(KAIR)--Atchison, Holton, and Leavenworth are set to receive a portion of the near $31.5 million designated to assist funding 31 bicycle and pedestrian projects across the state.

Announcement of the funding was made Monday through a release from the office of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, which says the funding is intended "to create safer, more walkable and bike-friendly routes through the Transportation Alternatives Program," with Kelly adding that the investment is "about strengthening the safety, accessibility, and mobility of [KS] communities."

The City of Atchison is named to receive funding support for two projects, with Unity Street Pedestrian Improvements, from 2nd to 6th Street, to be funded through nearly $814.5 . The City's North 5th Street Safe Routes to School is earmarked to receive more than $924,000.

The City of Holton will receive more than $2 million for the Highway 75 Pedestrian/Non-Motorized Vehicle/Bicycle Safety Project, while the City of Leavenworth gains nearly $630,000 for Downtown ADA Sidewalk Ramp Improvements.

According to the release, "the competitive grant program, administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation and provided by the Federal Highway Administration, is currently the primary source of KDOT funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects statewide, including Safe Routes to School." The release notes that the program requires a 20 percent local match of the project cost. The non-federal required share will consist of $2.79 million in local matching funds and $5.15 million in KDOT state funding.

Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed, in the release, notes that the announcement marks the largest grant funding the state has awarded since the launch of the federal program.