The Iola Police Department has earned a Platinum award in the AAA Community Traffic Safety Program for their work in making the community safer for biking and walking. AAA spokesman James Hanni said the award recognized a number of recent city projects dealing with traffic enforcement, education and engineering:

Iola’s Street and Alley Department, meanwhile, takes center stage when discussing the city’s engineering projects, from developing a new pedestrian sidewalk along North State Street, extension of the Missouri Pacific Trail for walkers across town and putting bike lane markings in city streets.

This marks the fourth consecutive year Iola has been honored by AAA.

In the previous three years, Iola received the Gold Award.

“The Platinum Award is the highest level of award that AAA provides any community,” Hanni said.

Eight communities in Kansas received the Platinum Award this year, Hanni said.

Warner lauded all of Iola’s departments who took part, as well as assistance from Thrive Allen County in getting the bike lanes marked.

Read more from the Iola Register: Iola’s safety efforts lauded and from AAA: Iola Police Department Awarded by AAA

The North State Street sidewalk project also won an Award for Excellence in Health and Wellness at the 2015 Thrive Award Dinner. The “bike lane markings” apparently refer to the bicycle sharrows added in 2014 on Washington Street, West Street, and Vine Street. The Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail was completed in 2015.

Photo courtesy of the Iola Register.