Joco Today

DE SOTO, KS - Representative Sharice Davids helped break ground on new infrastructure improvements to 103rd Street in De Soto, which will be the main roadway for those traveling to the planned Panasonic Energy manufacturing facility. Davids joined Governor Laura Kelly, Senator Jerry Moran, De Soto Mayor Rick Walker, and other local and state leaders to highlight the project’s objective of creating good-paying jobs, recruiting new businesses, and encouraging growth throughout the community.

 “Panasonic's $4 billion investment is a game changer for our community, but we must make sure our public systems, from housing to education to infrastructure, can keep up with this growth,” said Davids. “This past March, I worked a construction shift alongside local workers to see how the city was preparing for the new road improvements announced today. With this groundbreaking, folks traveling to the Panasonic plant in the future will be able to do so safely and efficiently.”

“Kansas is delivering the transportation infrastructure improvements needed to support the Panasonic facility during its construction and to serve employees, suppliers, and shippers once it is up and running,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “This De Soto project is one more example of why Kansas is truly a winning investment for companies small, large, and mega-sized.”

“Expanding the infrastructure in De Soto will help support the new Panasonic plant and the community,” said Senator Jerry Moran. “This project is a testament to the state, county and city working together to invest in the success of Panasonic and attract new businesses to the area.”

 The De Soto Local Road Improvements project, which was kicked off today, will ensure individuals traveling to and from the Panasonic Energy Co. electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant can do so safely and efficiently. Specific improvements include widening 4.5 miles of the current two-lane asphalt road to a new four-lane roadway with new curbs, gutter, and sidewalks. The construction, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, will mainly take place along West 103rd Street between Evening Star Road and the Lexington Avenue/K-10 interchange.

The Kansas Department of Commerce estimates more than 20,000 jobs will be created because of the developing Panasonic facility. To keep up with this job growth, Johnson County must now update and invest in local infrastructure, including roads, highways, and bridges. Davids recently hosted U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in De Soto to highlight the major impact the Panasonic plant will have in the community. She also hosted discussions with local business and manufacturing leaders on how to take advantage of recent federal legislation to bring jobs to the area, lower costs for consumers, and support workforce development.

Davids also worked a "Sharice's Shift" along 103rd Street, the road highlighted in today’s groundbreaking, to highlight the impact and implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law. In total, approximately $1.5 billion in bipartisan infrastructure law funding is headed to Kansas, with over 121 road, bridge, and water projects identified for funding. Additionally, nearly 60% of state capital for highway construction and planning projects in the state, like the K-10 interchange, is supported by federal funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law. Davids, who serves on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, met with the President and senior White House officials multiple times to help get this legislation across the finish line.

Original source can be found here.