By Andra Bryan Stefanoni

news@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. —  More than 100 people representing many Southeast Kansas communities and counties turned out Friday for a forum held by the governor’s newly formed task force on transportation.

Two questions resonated throughout the sessions: What do people need and want in terms of transportation, and how to pay for it?

The meetings are part of an effort to develop a third Comprehensive Transportation Plan for Kansas.

Kansas legislators and those representing rail, aviation, highways, public transit and bike/pedestrian issues presented their visions to the task force.

Highway goals

Elected leaders and city officials from Montgomery County, Independence, and Parsons want the task force to widen U.S. Highway 400 to four lanes from Pittsburg to Wichita to assist economic development.

“It’s a high priority,” said Ann Charles, deputy director of the Local Redevelopment Authority in Parsons, which wants to develop an industrial park on the site of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant.

Employment was at 1,400 people during the Gulf War, but dropped to 230 after cuts by the U.S. Department of Defense, she said.

“We want that to be back at 1,300 or above,” she said. “We see development as including office space, light and heavy industrial, safe-haven parking for trucks on 400 ... plus possible hunting and fishing as it is the No. 7 whitetail deer-hunting spot in the United States.”

Others wanted an emphasis on making U.S. Highway 69 a four-lane corridor from Fort Scott to Interstate 44 in Oklahoma.

“It should be the No. 1 priority. It is of vital importance, and it’s not just a Pittsburg bypass,” said Kevin Mitchelson, of Pittsburg, a previous member of the Kansas Highway Commission and now a member of the Highway 69 Association.

He cited a study projecting a 20.3 increase in population in the Pittsburg area between now and 2030.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth at PSU with the Kansas Technology Center and the Polymer Center, and yesterday PSU announced a record enrollment of 7,000 students. In an area like this, it has been and will continue to be a heavily traveled road,” he said.