Richie Kennedy | route56.com

Welcome to route56.com

Welcome to my anchor point on the web. For over 20 years, I have shared various subjects regarding highway, railways, local radio, and more.

I chose the name “route56” in honor of the green and white variant of the US Highway shield that the Kansas Department of Transportation and its predecessor agency used specifically to mark US 56 from the designation of US 56 in 1956 until KDOT elected to adopt the standard black-and-white design in the mid-1980s

Click on the links above to access the pages devoted to the history of local radio and Kansas Highways, along with other creative outlets.

You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and Flickr.

Latest Blog Posts

  • July 2022

    July 2022 in Pictures

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    I had one train-watching jaunt this month, plus a few Amtrak and BNSF grabs from the Santa Fe Station platform.

  • KDOT Lettings: May 2022

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    There are 20 projects slated for letting on May 18. Approved bids announced on May 31 are highlighted in red. Approved bids announced on July 6 are highlighted in blue.

  • It’s my party, I’ll shoot as many trains as I want to

    It’s my party, I’ll shoot as many trains as I want to

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    For my birthday weekend, between the dinner and the birthday cake, I took some time to do some train watching.

  • 67472

    Saw a train… just not the one I expected

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    This morning, I checked the Amtrak status map and noticed that the Southwest Chief was running quite late and would be in Topeka around 8:40. Based on that, I decided to try and catch the train before I went in to work (I currently work in Topeka) I made it to a good spot along…

  • KDOT Lettings: April 2022

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    There are 21 projects scheduled to be bid on April 20. Approved Bids Announced on May 2 are highlighted in red. Approved Bids Announced on May 31 are highlighted in blue.

  • KU Victory Parade

    KU Victory Parade

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    As I’m sure you know, I am a graduate of the University of cKansas and a lifelong resident of the Lawrence area. During the recent NCAA tournament, I avoided the Mass Street Crowd. When it came time for the parade, however, there was no way I was going to make it out there and take…

  • KDOT Lettings: March 2022

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    34 projects were up for bids on March 16. Approved bids announced on March 31 are highlighted in red. Approved bids announced on May 2 are highlighted in blue

  • KDOT Lettings: February 2022

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    25 projects are up for bids at KDOT on February 16. The approved bids announced on March 2 are highlighted in red.The approved bids announced on March 31 are highlighted in blue.

  • KDOT Lettings: January 2022

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    There are 41 projects up for letting at KDOT’s January 19 letting, including many asphalt overlays of concrete roadways. Approved bids announced on January 27 are highlighted in red. Approved bids announced on March 2 are highlighted in blue.

  • KDOT Lettings: December 2021

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    43 projects are up for bids at KDOT on December 15, including two major projects on US 50 around Dodge City and into the territory out west. Awarded bids announced on December 28 are highlighted in red. Awarded bids announced on January 27 are highlighted in blue.