Wichita ? At its fourth and final session seeking public comment, a governor’s task force heard more views on the state’s transportation program and how to keep it on track in a time of continuing budget shortfalls and cutbacks.

The 10-year Comprehensive Transportation Program authorized in 1999 faces likely cuts or adjustments because of the state’s financial situation.

Gov. Bill Graves recently revived the Transportation 2000 task force, asking its 28 members to review the status, funding and future of the program.

About 300 people packed a meeting room Wednesday night at a Wichita hotel to show support for the program. The hearing followed earlier sessions at Fort Scott, Overland Park and Dodge City.

Larry Sharp, Reno County Commission chairman, was among those pushing for the Legislature to keep its commitments.

“They need to fully fund the program,” said Sharp, who spoke for a large delegation from both Reno County and Hutchinson. “Right now, we’re at the point where we can’t turn back on this project and start over.”

The Hutchinson area contingent is particularly concerned about the fate of a planned four-lane improvement of Kansas Highway 61 from Hutchinson to McPherson.

“Almost everyone is looking at all kinds of ideas,” said Mary Turkington of Topeka, who chairs the highway study group. “Certainly K-61 is one project that some feel should be scaled back, but not to the point that we don’t complete the basic improvements on the project.”

Mike Taylor, governmental relations director for the city of Wichita, said that highways, railroad corridors, mass transit and airports are “vital life links for citizens and conduits of commerce for business.”

“The ability to travel, to get where you’re going in a safe, fast and efficient way, is a cornerstone for growth, prosperity and quality of life in Wichita, Sedgwick County and south central Kansas,” he said.

But there are grim financial realities facing the transportation program. Graves and the Legislature already have drained $291.1 million from the program, mostly with cuts in sales-tax demand transfer that were a cornerstone of the 1999 funding package.

And Duane Goossen, the state budget director, says fiscal year 2003 general fund receipts won’t cover the approved 2003 budget without additional cuts.

And based on current revenue estimates and assuming only statutory increases in expenditures, Goossen estimates that the fiscal year 2004 state general fund budget will run a deficit of between $500 million and $700 million.

Turkington said the transportation program could escape major cuts if lawmakers provided substantial support.

“I’m an optimist,” she said. “I truly believe the Legislature will meet the commitment they made to the people of Kansas. And I believe these meetings have called attention to the problems we all face if funding for the CTP is reduced.”