Garver wins 2025 ACEC Kansas Engineering Excellence Award

Garver, in partnership with the Kansas Department Of Transportation, Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC), Vireo, Development Strategies, and The Traffic Group, has been selected for a 2026 ACEC KS Engineering Excellence Award in the Studies, Research and Consulting Engineering Services category for our work on the K-254 Corridor Management Plan (CMP). The Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA), presented annually by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), recognize the year’s most outstanding engineering achievements, honoring projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation, complexity, value, and impact.

K-254 spans 22 miles between Wichita and El Dorado, Kansas — a regional connection known for inconsistent intersection design, high travel speeds, increasing congestion, and various safety concerns. The Garver-led corridor management plan (CMP) addresses K-254's safety risks in a comprehensive manner, combining economic and engineering analysis to make transparent, defensible, and data-driven recommendations. 

“TheK-254 CMP equips KDOT and local governments with tools for identifying near term and long-term roadway improvements using a cost-effective, phased implementation strategy while planning for future development,” said Traffic Safety and Operations Leader Mandy Anderson, PE, PTOE. “We’re proud to be recognized for our innovative blend of community engagement, land use planning, and the improvements the CMP outlines to improve the safety of on K-254 and guide future development for communities along the corridor.” 

By leveraging advanced technology and strategic foresight, Garver positioned KDOT to implement immediate improvements while maintaining a clear path toward a modern, efficient corridor. Garver coordinated local, trusted project partners to amplify its use of integrated market analysis, land use forecasting, and transportation modeling to align with the economic potential of the region. 

“K-254 has significant potential to support industrial development in northeast Wichita, and in Sedgwick and Butler County,” said Transportation Team Leader Ryan Robinson, PE. “We developed a scoring matrix of engineering and community factors to evaluate and rank potential projects so that our recommendations support the region's land use planning through 2050 and support its infrastructure for decades to come.”

The Garver team also conducted extensive public engagement to address concerns over competing jurisdictional priorities. The firm hosted five rounds of steering committee meetings, multiple stakeholder meetings, and eight public meetings — gathering input from hundreds of residents, business owners, school districts, and emergency responders. 

Key improvements included in the CMP will see updates to K-254's traffic flow, roadway safety, enhanced access for emergency responders, lighting, signage, and turn lanes. 

Garver’s multidisciplinary and collaborative approach establishes a replicable model for future corridor management efforts statewide, providing meaningful community benefits and enhancing the quality of life for all Kansans. This unique combination of community informed improvements paired with data driven decisions made this project a success.