News Releases
Keep up on the latest KTA news by reading our press releases below.
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KTA celebrates employee service anniversaries
Nov 16, 2022
WICHITA, Kan. — Each year the Kansas Turnpike Authority recognizes employees and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers assigned to the Turnpike who are celebrating years-of-service anniversaries. For 2022, KTA recognized 38 individuals that collectively have 585 years of service to the KTA.
Employees reaching service anniversaries include:
45 years:
- Wendy Sears (Topeka), Toll Collector
35 years:
- Paul Shirey Jr. (McLouth), Highway Maintenance Foreman
30 years:
- Mitchell Foster (Topeka), Equipment Operator
- Ron Komp (Clearwater), Highway Maintenance Superintendent
- Mike Wecker (Olpe), Structures Foreman
25 years:
- Terry Gannon (Andover), Senior Equipment Operator
- Mary Stegner (Wichita), Customer Service Representative
20 years:
- Tanya Austin (Augusta), Senior Compensation & Benefits Specialist
- Gary Culbertson (Wichita), Customer Service Manager
- Christopher Hammond, Trooper
- Maria Hernandez (Wellington), Toll Collector
- Michael Konrade, Trooper
- Victoria Marmon (Kansas City), Toll Collector
- Andre Pierpont (Carbondale), Senior Auto/Truck/Equipment Technician
15 years:
- David Bowman (Wellington), Equipment Operator
- Blake Butterworth (Wichita), Application Development Manager
- Marta Heasty (Wellington), Toll Collector
- Diane Heath (Park City), Toll Collector
- Brian Higinbotham (Topeka), Senior Equipment Operator
- Jeffery Kueser (Tecumseh), Senior Toll Equipment Technician
- Merri Beth Thompson (McLouth), Assistant Toll Supervisor
10 years:
- Jeri Biehler (Augusta), Senior Communications Manager
- Ashley Clark (Haysville), Image Reviewer
- Stephanie Crisler (Wichita), Toll Collector
- Judy Denny (Lawrence), Toll Collector
- Amy Maske-Mueller (Wichita), Customer Service Assistant
- Keri Row (Wellington), Toll Collector
- Jason Zeigler, Trooper
5 years:
- Shelby Baker-McElfresh (Emporia), Toll Collector
- Erik Chaney (Lawrence), Structures Lead
- Veronica Couch (Emporia), Toll Collector
- Laurie Crumb (Topeka), Toll Collector
- Scott Emond (Park City), Senior Accountant
- Skylar Ford (Wichita), Network Infrastructure Technician
- Ty Gaines (Madison), Senior Utilities Tradesman
- Grant Kabler (Wichita), Senior Incident Management Specialist
- Waylon Lane (El Dorado), Equipment Operator
- Clark Rials Jr., Trooper
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KTA celebrates Teen Driver Safety Week and contest winners
Oct 17, 2022
WICHITA, Kan. — Instilling safe driving habits is important to the Kansas Turnpike Authority, not only this week as KTA celebrates and recognizes Teen Driver Safety Week, but throughout the year.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States according to Traffic Safety Marketing. KTA encourages parents and those who work with teens to talk with them about safe driving practices, including seat belt usage and distracted driving.
“Good driving habits start early,” said Rachel Bell, Director of Business Services and Customer Relations. “Teen drivers are influenced by friends and how they see their parents drive. We hope through our teen video contest, we also influence teens as they think about safe driving in a new way.”
Each fall, KTA holds a video contest for teens to create a safe driving PSA. This contest is held in conjunction with Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, October 10, to raise awareness about dangerous driving habits like distracted driving, speeding and lack of seat belt use. The three winning videos can be viewed online.
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Contracts awarded on upcoming Turnpike project
Oct 4, 2022
WICHITA, Kan.— The Kansas Turnpike Authority announces a bid has been approved and contract awarded on an upcoming Turnpike project.
Contract 7985 for pavement surfacing of I-35/KTA from mile markers 50.8 to 71.3, including interchange and service area resurfacing, be awarded to Pearson Construction LLC, Wichita, KS, for the bid amount of $14,763,945.52. Work will take place during the 2023 construction season.
