Cuts lead MoDOT to push new tech for road safety

Thursday, December 22, 2011
DEANNA CORONADO, Daily Dunklin Democrat

Rep. Swinger fighting for additional federal road monies 'as a return for what residents here pay at the pump'

When a winter weather system moved into the area in early December, motorist got their first taste of cautionary road conditions caused by the falling snow. Missouri's Department of Transportation responded to the early predictions of snowfall by issuing warnings to area drivers, and kept roadways clear and as safe as possible for those traveling in much of our Southeast Missouri region, demonstrating its commitment to service, even in the midst of ongoing budget woes.

Recent discussion and debate has taken place in the legislature, as well as in the media, regarding steep cuts to MoDOT's budget. Many predicted that the department would largely cutback or nearly deplete its efforts in terms of servicing the state's roads in times of inclement winter weather. However, officials with the department have responded, suggesting that budget cuts will not substantially impact the service level offered by MoDOT.

Prior to the conditions, MoDOT issued warning to area motorists, encouraging them to slow down and to operate their vehicles in a safe and modest manner, particularly in snowy areas, where highways, Interstates and rural roadways were slick. Overnight crews within the department prepared by spreading salt where it was needed, and primarily in the busiest sections of roadways such as Interstates and main routes of travel, later focusing detail toward bridges, curves and elevated roadways or hills to provide additional traction. This approach is one method the department is taking to off-set the costs, since its funding is strained.

Another method the department is utilizing to save money is through what MoDOT calls "improved technology," which is basically a different way of spreading salt. According to a spokesman for the department, MoDOT will be using more efficiently designed plows which will not only provide a more effective means at covering the roadway with salt, but will also reduce the amount of plows used during this process by the department. MoDOT reps explain that part of the new technology includes an on-deck system that recognizes when the truck slows down and better regulates the amount of salt that is being released at certain points in the process, in order to be less wasteful and more efficient.

It has been reported that the Southeast Missouri District of MoDOT began the winter weather season with more than 15-hundred tons of salt available and 72 plow trucks ready to go to work.

In reducing the amount of trucks that are out in the field at one time, MoDOT has also relied on increased technology. The newly-designed snow plows used by MoDOT provide a larger coverage area -- approximately twice the amount of distance as the formerly used plows, according to department supervisors. This technology involves what the department calls "wing plows" which are attached to the main plow. Basically, the way in which it works is what the main plow doesn't grab, or what excess is left over, is covered by the wing plows, which provide more efficiency in the operation. Something else noted by department reps includes cost-saving measures like using sand versus salt in most of the rural regions, which do not include city roads where salt will continue to be used to avoid potential damages to sewer systems. Roads deemed as rural, however, will be covered with sand to provide traction assistance.

People living in the more rural areas of Missouri will likely be the ones noticing perhaps a wait in service, versus a once predicted depletion of service. Although those roadways in rural areas will not be first on the list as the department focuses on the most traveled roads heavily, MoDOT will continue to service these areas, they may just have to wait a little longer this winter to see their roads being plowed, spokesmen say in response to the cuts.

Local legislator, Terry Swinger, State Representative D--Caruthersville, recently released a report regarding MoDOT and additional state agencies which are feeling what he referred to as "the brunt of the downturned economy." Swinger noted in his report that Missouri lawmakers, like himself, in both Jefferson City and Washington D.C. continue to advocate for Missouri receiving its fair share of federal road monies, "as a return for what residents here pay at the pump."

He highlighted early December's snowfall, calling it "beautiful," and equally recognized that while many children were likely happy about school closings, inclement weather can be a dreaded subject for many, including those working for the state's department of transportation who have been preparing for what weather forecasters have indicated could possibly wind up being similar or worse than last year in regard to inclement conditions.

Swinger writes, "There are researchers and scientist continually finding ways to help us be prepared. One fairly new innovation I find fascinating is the use of a byproduct from sugar beets to help snow and ice removal on roads. Not only is it more effective on roads, but it also cost less. This product was used for the first time last year in the Southeast region."

According to Stan Johnson, Assistant District Maintenance Engineer of Missouri's Department of Transportation (MoDOT), "This byproduct is mixed with our salt brine to make it more effective in lower temperatures. It also is less corrosive because it is a biodegradable natural product."

