Brief (1)
SB 155 would designate a greater portion of United States Highway 75 as the Purple Heart/Combat Wounded Veterans Highway. The designation would begin on Highway 75 at the Kansas-Nebraska border, then south to the junction with K-9, then west to the junction of K-9 with K-62, then south to the junction of K-62 with K-16, then east to the junction with U.S. Highway 75, then south on U.S. 75 to the Kansas-Oklahoma border.
This designation also would require a portion of the Blue Star Memorial Highway to be removed. This portion begins on U.S. Highway 75 on the Kansas-Nebraska border, then south to the junction with K-9, then west to the junction of K-9 with K-62, then south to the junction of K-62 with K-16, then east to the junction with U.S. Highway 75, then south to U.S. Highway 40.
The Secretary of Transportation would be required to place markers along the highway right-of-way at proper intervals to indicate that the highway is the Purple Heart/Combat Wounded Veterans Highway. The Secretary may accept and administer gifts and donations to aid in obtaining suitable highway signs bearing the proper approved inscription.
Background
The Commander of the Department Adjutant of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Wichita Chapter, testified in support of the bill. He also requested the Senate Committee amendment which changed the designation from the Combat Wounded Veterans Highway to the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway.
No other conferees testified on the bill.
The Senate Committee of the Whole amendment would designate this portion of the highway as the Purple Heart/Combat Wounded Veterans Highway.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) indicates that the bill would cost approximately $1,800 in FY 2002. Of this amount, $300 would be for sign construction and installation and $1,500 for removing three Blue Star memorials located at rest areas. To the extent that donations are received, the net state cost would be reduced. The cost estimate includes plan preparation and review for three hours, sign manufacture, and sign installation for one sign per rest area. Cost for removing the Blue Star memorials is based on a crew of four maintenance personnel taking two hours per rest area to dismantle and haul away the stones and plaques, and reseeding the area. KDOT states that this bill's fiscal effect could be absorbed within current resources.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi