City of Salina approves receiving $22 million federal grant for Smoky Hill River Renewal

Charles Rankin, Salina Journal
·4 min read

Years of hard work, dedication and hope has finally led to real, perceivable progress happening with the Smoky Hill River Renewal Project.

After approval by the Salina City Commission Monday, a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant will see more than $22 million of funding coming to the project from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The city's application for the grant was primarily to help replace seven bridges along the Old Smoky Hill River Channel, but will also include funding for other aspects of the project such as trails and lighting.

"Now the project actually blows wide open," said Jane Anderson, executive director of the Friends of the River Foundation.

The Mulberry Street crossing of the Old Smoky Hill River Channel. The Salina City Commission approved a RAISE grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for $22 million to be used to replace bridges along the channel, as well as several other aspects of the Smoky Hill River Renewal Project.
The Mulberry Street crossing of the Old Smoky Hill River Channel. The Salina City Commission approved a RAISE grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for $22 million to be used to replace bridges along the channel, as well as several other aspects of the Smoky Hill River Renewal Project.

When will people start seeing work done on the Smoky Hill River Renewal Project?

According to Anderson, approval of this grant agreement starts the process of getting the full project underway.

"There'll be so much to do, (such as) final design," Anderson said. "The whole project, for the RAISE grant, will be bid out in 2026, at the end of (that year). You'll see major construction from 2027-31."

Anderson said this grant is a big step, meaning that Phase One of the project should be completed by 2031.

"What we did on Monday, people don't realize, but it's (probably) the biggest day for the river yet," Anderson said. "This is a real project now, with real money behind it and it's really heading toward construction."

The total cost of the project is actually closer to $34 million, and as part of the agreement, there is a cost share by the community for 35% of the total, or $11,675,000 which will be split between the City of Salina, at $8,270,000 and the Friends of the River, at $3,405,000.

Support for Smoky Hill River Renewal Project at many levels

Anderson was on hand during the meeting Monday to voice the support of the foundation for the city reaching this grant agreement, saying it wasn't an easy thing to get this RAISE funding.

"There's only 10% (of RAISE applications) that get funded," Anderson said. "In the year that we received the...grant, there were only two (recipients) in Kansas."

She said first-time RAISE applicants are also rarely funded, and the Smoky Hill River project was a "first-timer."

"These are really precious dollars and they're very difficult to get," Anderson said.

According to Anderson, one of the key aspects of the project getting this grant was the support of federal lawmakers from Kansas, particularly one senator.

"This was highly competitive and Senator (Jerry) Moran has really helped us all the way with this," Anderson said. "You have a senator that's put his name on the line for you...and his goodwill toward us to do the right thing."

Anderson, and the foundation, weren't alone in voicing support for approval of the grant and the renewal project as a whole.

Tom Hemmer returned to Salina in 2002 after living in Virginia for several years and said this project will make his decision to return to the place he was born and raise even more worthwhile.

"Among the sacrifices in moving (back) was the lack of a trail system for hiking and biking (in Salina)," Hemmer said. "I've always dreamed of a trail system through the old river, revitalizing that old river and renewing it."

He said it was explained to him just how expensive it would be to complete such a project, particularly in regards to the infrastructure improvements that would need to be made on these seven bridges.

"I kind of gave (that dream) up, because it would be just far more expensive than we'd ever be able to do in our community," Hemmer said.

Now, with a series of things coming together, including this RAISE grant, Hemmer said he believes there will never be another time to make this dream a reality.

"I know it's a great risk and I know it's a difficult decision because of all the uncertainties, but I encourage the commission to approve (this grant agreement)," Hemmer said.

Finally, the commissioners themselves said this support shows how committed the community is to this project.

"The (comment) that resonated with me was (about) the return on investment," said Commissioner and Mayor Bill Longbine. "No one expected the downtown investment to be as successful as it was and we all get comments about how great it is."

Longbine said he also remembers what the river used to be like flowing through the city and he's excited to see that return.

"It will be...just another step to move this community forward," Longbine said.

In the end, the commission voted 5-0 in favor of the RAISE grant agreement to the applause of several constituents in the room.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina river renewal moving forward after $22 million federal grant