The city wants state help putting traffic patrols on Lawrence streets.

Lawrence’s growth has put increased demands on the Police Department, city officials say, with the result that traffic enforcement has slid toward the bottom of the department’s priorities.

So on Tuesday, city commissioners will be asked to approve an application to the Kansas Department of Transportation asking for help covering the $3.6 million it would cost over three years to create an eight-person unit dedicated solely to traffic enforcement and accident investigation. Unit members would not respond to nontraffic calls except in department emergencies.

“The department aims to decrease the number of traffic accidents, particularly those that result in personal injury or (death),” Casey Liebst, a management intern with the city, wrote in a memorandum. “Specifically, the department estimates the unit will lead to a 10 percent decrease in the number of accidents by the year 2005.”

Other Northeast Kansas cities, including Shawnee, Olathe and Leavenworth, have received similar KDOT grants, Liebst wrote.

Because of the state budget crunch, however, Lawrence might not receive as much money as those cities.

“To be blunt, it’s not likely we’re going to get all that,” City Manager Mike Wildgen said. “But we’ve got a decent chance at some level of funding.”

After the first three years, the city would have to take over the full cost of funding the unit, Wildgen said. But officials estimate increased enforcement, with accompanying tickets, would generate $793,000 in extra funds for the city in the first year.

Commissioners will consider the application at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.