"I commend MoDOT for continuing to find ways to make our roadways safe," Swinger said. "Many people in our region continue to express support for area road construction projects and the need to stay vigilant in keeping our roadways safe." Swinger added that in spite of funding issues, MoDOT continues to work in meeting goals to improve roads, which is not only evident in the cost-saving measures being taken toward winter weather following cutbacks, but is also clear in reviewing the department's record regarding its "Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program," which was launched to improve 802 of the state's worst bridges.

"With over 10,000 bridges in Missouri, MoDOT takes bridge safety very seriously," Swinger explained. "The Missouri Department of Transportation on August 10, 2011 completed its 500th bridge. The milestone 500th bridge is located on U.S. 61 over Apple Creek in Perry County and the bridge repair program, running a year ahead of schedule, is now expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

A look at the upcoming forecast shows no immediate upcoming predictions for winter weather, just a few slight rain showers ahead. When the conditions do indicate snow, however, motorists who are traveling on Missouri's roadways can access MoDOT's Traveler Information Map to determine road conditions and retrieve other important information at http://www.modot.org/. MoDOT's customer service line is also open anytime, toll-free at 1-888-ASK MODOT (888-275-6636).

© Copyright 2011 Daily Dunklin Democrat. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

Public meeting set to discuss Missouri I-70, tolls

By Keith Goble, Land Line state legislative editor

Transportation officials in Missouri are discussing long-term plans to pay for improvements to Interstate 70. The public will soon get an opportunity to comment on funding options, including toll taxes.

OOIDA officials say truckers already pay taxes and other user fees to access freeways. As a result, charging tolls on existing roads would amount to an additional tax.

“Tolls are taxes, and paying both tolls and fuel taxes amounts to double taxation,” Association leadership states in its list of highway funding principles. “OOIDA adamantly opposes the sale or lease of existing roads and efforts to convert non-tolled roads into toll facilities.”

The Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight is scheduled to meet in mid January to talk about the interstate. Officials at the Missouri Department of Transportation say the roadway stretching from Kansas City to St. Louis is worn out and is struggling to handle the capacity of cars and trucks.

MODOT estimates the cost to rebuild I-70 would range from about $1.5 billion to $4 billion.

Multiple funding options have been offered in recent years at the statehouse to benefit I-70. They include increasing the state’s 17-cent-per-gallon fuel tax, which is among the lowest in the nation, and raising the state’s sales tax and applying it to roads.

An alternative funding method that is getting a lot of consideration in the weeks leading up to the start of the regular session is privatizing the 250-mile stretch between the two metropolitan areas.

MODOT officials are looking to partner with the private sector to rebuild the roadway. To get the ball rolling, transportation director Kevin Keith announced that his agency will call on state lawmakers to authorize tolls.

He cited few, if any options, available for much-needed improvements to be made.

Sen. Bill Stouffer, chairman of the transportation panel, said it is time for discussion on the toll issue.

“We have to make some decisions. We need to have a discussion and see what the reaction is when we open up the subject,” Stouffer said in prepared remarks.

A public hearing to talk about I-70 is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. in House Hearing Room 3 of the state capitol. Anyone unable to attend can still submit comments viaemail.

OOIDA encourages Missouri truckers to submit comments.

Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the story topic. Comments may be sent to mailto:statelegislativedesk@ooida.com.

Copyright © OOIDA

 

MoDOT: Future big projects on hold

Claudette Riley
News-Leader

Under the current funding constraints of the Missouri Department of Transportation, future projects the size and scope of the U.S. 60/65 interchange aren't likely.

"Those projects just can't happen in the financial reality that we face right now," said Kevin Keith, director of MoDOT. "Our focus as we move forward is to keep our assets, our roads and bridges in as good of condition as we can and keep our citizens safe."

MoDOT adopted a five-year plan to save $512 million by 2015, redirect funding to critical bridge and road projects and provide a state match for available federal funds.

Steps included reducing staff by a total of 1,200, closing 131 facilities and disposing of more than 740 pieces of equipment.

"We've been under-investing in infrastructure at the national level and the state level for a long time," he said.

