-DOT State Agency; the PBPN will be responsible for the 20% non Federal share match.
During discussion in the Tribal Council Chamber, Council, Federal Highway, K-DOT and The R&B Department came to agreement on what to focus attention on the top safety issues to address. K-DOT would like a message board on U. S. 75 in proximity to the 150 road interchange for information to drivers as to changing road conditions, accidents, and road construction ahead. The Chairman requested that Amber Alerts also be put on the boards, K-DOT stated it can be done and the Alerts are controlled by the KBI (Kansas Bureau of Investigation). These would be similar to those seen in Kansas City and be controlled by K-DOT and Highway Patrol by wireless networks or fiber optics.
The nation requested a camera located overlooking the 150/75 Interchange that can be panned and controlled by PBPN to see live time conditions as well as K-DOT by the Internet. This can be reviewed live seeing the Kansas City system at several of their locations at http://www.kcscout.net/. Remote temperature sensors were requested by the R&B to be imbedded in the 150 Interchange Bridge and approach to give live conditions to PBPN R&B as well as K-DOT as to when to get out and best use of sand and salt and de-icing chemicals. Council expressed concern about the 75 Highway Intersections of 158 and 162, K-DOT did have some ideas of what is working at a similar problem on K-10 Highway east of Lawrence, and will include this in the Grant. Portable message signs were discussed for Road Construction and events and more than likely will be included in the process. This is a competitive Grant process Statewide with awards ranging from $200,000.00 to $500,000.00, K-DOT will bring the projected cost back to Tribal Council for a final determination to partner with the State.