Thursday, July 2, 2020

The road to staying connected.

Note: We know many employees may have work commitments thatprevent them from watching live, so a recording will be made available.

You don't need to have a Facebook account to watch this announcement live,but if you do have an account you can follow our main Facebook page here:www.facebook.com/KSDOTHQ.

Heartland Logistics Park groundbreaking

Secretary Julie Lorenz, right, joined Governor Laura Kelly and CommerceSecretary David Toland at Heartland Logistics Park's groundbreaking lastweek. The event was was sponsored by the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce.Through the Economic Development Program, KDOT provided approximately$4.2 million to allow infrastructure improvements on K-7, 43rd Street and ClareRoad, which were necessary for the logistics park to locate in the area. KDOTis honored to have played a role in bringing this project to Kansas, which willhelp grow the local economy. You can read the entire story here.

Check out the video and subscribe to ourYoutube channel here:

Two ways KDOT is keeping Kansas on track

KDOT is invested in the success of the shipping, agriculture and railroadindustries and announced nine rail improvement projects selected to receive$11.5 million in State Rail Service Improvement Fund grants. More info here.

Additionally, under IKE, the new Short Line Rail Improvement Fund programhas been created to facilitate maintenance, rail relay and the rehabilitation oftrack, bridge, industrial leads and sidings on Class II or III (short line) railroadsin Kansas. Applications for projects are now open. Click here for more info.

Peters returns to KDOT as newState Traffic EngineerAfter a multi-year absence, Sara Peters returns as

KDOT's new State Traffic Engineer and said shemissed working within the traditional transportationworld, especially traffic engineering.

"I’m looking forward to reconnecting with thosethat I worked with before and building newrelationships with those that came after I left,"Peters said. "I’m excited to get back to what I wentto school for and what I feel I’m more passionateabout."

Peters succeeds Carla Anderson. Carla remains inTransportation Safety and Technology to assistwith Sara's transition. Carla will become a SpecialProjects Engineer. Anderson will plandevelopment in the Traffic Control Unit andmanage the unit on plan development andscheduling. She also will assist with work in theSafety Section and Project Selection.

TECH TIPSThe KDOT Data Warehouse is acentral repository for collecting andmaintaining agency data used forreporting and analysis.

There are over 241 million rows ofdata including, but not limited to, thefollowing systems listed below at left.

BridgeWinCPMS (Project Data)FiscalCANSYS (KHUB)Capital InventoryConsumable InventoryConstructionCrashTruck Routing PermitsHuman ResourcesRight of WayOutdoor AdvertisingSalvageSNICE

Most of the data can be accessed byusing the Report Portals, a simplecentralized web portal where employeescan view reports created with agencydata.

The web-based portal is available to allKDOT employees through the intranetat: http://kdotweb.ksdot.org andhouses reports, queries and documentsthat can be shared across the agency(with appropriate security).

For additional information, contact LoriJones (Lori.Jones@ks.gov) or RichieDonohoe (Richie.Donohoe@ks.gov).

Pandemic changeshow we workCOVID-19 has changed how manyKDOT employees work. While somemay still may be able to telework,others may be returning to offices. Asemployees return, they may noticesome important changes.

At KDOT Headquarters, Plexiglasbarriers were installed at the securitydesk, and signs in the elevators nowremind everyone to wear a mask,which is required in all state buildings.

Check out next week's Translinesissue to find out what other changesare occurring in district offices.

KDOT Division ofAviation sharesUAS technology

with kids

Clear, sunny days have givendrone pilots who wererecently-licensed and KDOTDivision of Aviation staff theopportunity to practice withthe equipment. Even better,the pilots have had thechance to enthuse nearbykids about UAS technology.

I am a Johnson County resident and would like to compliment your teams onrestoring and enhancing some of the area highway systems andinterchanges. A few years ago, I started to notice the replacement of scragglygrasses and weeds with beautiful pops of floral colors and pretty prairiegrasses. Along with the new growth, the influx of butterflies has been verynoticeable and welcome. The landscape looks gorgeous and natural.Thank you to everyone who has been involved. Sincerely,Angel K.

We hope you have a great and safe

Fourth of July!