KDOT officials hear Northwest Kansas voices at Colby consult meeting
October 22, 2025
A large and vocal crowd filled the City Limits Convention Center in Colby on Wednesday morning as the Kansas Department of Transportation hosted its bi-annual Local Consultation meeting, inviting residents, local leaders, and transportation officials to discuss priorities for the region’s roads, bridges, and public infrastructure.
The event briefly dimmed when a passing storm knocked out power early in the session, but the outage did little to dampen enthusiasm. The room buzzed with conversation as attendees—some wearing community shirts and others representing regional agencies—shared concerns and ideas about the state of Northwest Kansas highways.
“This is what we love to see,” said Calvin Reed, Kansas Secretary of Transportation. “A great turnout, a lot of participation, and people who genuinely care about making our system safer and stronger. Our goal is to know our customers—the taxpayers—and to make sure we’re working in alliance with the people who live and travel here.”
Reed highlighted the progress made through KDOT’s Eisenhower Transportation Legacy Program (IKE)—a 10-year plan now at its halfway point. According to Reed, the program has already invested $4.5 billion statewide, improving 530 bridges and 9,000 miles of roadway in just five years.
For Northwest Kansas, that progress includes 1,121 miles of roadway and 48 bridges upgraded, totaling $347 million spent to date out of an anticipated $700 million for the decade. Reed emphasized that while costs have risen since COVID-19, KDOT remains committed to keeping projects on schedule.
“The pandemic and inflation certainly impacted materials and labor, but the commitment to Kansas communities hasn’t changed,” Reed said. “We’re investing in modernization, safety, and economic development in every corner of the state.”
Major current and recent projects include the U.S. 183 bypass in Ellis County, K-23 reconstruction and shoulder work in Sheridan County, and U.S. 281 improvements in Osborne County.
The consultation format divided attendees into breakout groups—Red, Blue, Purple, and Multi-Modal—where participants discussed their local priorities and concerns.
From Thomas County, Paul Steele raised again the long-standing request for a roundabout at the Nine-Mile Corner south of Colby. Others spoke about narrow shoulders along K-25 north toward Atwood, while residents from Russell and Osborne counties echoed similar worries about highway width and safety on K-281.
Across several tables, participants voiced a common theme: a need for wider shoulders and safer pull-off zones for motorists and law enforcement. Officers, attendees said, lack safe areas to monitor traffic or conduct stops on many rural stretches.
Kansas Representative Jim Minnix of Scott City joined one breakout, recalling past discussions about the possibility of a North–South Interstate corridor that would connect I-40 and I-80 along the K-83 route. Minnix suggested such a highway could ease congestion on other north–south routes like K-25, K-23, and K-281 while enhancing commercial trucking efficiency across the plains.
Reed’s presentation also detailed multi-modal investments totaling over $68 million for Northwest Kansas, spanning rail, aviation, public transit, and local road partnerships. Those include $12 million in rail improvements, $13 million for transit, $10 million for aviation, and $31 million for local road development, along with cost-share and economic development initiatives.
He noted that KDOT’s promise of at least $8 million per county in improvement projects has been met in 101 of Kansas’ 105 counties, with Cheyenne County among the few still awaiting completion—something Reed pledged to fulfill by year’s end.
By the end of the morning, representatives from each breakout group shared their top-ranked project priorities, with strong regional backing for U.S. 281 in Osborne County, where plans call for a full reconstruction and the addition of shoulders. Nearly as much enthusiasm centered on U.S. 83 in Thomas County, which would see new passing lanes and widened shoulders to better handle heavy truck traffic and improve overall safety.
Despite the technical discussions and spreadsheets, the tone remained collaborative. Reed praised the input, saying it directly influences KDOT’s upcoming funding allocations.
“This consultation process is how we make sure every voice in Kansas is heard,” he told the audience. “It’s easy for us in Topeka to get lost in a sea of data and projects—but meetings like this bring us back to what really matters: the people and places we serve.”
Reed closed by inviting the public to attend a virtual follow-up meeting through Zoom on October 28, available online through the KDOT website, and by reinforcing the agency’s Drive to Zero Coalition, an initiative focused on reducing roadway fatalities through education and community partnerships.
“Seat belts save lives, but we also have to address distractions and the human side of safety,” he said. “Every one of us can play a role in getting Kansas closer to zero deaths on our highways.”
As participants filed out of the City Limits Convention Center—many exchanging notes and handshakes—the sense of local pride was unmistakable. In a part of the state defined by long distances and open roads, the message was clear: Northwest Kansas wants to stay connected, safe, and heard.