By DALE HOGG
Barton County Media Consultant
To help address what was termed a big issue, Barton County has been awarded a $239,138 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a county-wide transportation plan.
The grant, a fiscal year 2025 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant, was awarded to the Barton County Health Department for the Barton County Accessible Public Transportation (BCAPT) Planning Project.
Karen Winkelman, the county health director, announced the grant to the county commission Tuesday morning. The two-year grant period is set to begin on Oct. 1, 2025, and will conclude on Sept. 30, 2027.
“The grant funds will be used to develop a master transportation plan for the entire county through a community engagement process that will include surveys, focus groups and community events,” Winkelman said.
The grant is the third time the county has applied for funding for a transportation plan. “We were persistent because of the need,” Winkelman said.
The need for improved transportation was identified during Community Health Needs Assessments conducted by local hospitals and the public health department. According to Winkelman, transportation was one of the top three priorities identified in each community, alongside food insecurity and mental health awareness.
The grant funds will be used to hire a rural public transportation consultant, who will assist the county in developing a request for proposals and a community engagement process. The project will also revisit and update a Chronic Diseases Reduction Grant-funded 2016 bicycle and pedestrian master plan that was never implemented due to a lack of funding.
The grant is a reimbursement grant, meaning the county will incur expenses and then be reimbursed by the federal government. The budget will support the hiring of the consultant, a portion of the salaries for two health department staff members, and contracting supplies.
The grant agreement is not yet finalized. A planned kickoff meeting with the U.S. Department of Transportation was canceled and has not yet been rescheduled. The County Commission directed its chairman to approve the grant award, subject to a review of the final agreement by County Counselor Patrick Hoffman.
“I do think transportation is a very big issue,” said Commission Chairman Tricia Schlessiger, District 4. It is even a concern in smaller communities like Ellinwood.
“This will involve a lot of community engagement” with all segments of the population, Winkelman said. “Community engagement is the key. We can go out there and say what we think is needed, but it's the community members who are experiencing the gaps so we need their voices heard.”
Winkelman noted the grant does not require the county to provide matching funds.
About Barton County
Located in Central Kansas, Barton County lives by its motto of investing in growth. Supporting a variety of initiatives, the Barton County Commission invites residents to be part of broader conversations and to work in a joint effort for a robust economy, improved quality of life and collaboration that positions Barton County for the future. Check it out at 1400 Main Street, Suite 108, Great Bend, KS 67530, 620-793-1800, www.bartoncounty.org.