Construction details will be available closer to the start dates on http://www.ksturnpike.com with updates on this and other projects published monthly in KTA’s electronic newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter using the form at www.ksturnpike.com/communication.
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GEICO new sponsor for KTA Safety Assist
Sep 14, 2022
Sponsorship augments free Safety Assist services
WICHITA, Kan. – The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) Safety Assist program is getting a new look as GEICO becomes the sponsor of the motorist assistance service. KTA Safety Assist, sponsored by GEICO, continues to be a key part of the Kansas Turnpike’s effort to safely and efficiently keep traffic moving.
“Customer service and safety are important to KTA and this program allows us to put those values into action,” said Steve Hewitt, KTA Chief Executive Officer. “Thousands of drivers benefit from the KTA Safety Assist program each year giving KHP troopers the time to focus on law enforcement activities. We’re grateful to have GEICO sponsor this valuable roadside assistance program.”
KTA Safety Assist, sponsored by GEICO, units patrol the two heaviest traveled areas of the Turnpike from Topeka to Kansas City and Wichita to the Oklahoma border. Keeping traffic moving is an important safety consideration in these busy areas of the Turnpike as blocked lanes delay other traffic and increase the risk of secondary accidents. In the United States, 20% of crashes result from a previous crash, and for every minute a primary incident remains a hazard, the likelihood of a secondary crash increases by 2.8%.
“GEICO is proud to build this new partnership with the KTA Safety Patrol – and do our part to help ensure Kansans get from point A to B as safely as possible,” said GEICO Regional Vice President Shane Wheeler. “GEICO has a long history of promoting driver safety and encourages drivers to do their part by putting their phones down and driving alert, not distracted.”
The KTA Safety Patrol typically operates during the busiest travel times such as morning and evening commute hours and on weekends. However, hours vary depending upon location, weekend, weather, safety and traffic-related needs. KTA Safety Assist vehicles are equipped with various tools and equipment to help assist in tire changes assist in tire changes and other minor mechanical issues. Technicians also assist during roadway incidents by directing traffic and helping clear the roadway of debris. All services offered are free to travelers – no matter their insurance. Motorists requiring assistance while on the Turnpike can call KTA’s Incident Management Center at *KTA (*582).
Stranded motorists are relieved when the Safety Assist arrives on scene, seemingly out of the blue. One motorist assisted by the service* wrote:
“I am from Colorado and was driving to Oklahoma and my Suburban's brakes locked up and cracked my front rotor. Your highway assist driver Ryan 7017 stopped to see if we were OK. I told him what happened. He said hang on and went back to his truck. Grabbed some tools and got my rotor off and put on the new one in about 20 minutes on the side of the highway. I am more than impressed with your service. I mean who does that? Amazing job!” *new rotor provided by motorist
The KTA Safety Assist program is not intended to replace or interfere with services provided by private businesses. Technicians will provide only immediate services needed to assist motorists in need in getting off the side of the road and to help maintain the flow of traffic.
More information about the KTA Safety Assist, sponsored by GEICO, can be found at SafetyPatrolinfo.com and the KTA website. Assisted motorists are encouraged to share about the help they received by posting to social media using #GEICOSafetyPatrol.
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New electric vehicle charging stations open on Kansas Turnpike
Sep 2, 2022
WICHITA, Kan.— Just in time for the holiday weekend, three Tesla Supercharging stations have opened at service areas along the Kansas Turnpike:
- Lawrence Service Area (Mile Marker 209, I-70/KTA)
- Topeka Service Area (Mile Marker 188, I-70/KTA)
- Towanda Service Area (Mile Marker 65, I-35/KTA)
Located adjacent to the service areas buildings, the new Tesla Superchargers stations will help Tesla drivers stay charged anywhere. There are at eight Superchargers available at the Topeka and Towanda service areas, and 12 available at the Lawrence service area.
“We began making electric vehicle charging available in 2019 based upon feedback received in our annual customer satisfaction survey,” said Steve Hewitt, KTA’s Chief Executive Officer. “We’re excited for these Superchargers to become a reality for our Tesla vehicle customers.”
