Missouri Transportation Alliance

Cuts lead MoDOT to push new tech for road safety

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:35:00 -0800

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).

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Public meeting set to discuss Missouri I-70, tolls

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:24:00 -0800

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.

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MoDOT: Future big projects on hold

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:51:00 -0800

Claudette Riley

News-Leader

"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.

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Highway fatality rate at record low thanks to technology

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:22:00 -0800

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

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

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:14:00 -0800

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

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News MoDOT Uses New Technology to Save Money

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:54:00 -0800

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.

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MoDOT restructuring brings demotions, pay cuts

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:52:00 -0800

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.

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Luetkemeyer Discusses Need for Funding Transportation

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:48:00 -0800

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.

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Missouri lawmakers are willing to talk about I-70 tolls

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:36:00 -0800

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.

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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

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:32:00 -0800

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

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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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Our Opinion: I-70 project popular; tolls, taxes, not so much

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:30:00 -0800

Jefferson City News Tribune

Friday, November 18

Would you pay a toll to travel on I-70?

Would you support a 15-cent gas tax increase or a statewide half-cent sales tax?

Those are among the ideas to finance rebuilding on Interstate 70 across outstate Missouri.

Motorists who travel I-70 generally agree the roadway is deficient and congested.

But it is difficult to find consensus, or support, for a financing mechanism to generate the $2 billion-$4 billion needed to rebuild the highway.

Recent discussion has revived the idea of making I-70 a toll road.

The concept, however, is not without impediments, beginning with a legal interpretation that prohibits using state highway money for toll projects.

To surmount this obstacle, an idea advanced by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) would involve a public-private partnership.

Under the scenario, MoDOT would contract with a private firm to rebuild I-70 and collect tolls as specified in the contract. In the existing model, no tolls would be collected in the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas.

State lawmakers briefed about the concept estimate about 50 percent of Missourians would support a toll project.

Other financing ideas would require statewide support in the form of voter approval.

Increasing the fuel tax 15 cents a gallon for 10 years — estimated to raise the amount needed for the I-70 project — would require passage in a statewide vote. The increase would nearly double the existing 17-cents-a-gallon fuel tax.

Similarly, voters would need to adopt an estimated half-cent sales for a 10-year period to pay for the rebuilding.

File the I-70 project under the category: Wanted, but at no extra cost.

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MoDOT Director Proposes Toll on I-70

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:25:00 -0800

Reported by: Dick Aldrich, Missouri News Horizon

Wednesday, November 16 2011

(Jefferson City, MO) -- MoDOT director Kevin Keith says state lawmakers should give serious consideration to making Interstate 70 a tollway through Missouri.

"We think it's an option worth talking about," Keith told members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation Oversight.

Under the plan, a private contractor or group of contractors would rebuild I-70 from the U.S. Highway 40/61 junction in Wentzville to the I-470 loop junction around Kansas City. After the project is complete, the contractors would operate the toll plazas for a period of years until the contractor's investment has been repaid.

Keith said the federal government has already given Missouri a waiver to try this approach to rebuild the highway that serves as the main artery connecting the state's two largest cities. Missouri has clearance to be one of only four pilot projects in the country where the U.S. Department of Transportation is allowing an existing highway to be turned into a toll road.

Keith said cost estimates for rebuilding I-70 for the increased volume it now carries run anywhere from $1.5 billion to $4 billion depending upon how drastically the road is improved. He estimates to pay for a project with public funds would necessitate a 15-cent hike in the state gas tax over a ten year period.

"If that's not impossible, it's highly unlikely that could happen in the current economic climate'" Keith said.

The Missouri legislature would have to pass enabling legislation for the toll road idea to move forward, and Keith said the time for that discussion to begin is now.

The director told legislators that by rebuilding I-70, the state would save between $75 and $90 million a year, the cost of upkeep for the current highway.

Legislators on the committee said they were pleased that Keith brought this idea to the committee and said that a discussion on the issue was timely. But none went so far as to endorse the toll road plan.

"Hopefully, those who oppose won't just come and say 'no', they'll come and say 'no, but let's look at (something else)," said Rep. Thomas Long, R-Battlefield.

Former Highways and Transportation Commission Chairman, Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, said public sentiment about the I-70 project "is a mixed bag."

But Kehoe said the maintenance savings generated from the proposed I-70 rebuilding is reason enough for the conversation to begin.

"Anytime you can pick up a dollar to help out with those infrastructure projects, it will be a good investment," said Kehoe.

