Yesterday the Unified Government was a recipient of some funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Here is where the funding will go in Wyandotte County:

• The transit center at 7th Street and Minnesota Avenue
• 47th Street and State Avenue transit center
• There will be an implementation of a State Avenue Bus Rapid Transit
• Pedestrian improvement

“We are pleased and excited that the State Avenue bus rapid transit project received substantial federal funding today,” Unified Government Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon said. “As we work to create new jobs in our county it is critical that we improve transit for our citizens. This funding will continue to bring to reality our vision to improve public transit in Wyandotte County.”

The State Avenue route connects downtown Kansas City, Kan., to Kansas City, Mo., the Central Business District and Village West.

Of the $50 million provided to the Kansas City area yesterday, the Unified Government and Johnson County will receive $22 million.

The TIGER grant application was submitted through the Mid America Regional Council (MARC).

“I appreciate the hard work of Marcia Bernard who heads up our transit operations, the Mid-America Regional Council and the long-term support we have received from Congressman Moore,”  Reardon said.

The Greater Kansas City will receive $50 million in stimulus funding from the federal government.

The funds, announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, are from the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Program.

“TIGER grants will tackle the kind of major transportation projects that have been difficult to build under other funding programs,” LaHood said. “This will help us meet the 21st century challenges of improving the environment, making our communities more livable and enhancing safety, all while creating jobs and growing the economy.”

Among the projects included in Kansas City will be funding for State Avenue in Kansas City, Kan. The specific breakdown on how much funding the Wyandotte County project will receive is unknown.

KCK and the Kansas City area were targeted with the funds due to being "economically distressed."

In 2009, the Kansas Department of Transportation received $378 million in stimulus dollars.

KDOT used $348 million on highway projects and an additional $30 million on transit.

“Building roads creates well-paying jobs during construction and provides the infrastructure necessary to both sustain and grow the Kansas economy,” said Transportation Secretary Deb Miller. “And when hundreds of workers spend millions of dollars in thousands of Kansas businesses, it creates a ripple effect felt throughout the local and state economies. The Recovery projects have done exactly what they were intended to do.”

KDOT said over 100 "local projects" across Kansas have been funded because of the stimulus package, which is formally known as the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009."

One final tidbit of news concerning las week's vote by the Fraternal Order of Police.

The Unified Government announced that $2.4 million in federal stimulus dollars awarded could NOT be used to save existing jobs.

Rather, the money will be used to create 12 new positions within the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department.

"The federal money will allow the police department to hire and pay for 12 new officers over the next three years," a press release states. "But those officers can’t be hired until later in 2010."

Because of a $12 million revenue shortfall in the 2010 budget, the UG approached several unions about taking a pay wage freeze. Originally, the UG and FOP had an agreement mandating a four percent increase for 2010.

Like other unions within Wyandotte County, the FOP decided to take the pay freeze. Officials say the decision saved the jobs of 16 other officers.

“One of the guiding principles for the administration and elected officials in building the very difficult 2010 budget was to avoid lay-offs," said Mike Taylor, spokesperson for the Unified Government. "That goal was met because employees across the organization pulled together and shared the burden of those painful budget cuts. It’s admirable the FOP members chose to share in some of the sacrifices being made by  other Unified Government employees."