Kansas Department of Transportation

03/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/20/2026 10:30

Governor Kelly announces nearly $3.9M for 12 Innovative Technology transportation projects

TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly announced today that nearly $3.9 million will be awarded to 12 projects across the state through the Kansas Department of Transportation's (KDOT) Innovative Technology Program for FY 2027. The program makes strategic investments that implement new transportation technology while improving safety, access, and mobility.

"With projects ranging from bolstering rural health care services to improving safety at intersections - we are making smart, targeted investments to improve quality of life for Kansans across the state," Governor Laura Kelly said. "This crucial funding will expand the ways Kansans use and benefit from modern, essential transportation technology."

Projects related to the Kansas transportation system and utilizing new technology are eligible to apply for KDOT's Innovative Technology funding. Projects selected in this round include smart signal upgrades, onboard security monitoring, pedestrian safety upgrades, emergency vehicle preemption, hands-on drone education and outreach, and more.

Each award recipient is providing a minimum of 25% in matching funds, resulting in a total innovative technology investment of more than $8.1 million. The program is part of the Kelly administration's bipartisan, 10-year, Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, also known as IKE.

"New and emerging technologies offer the potential for a safer, more efficient transportation system," said Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. "The significant local matching funds provided for these projects show just how committed local communities are to improving safety and operations for Kansans.

Projects selected through the Innovative Technology program for FY 2027 include:

Project Name

Applicant Organization

County

KDOTAward

AI-Driven Onboard Security Monitoring

Johnson County Transit

Johnson

$112,500

4th-7th "Smart Signals" and Pedestrian Safety Upgrades (Centennial Bridge Readiness)

City of Leavenworth

Leavenworth

$110,250

Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft Procurement

Kansas State University-Salina

Saline

$999,750

Split Cycle Offset Optimization Technique(SCOOT)-City of GoddardKelloggCorridor

City of Goddard

Sedgwick

$180,709

Cloud County Autonomous Innovative Delivery (CloudAID)

Cloud County Community College

Cloud

$249,928

DigitalTwin Pilotfor Intelligent Intersection Management

The University of Kansas

Douglas

$46,775

Emergency Vehicle Preemption I-70 to KUMed

Unified Government of Wyandotte County & Kansas City, KS

Wyandotte

$158,660

Flight Forward: Drone Discovery

Cosmosphere

Reno

$74,025

Liberal Smart Signal Upgrades

City of Liberal

Seward

$140,994

Rural Healthcare Drone Delivery

Community Healthcare System of NE Kansas

Pottawatomie

$750,000

SAA Smart Airport Command Center (SACC) & Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative

Salina Airport Authority

Saline

$933,600

Signal Coordination Project

City of Salina

Saline

$100,747

Total:

$3,857,938


Kansas Department of Transportation published this content on March 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 20, 2026 at 16:30 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]