Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $3.9M for 12 Innovative Technology Transportation Projects in KS
March 20, 2026 - TOPEKA, KS – 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 |
KDOT Award |
|
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 Goddard Kellogg Corridor |
City of Goddard |
Sedgwick |
$180,709 |
|
Cloud County Autonomous Innovative Delivery (CloudAID) |
Cloud County Community College |
Cloud |
$249,928 |
|
Digital Twin Pilot for 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 |