As Spring has sprung and warm weather has begun, I want to talk about what the Kansas Section of ASCE has accomplished and where we are headed. It was a busy last couple of weeks for conversations about infrastructure at the student chapter and professional levels. For starters I would like to thank Dr. Collins and the KU student chapter for their hospitality March 26, 2024. It was an event well attended by the student chapters, our board, and ASCE members in general. We heard updates on the Kansas Section and Region 7 from Director Ernie Longoria. U.S. Representative from the 3rd District in Kansas, Sharice Davids talked about the importance of investing in infrastructure and her role on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Congress. ASCE National President Marsia Geldert-Murphy gave an update on the Society and spoke briefly of the recent tragedy at Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Then former Secretary Deb Miller and current Secretary Calvin Reed gave us a history lesson on how most of the major highways in Kansas started hundreds of years ago as trails. Secretary Miller & Reed talked about how Kansas funds our highways and gave overviews on past transportation programs and the current Ike Transportation Program.
Past-President and Conference Chairman Daniel Schrant and I hosted an ASCE booth at the Kansas Transportation Engineering Conference (KTEC) at K-State on April 9 -10, 2024. As always it was good to visit with many of the over 500 attendees at the 2-day event and further talk about the benefits of ASCE membership. Lastly, I want to continue to promote our upcoming ASCE Kansas Conference on August 15, 2024, in Wichita. Daniel and the conference committee are working on a slate of topics and speakers that will surely entice everyone to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.
Jim Ubert, P.E.
ASCE Kansas Section President