The City of Wichita, Sedgwick County and the State of Kansas will share the cost of removing 16 miles of railroad tracks that run from West Street to Garden Plain near Kellogg. This project is a major success for Compact 2000, as it will boost public safety in west Wichita and Sedgwick County and it will improve flow in the Cowskin Creek.
There are 24 railroad crossings along this stretch of track. More than 60,000 motorists a day will no longer be stopped by trains as they travel through the affected intersections.
Another benefit of this project is the removal of a trestle over the Cowskin Creek near Maize Road and Kellogg. This trestle is a major impediment to the flow of water in the creek. Removal of the trestle will be the biggest step in the flood mitigation project to date.
Total cost of this project is $9.3 million. By removing the train track, there will be significant cost savings to the Maize and Tyler interchange projects. Because of this, and the impact to public safety, the Kansas Department of Transportation has agreed to pay $6.5 million toward this project.
The remaining $2.8 million will be divided between the City and the County. As part of Compact 2000, the two governing bodies agreed to share the cost of this major initiative.