Ethanol Plants in Kansas

Ethanol Plant NE of Liberal, KS

July 26, 2006-Meeting w/UPRR, KDOT and Ethanol GroupAugust 2006- Ethanol Plant Group breaks ground with Governor

Rolling Hills Road “before” Annual Average Daily Traffic=32 Trains= 17/day

Concept Plan to move US-54 south and move Rolling Hills Road west

Rolli

ng H

ills

Rd.

US-54

Concept for Avenue A Overpass

This concept would cost less than moving US-54. Plans were developed for this concept, Rolling

Hills Road would be closed with this project.

EthanolPlant

Avenue AUS-

54

UPR

R

Rolli

ng H

ills

Rd.

Collision at Rolling Hills Rd.

During plant construction a car going south collides with UP train going southwest on Nov. 8, 2006

3 fatalities FRA requests a review at the crossing, this

took place on Mar. 28, 2007; at the review a possible connection road north of the plant was discussed.

Improvements made after review: berm was flattened in NE quadrant, yield sign installed for northbound traffic and crossing was widened.

Rolling Hills Road-Plant Opened in Dec. 2007

Projected Annual Average Daily Traffic…4200

Jan. 2008 KDOT is advised that the Ethanol

group can’t fund their share of the overpass project.

The overpass project plans are to be completed, the overpass project letting moved out 2 years.

KDOT-UPRR initiates crossing signal project at Rolling Hills Road.

April 2008The Rolling Hills Rd. crossing and roadway was widened an additional 10 feet, the power pole in the southeast quadrant was removed and the southeast radius was improved.

Conclusion Industries that develop an area should be

responsible up front to provide transportation improvements or funds for these transportation improvements.

This should include at least 50% plans of the improvement prior to construction beginning on the industry.

The reality of this happening with this particular industry and the political issues surrounding this industry may make this difficult.