The Kansas legislature has passed a measure initiated by Gov. Sam Brownback (R) that puts the secretary of transportation in charge of operations at the Kansas Turnpike, although the bill stipulates that turnpike toll revenue cannot be shifted to the Department of Transportation.
Under the bill, the Kansas secretary of transportation, currently Mike King, will assume control of turnpike operations on July 1.
The bill was opposed by truckers who said Brownback was politicizing the turnpike and that they fear turnpike resources will underwrite KDOT operations as well as Brownback’s effort to end state income taxes.
“The [turnpike] board is still in place, however, the only person who can terminate the secretary is the governor,” said Thomas Whitaker, executive director of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association.
The bill, which awaits Brownback’s signature, allows for the sharing of equipment and personnel between the two agencies.
“Now, KMCA becomes the watchdog of the turnpike authority,” Whitaker said.
KDOT officials said the turnpike will not be politicized and that the bill eliminates costly duplication between transportation agencies.
“Kansans have come to expect good highways whether they are traveling on the state system or the turnpike, and there is nothing about this operational arrangement that will change that,” King said in a statement.