Keith said the fuel tax has remained unchanged since the early 1990s, which "buys about 67 percent of what it did then. It's now a declining revenue stream."

"For 10 years, through Amendment 3, stimulus and original bonding, we have kept our construction program by borrowing, which means I'm going to build it now and pay for it in the future. But we've done all of that we can."

Passed in 2004, Amendment 3 diverted revenue from the existing motor vehicle fuel tax for work on state and local highways, roads and bridges.

"That allowed us to do $2 billion in bonding and build projects like ... the interchange," Keith said. "But those resources are now spent."

Funding for the state's highway construction program, which averaged $1.2 billion in recent years, now stands at $600 million a year.

 

 

Highway fatality rate at record low thanks to technology

December 8, 2011

By BRAD COOPER
The Kansas City Star

No one will be sentimental about this record falling.

Last year saw the lowest highway fatality rate in history, improving on the record set in 2009, federal transportation officials announced Thursday.

For the fifth consecutive year, highway deaths dropped, reaching their lowest point since 1949.

The improvement was credited to safer cars equipped with high-tech systems intended to keep vehicles from rolling over or veering off the road.

Better seat-belt use, tougher drunken-driving enforcement and engineering devices such as rumble strips or median guard cable also were tied to safer highways.

But problems still exist.

More died last year on motorcycles and in big trucks. Pedestrian fatalities were up. And distracted driving still is a factor in thousands of crashes with almost two out every three drivers willing to answer their cell phones while behind the wheel.

“Any time we lose a person in a traffic crash, it’s a loss that, frankly, could have been avoided,” David Strickland, administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told The Star. “Clearly, we have lot more work to do.”

The continued decline in road carnage came as American drivers traveled nearly 46 billion more miles during the year, up 1.6 percent from 2009. The fatality rate last year was 1.10 per 100 million vehicle miles driven.

The reduction has been especially pronounced in Missouri, where traffic deaths declined by about 35 percent since 2005. The state recorded 821 last year, down 6.4 percent from 2009.

Across the state line, Kansas was among more than a dozen states that ran counter to the national trend. After decreases the last several years, the state’s fatalities ticked up 12 percent in 2010, the fourth largest percentage increase nationally, statistics show.

A “blip,” said Pete Bodyk, head of traffic safety for the Kansas highway department.

“We were going down and down and down and one year back up,” Bodyk said. “Sometimes you get those upticks. But it’s still trending down over the last five or six years.”

The surge in Kansas highway deaths inflated regional figures. The Kansas City area was up 9 percent, largely a result of fearsome crashes in Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties.

Missouri had set a goal of cutting road deaths to 850 or fewer by 2012; it was achieved two years early. It’s on pace to have even fewer fatals this year, possibly dipping to its lowest level since just after World War II.

Leanna Depue, director of highway safety for the Missouri highway department, pointed to the emphasis on using median guard cable — about 640 miles of it along major highways, including 120 miles in the Kansas City area.

The guard cable is credited with saving 45 lives a year.

Drivers “are actually crashing, but the consequences aren’t as severe,” Depue said.

A spate of cross-over collisions along Kansas 10 has that state following suit. Four miles of median guard cable is planned in Johnson and Douglas counties following a K-10 cross-over that claimed the life of 5-year-old Cainan Shutt.

Missouri also has employed a number of other techniques, including installation of rumble strip, adding brighter and more visible highway markings, and removing fixed objects such as trees near the highway shoulder.

One area that’s improving, too, is drunken-driving fatals — down by 4.9 percent nationally last year and similarly in the two states.

Kansas saw alcohol-related deaths drop perhaps 13 percent; Missouri, maybe two points better. Final numbers are due next week.

Both states, courtesy of federal grant money, have been doling out millions of dollars to local jurisdictions to beef up drunken-driving enforcement whether it’s for additional checkpoints or saturation patrols.

Strickland encourages regular drunken-driving checkpoints because he believes they influence behavior: “Knowing that there’s a really good chance that there’s a checkpoint out there somewhere … means you will not take that risk.”

Missouri spent $795,000 in federal money last year on 503 drunken-driving checkpoints statewide. Kansas spent $63,000 on 62 checkpoints.

Highway safety officials also note the growing issue of distracted drivers. Using a new tracking measure, the government reported 3,092 people killed last year in crashes involving the bad habit.

Last year, 203 died in Missouri because of distracted driving. In Kansas, the toll was 41.

Federal data reveal that drivers texting, chatting on their phones or using their handheld devices increased to 0.9 percent of those on the road in 2010, up by half from the year before.

Further, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey found almost two out of every 10 drivers have sent texts or emails while behind the wheel. For drivers from 21 to 24 years old it was half.

Kansas recently passed a law that bans texting while driving. Missouri bars drivers 21 or younger from texting.

Such laws are in place in 38 states, but critics note they are hard to enforce.

One study last year — heavily criticized by the government — found that crashes were actually increasing in a handful of states with texting bans. Some speculated that drivers are texting in more dangerous ways to avoid being ticketed.

Strickland pointed to a pilot program launched last April in Hartford, Conn., and Syracuse, N.Y. as evidence that distracted driving can be curbed.

In the first six months of that study, handheld cell phone use dropped 56 percent in Hartford and 38 percent in Syracuse. Texting while driving declined 68 percent in Hartford and 42 percent in Syracuse.

“When you have a really strong law coupled with high visibility advertising education and partnered with strong law enforcement, we got fantastic results,” Strickland said.

To reach Brad Cooper, call 816-234-7724 or send e-mail to bcooper@kcstar.com

© 2011 Kansas City Star and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.kansascity.com

 

 

Mo. Gov. Nixon: Creating toll roads would require broad consensus among public and Legislature

  • CHRIS BLANK  Associated Press
  • First Posted: December 03, 2011 - 12:34 pm
    Last Updated: December 03, 2011 - 12:35 pm

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said a proposal to convert Interstate 70 into a toll road would be a "substantial change" and that doing it would require "broad consensus" among the public and within the state Legislature.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has asked state lawmakers for authority to form a partnership with private contractors to rebuild I-70 and recover the costs with revenue collected from tolls. MoDOT says rebuilding the highway would cost roughly $2 billion to $4 billion depending upon how ambitious the project becomes. A less costly option would install three lanes for whole route with a more elaborate rebuild creating dedicated truck lanes.

The Transportation Department is governed by a commission, whose members are appointed by Missouri governors. The commission selects the department's director.

Nixon said it is important to examine ideas that ensure Missouri has sufficient infrastructure but that toll roads had not been part of his immediate proposals.

"I think clearly in the short run that's not something we have put on the forefront, but I think longer-term planning is something that everybody across the state should always be prepared to talk about," Nixon said.

He praised the Transportation Department for attempting to steer more money into road and bridge projects by approving a plan earlier this year that is expected to save $512 million by 2015. It calls for cutting about 1,200 positions and closing 131 facilities

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says converting Interstate 70 into a toll road would be a substantial change that demands "broad consensus" within the Legislature and the public.

Also unclear is where the Legislature stands on requiring motorists to pay a toll for traveling the state's main east-west highway. A joint transportation committee last month praised the Department of Transportation for attempting to ignite the discussion but stopped short of actually endorsing the proposal.

MoDOT Director Kevin Keith said the toll road proposal was the only method currently available to the agency to rebuild a highway that he says is worn out and approaching the limits for its capacity to carry cars and trucks. Keith estimated other funding options would require a 15-cent increase to Missouri's fuel tax for the next decade or an extra half-cent sales tax for the next 10 years.

Installing tolls on I-70 would require federal permission because the highway already exists, but Missouri has been given tentative approval through a federal pilot program.

The Transportation Department's model for rebuilding I-70 borrowed from a plan previously approved by the Legislature for constructing a new Mississippi River bridge in St. Louis. Lawmakers approved a measure that allowed private investors to charge a toll for using the bridge in exchange for helping to pay the cost of building the new span. Ultimately, the funding method was not used because officials in Illinois objected to a toll bridge.

___

Online:

Nixon: http://www.gov.mo.gov

Department of Transportation: http://www.modot.mo.gov

 

 

News MoDOT Uses New Technology to Save Money

Posted: Nov 28, 2011 7:31 PM by Jessica Smith, KOMU 

Updated: Nov 28, 2011 11:03 PM

JEFFERSON CITY - This season, MoDOT is bringing in new technology to prepare for winter months and to save taxpayer dollars. One piece of equipment, called ground speed control, cuts back on excess salt by dumping salt at the same speed the truck is driving. This keeps the salt from bouncing off the roads, and doesn't disperse salt the road doesn't need.

Traditionally, drivers manually release the salt until they see it covering the road. MoDOT said this can cause up to a ten percent waste in salt. MoDOT has 239 salt trucks in the Central Missouri District. MoDOT says proper calibration and the new technology could save around $5800 every hour the trucks run.

MoDOT is also experimenting with new blades on its snow plows to clear roads better, creating less of a need for salt. MoDOT hopes the new rubber and ceramic blades will be more efficient than the traditional steel blades.

 

MoDOT restructuring brings demotions, pay cuts

Kansas City Business Journal  Date: Monday, November 28, 2011, 7:31am CST

 

The Missouri Department of Transportation’s cost-cutting efforts have meant demotions and pay cuts for just less than a quarter of employees who have kept jobs or gotten new ones, The Jefferson City News Tribune reports.

The first round of staff changes meant 166 employees were moved to lower-level jobs, but 56 of those have left or are competing for other MoDOT jobs, the report said. Altogether, 482 employees were put in positions through appointment or a competitive process.

 

Luetkemeyer Discusses Need for Funding Transportation

By Paul Hackbarth, Missourian Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 9:00 am

Ninth District Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer told area citizens and officials that federal lawmakers recognize the need to fund transportation infrastructure but that a sense of urgency is lacking.

“If you look at what’s going on in (Washington) D.C., there is more of a focus on politics being played within parties of both sides of (Congress),” Luetkemeyer said.

Luetkemeyer along with Brendan Fahey from Sen. Claire McCaskill’s office, and Emily Romines, from Sen. Roy Blunt’s office, were invited to the Missouri Highway 47 Bridge Committee meeting Tuesday morning to discuss transportation issues, particularly funding for a new Washington bridge.

While Congress approved a six-month extension to a federal transportation funding bill that is set to expire in March, local and state officials say that without a long-range bill, state transportation departments, like the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), cannot plan for projects.

“Even with a six-month extension, it’s troublesome to an organization the size of MoDOT because it can’t make long-term plans,” said Bob Zick, bridge committee chairman.

Luetkemeyer agreed, saying the extension does not solve any problems.

Ed Hassinger, St. Louis district engineer, said MoDOT officials feel better with the extension than they did three months ago, but there is not enough funding to commit to projects like replacing the Washington bridge.

A Top Priority

“The Washington bridge has to be in the state’s top three priorities, if not maybe the top by now,” Hassinger said. “We want to build this bridge, but money is always an issue.”

Luetkemeyer said part of the problem of reauthorizing a long-term bill is getting lawmakers from different regions of the country to agree on how much funding should go to address their transportation needs.

“In the Midwest roads are our biggest concern, but they must have public transportation in the East,” Luetkemeyer said. “In the East, they don’t understand how important roads are to us. It’s a question of who gets what? Does public transportation in the Northeast take precedence?

“Everyone realizes there is a need, but how do we get there?” Luetkemeyer said.

Bill Miller Sr., Missourian editor and publisher, asked if local delegates in Congress have enough clout to find and divert transportation funding to Missouri like former Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond did when securing funds for the new Hermann bridge.

“The days that Bond was able to do that are over,” Luetkemeyer said. “We did away with earmarks. It’s a thing of the past. With funding so short, everyone is going to have to fight for dollars.

“We, as a people, need to make a decision if we want better roads and bridges and how to pay for them,” Luetkemeyer said. “I hope the decision is put up to the people. If they want to pay taxes for better things, it’s their dollars.”

Bill Straatmann, chair of the Washington Area Highway Transportation Committee, asked if Congress has looked at other funding mechanisms besides a formula based on gallons of gasoline used as more fuel-efficient cars and electric cars become popular.

Luetkemeyer said there is no consensus on what other mechanisms to use.

New Revenue Source

A new source of revenue for transportation projects could come from opening up additional oil reserves in the western United States or Gulf of Mexico, according to Luetkemeyer.

He told The Missourian that by selling oil leases on additional reserves, it would generate a revenue stream based on their output that could be put toward transportation infrastructure.

Luetkemeyer said now that money from existing reserves goes into general revenue, but that money could go to fund projects into a long-term transportation bill.

According to Fahey and Romines, there are proposals in both the Senate and House of Representatives for the surface transportation program (STP).

The Senate proposal would call for STP funding to stay at the same rates plus inflation costs for two years, while the House proposal would last for six years but reduce STP funding by about 30 percent.

 

Missouri lawmakers are willing to talk about I-70 tolls

Kansas City Business Journal

Date: Thursday, November 17, 2011, 7:59am CST

Missouri lawmakers appear eager to talk about charging tolls on Interstate 70, but they aren’t signaling whether such a measure might pass in Jefferson City, the Associated Press reports.

Members of the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight welcomed the Missouri Department of Transportation’s willingness to start a discussion about turning I-70 into a toll road. Such a plan would allow the state to rebuild the highway without draining the budget for other work on roads and bridges.

Sen Bill Souffer, R-Napton and chairman of the joint committee, told the AP that discussion is needed, though he’s not sure a toll plan can pass in the Legislature.

 

Editorial: Toll road reasonable option for I-70, but beware private sector Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-toll-road-reasonable-option-for-i--but-beware/article_81facd88-90d7-5071-b0fd-c7180befa23c.html#ixzz

By the Editorial Board, St. Louis Post Dispatch | Posted: Saturday, November 19, 2011 12:15 am 

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Copyright 2011 STLtoday.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

There's no such thing as "free money."

That's one conclusion in a 2008 Government Accountability Office report analyzing a growing national trend of financing expensive transportation projects with public-private partnerships.

The GAO report should be a must-read for Missouri lawmakers next year when the Missouri Department of Transportation is expected to ask for authority to rebuild some 200 miles of Interstate 70 and pay for it by turning it into a toll road.

For years, highway officials and lobbyists have argued that MoDOT needs new tools to keep up with transportation needs. State and federal fuel taxes no longer keep pace with the needs.

The five-decade-old I-70 is well beyond its 20-year lifespan. It is crowded and crumbling. It would cost $2 billion to widen it to six lanes across the entire state. The cost rises to $4 billion if MoDOT decides to create dedicated trucking lanes to separate passenger traffic from huge semi-trailers.

MoDOT doesn't have that kind of money, and, without a major increase in fuel taxes and/or a general sales tax, it won't have it. The department cut $600 million out of its 2012 budget and plans to cut 1,200 jobs in the next five years.

Tolls might well be the only way to get this project done. The project would be a boost to a stagnant economy. Tollways have been effective in several other states, including Kansas and Oklahoma to the west, in producing high-quality, well-maintained highways in high-traffic areas.

MoDOT and the Legislature should be cautious in deciding what financing and maintenance model to follow. The traditional model in this country has a government agency selling bonds, backed by the promise of future toll revenue, to pay for construction.

A newer model — and the one MoDOT seems to favor — is the so-called P3 (public-private partnership) option. The state, in effect, turns a public asset over to private investors, allowing them to sell tax-free bonds to finance the road. That model, popular in Europe, has been used in recent years in Chicago, Indiana and Texas. Former MoDOT director Pete Rahn floated the idea of using a P3 to build and run the new Mississippi River Bridge in St. Louis, but Illinois officials rejected it.

The P3 model allows the government to spread out its initial risk, and it generates big fees for investment banks. But, as the GAO and the Congressional Research Service point out, there are downsides to outsourcing transportation work to the private sector:

Tolls rise faster. Accountability to the public lessens. Local interests along the route may not be protected. The public, driving on a public highway that has been privatized, becomes captive to a whatever-the-market-will-bear toll pricing model.

The traditional model, in which the state issues its own bonds and runs the tollway, would allow the state to take advantage of its AAA credit rating, low interest rates and the promise of future toll revenue in obtaining up-front financing. The public would maintain control of a public asset. The concrete lobby — engineering, materials and construction firms and unions — still would be happy.

The Legislature should consider using tolls to finance the much-needed work on I-70. But it would be wise to value transparency and public accountability in whatever model of financing it chooses.

The traditional toll agency model better protects taxpayers.


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