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The Rundown is prepared by the City of Newton Communications Office to summarize the City Commission meeting and does not represent official Commission minutes.

May 14, 2024 Newton City Commission meeting

City to apply for bike path extension grant

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the City Commission authorized an application to the Kansas Department of Transportation for a Transportation Alternatives (TA) grant to extend the Sand Creek Bike Path.

The project would extend bike path from the Sand Creek dam south along the creek to Southwest 14th Street. The new path would eliminate the remaining gap in the bike path, creating a continuous off-road trail from Sand Creek Station Golf Course on the south end all the way to Bethel College on the north. It will also create walking/biking access to the new Rhoades Wetland Park on SW 14th Street.

Total cost for the project is estimated at $3.6 million. The TA grant would pay for 80% of eligible costs, and the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program would cover the 20% match.

If the project is funded, the City would need to work with BNSF Railway on right-of-way and other coordination, as the path would cross under the railroad trestles south of First Street.

The grant application will be submitted this week, and award announcements are expected in July. If funded, the project will come back to the City Commission for approval prior to bidding.  

In other action, the City Commission:

1. Approved a request from the All Together Now committee to waive up to $3,500 in permit and inspection fees for the new Slate Creek inclusive playground.
2. Updated the City’s agreement with KDOT for reconstruction of the I-135 and 36th Street interchange to include more decorative fencing on the bridge.
3. Proclaimed May as Mental Health Matters Month.
4. Proclaimed May as Bike Month, May 13-19 as Bike to Work Week, and May 17 as Bike to Work Day.
5. Proclaimed May 12-18 as National Police Week and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.
6. Proclaimed May 19-25 as Public Works Week.
7. Proclaimed May 19-25 as EMS Week.
8. Approved a request to close West Fifth Street on Oct. 19 for Health Ministries’ Family Fun Day.
9. Received the first quarter financial report.
10. Approved participation in the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Federal Fund Exchange program for street maintenance funding.

For more information, please contact Communications Director Erin McDaniel at 316-284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.