The Federal Highway Administration has neither endorsed nor is it leaning toward a specific route for the last leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway, a Topeka administrator said.

Last week, following a 2-1 vote, the Douglas County Commission granted a request from FHWA to become a signatory to a four-year-old SLT agreement. That agreement supports mitigation measures for the SLT’s completion if it were built through the Baker Wetlands on a 32nd Street route.

At least one commissioner and others attending the meeting said it appeared FHWA was at least leaning toward the 32nd Street route.

“That’s not the case,” said Wendell Meyer, assistant division administrator for FHWA in Topeka.

The FHWA is still waiting on a study that will determine whether the 32nd Street route “has no feasible and prudent alternative,” Meyer said. Alternatives to 32nd Street are an alignment south of the Wakarusa River along 42nd Street or not to build, Meyer said.

The 32nd Street route already has been endorsed by the Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas Department of Transportation, the Douglas County Commission, Kansas State Historical Preservation and Baker University.

By gaining approval to be a signatory on the mitigation agreement, FHWA will be positioned to go forward in releasing federal funds for the highway project. At least three months will have been saved in the processing of the agreement, Meyer said.

If 42nd Street is determined to be a feasible alternative, then the signatory becomes moot, Meyer said.

“The state and local agencies could still build on the 32nd Street option, they just wouldn’t be able to use federal funds,” Meyer said.

The mitigation agreement was approved in 2003. In 2005, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., secured $1.5 million in federal funds for the SLT project in a transportation bill approved by Congress. For federal funds to be used, FHWA must become a signatory on that agreement.

FHWA initially thought the federal study would be completed at the end of August. It is now being reviewed by attorneys, Meyer said.

“I really hope we can get it out by the end of the month, but I can’t guarantee it,” he said.