Council debates accelerating KTA interchange project after Turnpike offers 20% funding

City staff told the Topeka City Council on May 12 that the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) has offered in principle to contribute roughly 20% of the cost to build a Southeast 29th Street interchange, which would allow the city to accelerate design from 2030 to 2026 and construction to 2028.

Public works staff member Jason said the total project cost in the staff exhibit is $18,450,000, with the city’s share estimated at $14,850,000 and KTA contributing $3,600,000. Staff described the KTA offer as conditional and said KTA would manage construction because the interchange would be on KTA infrastructure; the city would provide funding and coordinate design/connectivity to local roads and utilities.

Council members raised procedural and fiscal concerns. Councilmember Valdivia Alcala said the timing felt rushed given budget deficits and called for more transparency about bonding and developer prospects. Others, including Councilmember Banks and members who noted the project has been in the CIP for years, urged taking the KTA contribution and moving forward to avoid losing the funding opportunity and to spur economic development in Southeast Topeka.

Council members and staff discussed the need for additional engineering and traffic studies as part of design, potential utility extensions for subsequent development, and prior economic impact studies done for KTA and by Development Strategies. Staff said the proposed schedule and funding reflect current cost assumptions but that additional funding sources would be pursued where possible.

No final vote was taken on the CIP amendment at the May 12 meeting; the item remains scheduled for further consideration and is subject to future bonding decisions and financial scenario analysis.