Accomplishments
Memorandum of Understanding Concerning US-54
Click here to view signed copy of memorandum as pdf)
On February 1st, 2007, the Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Transportation joined her counterparts form Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas in signing the “Memorandum of Understanding Concerning U.S.Highway 54.” In signing this document, each pledged to support the improvement of the highway within his respective state.
Resolutions form Cities, Towns, and Counties
SPIRIT has received resolutions from all cities, towns, and counties along the route in support of the efforts of SPIRIT to receive funding and approval for upgrading US Highway 54 to four lanes from Wichita to El Paso.
Letter of support from Dodge, Garden, and Liberal Mayors
Mayors of the three largest communities in Western Kansas signed a letter stating their cities’ support for the future upgrade of Highway 54 to limited access four-lane road from Wichita through Liberal.
Air Force Letter of Support
SPIRIT received a letter of support form the US Air Force because of US Highway 54 being a strategic Military Route.
Gained Ear of Lawmakers
Members of the SPIRIT Board of Directors meet with Legislators and Federal Highway Administration officials in Washington, DC each year to urge them to consider additional funding for the route.
In the Works:
- Oklahoma has planned to extend their four-lane that runs from Texhoma to Optima. They will extend it to Hooker next.
- Right-of-way is being purchased for a future four-lane highway from Kingman to Pratt and construction is scheduled to start in 2008.
- Four miles of four-lane is being constructed from Liberal to just inside the Oklahoma state line.
- A huge increase in military population and buildup in El Paso is requiring additional interconnections with US-54.
- SPIRIT will be requesting additional funding in the next Kansas Comprehensive Transportation plan for completion of the route from Kingman to Pratt.