Committee chair, Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, said he was concerned that motorists may try to avoid I-70 if it became a toll road, pushing traffic onto smaller roads, such as Highway 36 and Highway 50.

Keith said the concern was valid, but it would be up to the toll road operator to make sure tolls aren't excessive. But he also pointed out that Highway 36 across the northern third of Missouri is now a four lane highway all the way from Chicago to Missouri's western border.

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MoDOT meeting held in Kirksville over Macon District Office

Fri, 27 May 2011 11:44:00 -0700

By: Chris Curtis

KIRKSVILLE -- In 12 days, a decision will be made on the location of the MoDOT District Two Office.

As of now, plans are to move that office to Hannibal.

MoDOT has stated this is the only way to survive.

MoDOT has plans to trim a $1.3 billion budget down to only $600 million during the next five years.

The plan is to reduce 12 hundred midlevel to upper level employees, which will include 27 percent of program delivery employees, 31 percent administrative support and 12 percent in operations. Yet, that does not include on the ground employees.

Also part of the 5 year plan, reducing fleet by 740 and shutting down 135 facilities.

Those district offices are located in Joplin, Willow Springs and Macon.

The closure of the Macon District Office has caused a stink among Macon residents and many other locals.
So why is everyone so upset? There are more than 80 jobs on the line, plus this new plan will send a centrally located District Office almost to Illinois.

State representatives, city commissioners' and city leaders met Thursday evening at A.T. Still University to review the plan once again.

District Engineer Dan Niec said that even if the Macon office shuts down, MoDOT will continue to have a strong presence in the Heartland.

"Most of our customer service happens locally, either in the maintenance facility or in a project office and our field crews. The staff that work in district offices support those field crews, so you can run the district from any location and not hinder the customer service aspect, as long as we keep the right people in the field that do the work everyday," Niec said.

There are plans to keep the state of the art patience facility open in the city of Macon.

But what will happen to the District Office in Macon. MoDOT plans to either auction off or sell the building and put that money back into a budget. MoDOT plans to gain $512 million.

The final decision, barring any delay will be June 8 in Jefferson City.

Here is the final meeting before June 8.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, June 1 - 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (formal presentation to begin at 5:30 p.m.)
Randolph County Pubic Briefing, High School Gymnasium in Moberly

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MoDOT: No Construction Statewide This Holiday Weekend

Fri, 27 May 2011 11:36:00 -0700

(Springfield, MO) -- Good news if you're hitting the highways this holiday weekend: there won't be any construction happening at work zones.

That's the word from the Missouri Department of Transportation, which will stop all projects at noon Friday and won't resume them until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

However, there will be a few lane and bridge closures that remain through that duration.

Last year, nine people were killed and 69 were seriously injured in traffic crashes in Missouri over Memorial Day weekend.

MoDOT is reminding drivers to to not let their guard down while driving.

Click here to see MoDOT's interactive traveler map before you head out for the weekend. You can also call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).

Here is MoDOT's list of ongoing construction and closures through the weekend:

Marshfield Area:

* ROAD CLOSED: Route 38 CLOSED five miles east of Marshfield between Webster County Route P and Route C. Contractor crews replacing bridges over Greer Creek and Osage Fork. Road closed until Oct. 1. Detour: Webster County Route P to Route C.

Fair Grove Area:

* ROAD CLOSED: Dallas County Route AA CLOSED at bridge over a branch of Pomme De Terre River 1-1/2 miles east of Route 65 north of Fair Grove. Rehabilitating bridge. Bridge closed until July 3.

Bolivar/Buffalo Areas:

* One-lane traffic on Route 32 between Polk County Route D in Bolivar and Route 65 at Buffalo. Contractor crews resurfacing road.

Preston Area:

* One-lane traffic at times on Hickory County Route D between Preston and Nemo. Contractor removing trees near pavement. Obey flaggers.

Bradleyville Area:

* ROAD CLOSED: Route 125 CLOSED at Brush Creek between Route 76 and Route 160 south of Bradleyville. Replacing bridge. Bridge scheduled to open Friday May, 27. Detour on state routes -- Route 125, Route 160 and Route 76. Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement project.

Aldrich Area:

* ROAD CLOSED UNTIL JULY 27: Route 123 bridge CLOSED at Stockton Lake south of Aldrich. Rehabilitating bridge. Bridge will be closed up to 100 days -- through July 27. Detour on state roads: Route 215 to Route 245 to Route 32. Project part of MoDOT's Safe & Sound bridge improvement program.

Mansfield/Hartville Areas:

* ROAD CLOSED UNTIL JUNE 8: Route 38 CLOSED at bridge over Little Creek four miles west of Hartville. Replacing bridge. Detour on state roads -- Route 5 and Wright County Route F. Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement project.

* Route 60/65 Reconstruction in Springfield:

-- TRAFFIC SHIFT: Two-way traffic in the eastbound lanes of Route 60 between the Lake Springfield bridge and a point east of Glenstone Avenue. Only one lane open in each direction on Route 60. The U.S. 60 speed limit: 45 mph through the work zone.

-- RAMP CLOSED: Northbound U.S. 65-to-eastbound U.S. 60 ramp CLOSED into July. Detour westbound on U.S. 60 through Glenstone interchange to eastbound U.S. 60.

- RAMP CLOSED: Westbound U.S. 60-to-southbound U.S. 65 ramp CLOSED until summer or fall of 2012. Detour westbound on U.S. 60 through Glenstone interchange to eastbound U.S. 60 to southbound U.S. 65.

-- TRAFFIC SHIFTS: - Northbound Route 65 shifted to median south of Route 60. Speed limit reduced to 45 mph. - Southbound Route 65-to-westbound Route 60 traffic shifted to temporary ramp

-- Narrowed lanes and traffic shifts on Route 60 and Route 65. Bridge work.

* Route 65 Six-Laning in Springfield:

-- New third southbound lane of Route 65 OPEN between Sunshine Street and Route 60. Southbound right-lane becomes exit-only lane to westbound Route 60.

-- TRAFFIC SHIFTS: - Northbound Route 65 shifted toward median between Chestnut Expressway and a point south of the railroad bridges south of Kearney Street. - Traffic shifted toward median at Catalpa Street bridge - Southbound traffic shifted to median at railroad bridge south of Chestnut Expressway - Traffic shifted toward outside shoulder at bridges over Chestnut Expressway - Northbound Route 65 shifted to median at railroad bridges south of Kearney Street -

- Speed limit on Route 65 reduced to 50 mph in areas

* Kansas Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation at Rail Yards in Springfield:

-- TRAFFIC SHIFT: Two-way traffic in the southbound lanes of Kansas Expressway between Atlantic and Division streets 'round the clock. Expect delays.

* Campbell Avenue (Route 160/13) Six-Laning in Springfield:

-- Republic Road shifted at Campbell Avenue. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction. Left and right turn lanes closed. All turns must be made from through lanes.

-- Short-term traffic stops on Campbell Avenue north of Weaver Road at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. for blasting

-- Crews and equipment close to traffic between South Avenue and James River Freeway

-- Dump trucks hauling rock and dirt in and out of work areas. Trucks moving with traffic.

* Route 5 Shared Four-Lane (alternating passing lanes) north of Lebanon:

-- No traffic impacts

* Lake Taneycomo Bridge (Route 76/Bus. 65) Bridge Construction in Branson/Hollister:

-- New Lake Taneycomo bridge OPEN to traffic.

-- Historic Lake Taneycomo bridge CLOSED for repairs for up to a year.

BRIDGE DETOUR: Route 76/Business 65 traffic detour set up using Branson Landing Boulevard, Route 248 and Route 65 to Route 76 in Branson.

* Route 60 at Clinton Road Intersection Widening/Traffic Signal Installation in Seymour:

-- One westbound lane of Route 60 closed at Clinton Road

-- Lane closings and traffic shifts on Clinton Road at Route 60

* Route 248/65 Diverging Diamond Interchange in Branson:

-- No traffic impacts

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MoDOT proposal generates lively discussion from few at meeting

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:08:00 -0700

By: Bob Watson

Almost a half-dozen Mid-Missourians stopped by the Transportation Department’s Jefferson City open-house meeting Monday, to hear the department’s reasoning for proposing major cutbacks.

And three of those visitors — along with state Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City and a former Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission chairman — had a lively discussion with Eric Schroeter, interim district engineer.

“I think they answered (questions) other than specific personnel numbers,” said contractor Dick Otke, the only one of the three willing to be interviewed.

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MoDOT to restructure -Carthage resident engineer office to close, maintenance lot to remain

Wed, 25 May 2011 12:29:00 -0700

By John Hacker

CARTHAGE, Mo. —

A massive restructuring by the state department that maintains highways and roads means offices in Carthage, Joplin and Neosho will close their doors.

Becky Baltz, district engineer for the Joplin district office of the Missouri Department of Transportation said the big move will be combining four southern Missouri highway districts into two, which will close the District 7 office in Joplin and combine it with the district office in Springfield.

On a more local level, resident engineers offices in Carthage and Neosho will be combined and moved to Joplin.

In Carthage, the resident engineer’s office is located in a building on the maintenance lot on Oak Street near the Missouri Highway 171 interchange.

MoDOT said resident engineers oversee projects under construction in their area on a more local level.

“We’ll still have maintenance facilities in those two communities, but the resident engineers’ offices will be consolidated,” Baltz said in a telephone interview after the regular monthly meeting of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.

The Commission must still approve the entire consolidation plan, but Baltz said that will likely happen at its regular meeting in June.

Baltz said she and the other district engineers, along with other MoDOT officials, will hold meetings with the public and local officials throughout the month to tell the public about the plan and get their opinions.

MoDOT proposes that consolidation will be completed by December 2012.

The entire consolidation plan calls for reducing MoDOT’s staff by 1,200 from about 6,300 to about 5,100; closing 135 facilities, and selling off 740 pieces of equipment and saving $512 million that will be put back into maintenance projects over the next five years.

MoDOT said drastic reductions in funding for roads, caused by the end of the Amendment 3 bonding program and a drop in gasoline tax revenues because of high gas prices and better vehicle fuel efficiency, means fewer new projects will be built as the department focuses on maintaining the 30,000 miles of roads in its care.

For the past five years, Missouri’s state highway construction program has averaged $1.2 billion a year. On Wednesday MoDOT presented a new, five-year construction program to the commission that is only half that amount - about $600 million a year.

“We are facing a transportation funding crisis in Missouri,” MoDOT Director Kevin Keith said. “Over the past year, we have worked hard to reduce the size of our workforce and cut costs, but it isn’t enough. We must take further action to become the right size to serve our customers given the severe reduction in funding for transportation.”

The department’s plan includes reducing the number of its district offices, which administer the state’s transportation program at the regional level, from 10 to seven. MoDOT’s current district boundaries have been virtually unchanged since 1922, when many state roads were still gravel and MoDOT used mules and wagons.

Baltz said Joplin’s District 7 office at the corner of 32nd Street and Duquesne Road, a hub of road construction activity since the department moved there in the 1990s, will be closed and the building sold.

She said the department will keep operating some of the maintenance and storage facilities around that building.

Baltz, who has served as district engineer in the Joplin office for the past three years, will become the district engineer for the new southwest district, which will be based in Springfield and stretch east from the Kansas state line to Laclede, Wright, Douglas and Ozark counties.

Currently, District 7 serves an area two counties wide from the Arkansas line to Bates County and St. Clair County. Those two counties will move to a district based in Kansas City.

Baltz said the consolidation will not affect projects currently under construction, such as the work to upgrade U.S. 71 to interstate status from Kansas City to Neosho and the ongoing bridge replacement and repair program.

She said the department plans far fewer new construction projects in the next five years as it works to maintain Missouri’s roads with less money.

“The plan is drastic, but we’ll do whatever we need to do to make the roads in Missouri the best they can be with the money we’re allowed,” Baltz said. “The public has shown no desire to increase taxes for roads and we feel we have to really focus on how the money we have can be put to work and keep our roads safe.”

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Pulaski County emergency responders mobilize for Joplin tornado victims

Tue, 24 May 2011 07:46:00 -0700

By: Darrell Todd Maurina

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 23, 2011) — When a New Years’ Eve tornado struck Fort Leonard Wood, donations poured in to help numerous soldiers and families who lost their homes even though nobody was killed. Less than a day after a major tornado struck Joplin and killed at least 89 people, Pulaski County Presiding Commissioner Gene Newkirk, Pulaski County Sheriff J.B. King and Pulaski County Ambulance Director Gary Carmack announced that they’re working to send emergency supplies as well as trained personnel to provide emergency relief in Joplin.

Newkirk, whose wife works for Paul’s Furniture, said that company’s owner has volunteered warehouse space for donations.

“Paul’s Furniture has stepped forward and allowed us to use storage space,” Newkirk said. “They can bring non-perishable goods or clothing by there. The Sunshine Restaurant has stepped up; you can drop it by there. They are taking monetary funds there also.”

Potential donors can also call the Pulaski County Courthouse at (573) 774-4701, Newkirk said

“We will get it there. St. Robert fire department employees are going to deliver it to Joplin once we get it all squared away,” Newkirk said. “These people have lost everything; they have nothing — no cars, no houses, no clothing; they’re lucky to have their lives.”

Pulaski County Emergency Management Director Lawson Smith and Pastor Duane Carter of Harmony Baptist Church in Buckhorn are both in Joplin, Newkirk said; Carter works with a local faith-based emergency response team.

While local firefighters haven’t yet been called out for mutual aid response, Newkirk said they’re on standby if needed.

King said the sheriff’s department has reserve deputies working in Joplin who are contacting King on an hourly basis to provide updates.

Carmack said the state’s emergency management coordinator called his department Sunday asking how many units the Pulaski County Ambulance District could send to Joplin, where the local facility of St. John’s Hospital was among the buildings struck by the tornado.

Carmack said Deputy Chief Mike McCart and County Coroner Mikel Hartness have already deployed with Tast Force 1; two additional teams consisting of Lt. Christy Saylor, Paramedic Marty Lehn, EMT Ethan Foster and paramedic Tim Siebert have also been sent.

Two more local organizations, the Pulaski County Farmer’s Market and Walker Real Estate, are also collecting donations.

According to a press release, donations may be taken to the Walker Real Estate office located at 854 Missouri Avenue in St. Robert, or brought to the Farmer’s Market this Saturday, May 28, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Roubidoux Park in downtown Waynesville.

Clothing is not being collected by those organizations. Donations requested are non-perishable food, flashlights and batteries, blankets, camping cookware, infant supplies including formula and diapers, light jackets and rain ponchos, underwear and socks, tennis shoes, sunscreen, soap, deodorant, and other hygienic products.

Those wanting more information can contact Clara Magoon at (573) 586-8438 or visit the Pulaski County Farmer’s Market Facebook page.

In related matters, Missouri Department of Transportation personnel announced at 9:36 a.m. that all lanes of Interstate 44 through Joplin have been reopened; the interstate had been closed due to numerous overturned semi trucks. However, Business 71 (Rangeline) is closed between 10th and 24th Street and MoDOT personnel are advising truckers not to fuel in the Joplin area since electricity has not been restored to all gas stations in the area.

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MoDOT putting brakes on construction projects- declining fuel use cuts agency's tax revenue; new sources needed.

Tue, 24 May 2011 07:35:00 -0700

It appears Missourians will soon face a choice between two distasteful options: a tax hike or growing road congestion.

The Missouri Department of Transportation recently proposed to dramatically scale back its efforts, including an end to all new construction projects.

That proposal is scheduled for a June 8 vote.

The reductions have been a long time coming, but this proposal highlights the need for a new plan for funding transportation infrastructure in the state, officials say.

"We are off the cliff now," said state Rep. Thomas Long, R-Springfield, the vice chairman of the House Transportation Committee. "This is the cliff that people have been talking about."

To reinvigorate construction, local and statewide transportation groups say MoDOT must receive more money. There's little consensus on how that should happen, but it would almost certainly involve a tax or fee increase.

Construction

Though drivers most likely won't see significant effects for about five years, local transportation leaders say the cuts could soon lead to heavy traffic in rapidly expanding areas.

Construction that's already been started, such as the 60/65 interchange, would be completed. But local officials say many areas need more projects just to keep up with a growing population, and anything that doesn't already have state funding most likely won't get any.

MoDOT will still perform road maintenance, but even projects such as larger road signs or new safety devices in roadway medians will be curtailed.

For example, the city of Springfield would like to see improvements to James River Freeway, said Phil Broyles, the co-interim director of public works. He said the freeway could be widened between Campbell Avenue and Glenstone Avenue to relieve increasing traffic.

And for safety reasons, he'd like to see a diverging diamond at the intersection of the freeway and Kansas Expressway. That would cost at least $3 million, he said -- money the city simply cannot afford.

This dearth of improvements will have serious effects on both Ozarkers and their jobs, said Ryan Mooney, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's vice president of economic development.

"Transportation networks really make the connections between people and where they live and where they work," he said.

A good transportation system can encourage employers to bring jobs to the area, he said. And it makes life much easier for people to commute to work.

He said the area has so far kept up well with rapid population gains. "But we need to continue to do that," he said.

Ozarks Transportation Organization Director Sara Edwards pointed to southern Greene County roads. Increasingly numerous commuters between Christian County and Springfield must travel on those roads every day, so they will need upgrades more significant than MoDOT can afford.

"I think that what we'll eventually have to see is a statewide tax," Edwards said.

Revenue

MoDOT's revenue this year is half of what it was last year, and it's not likely to go up.

The problem is that most of the department's money comes from the fuel tax. The rise of fuel-efficient vehicles and movements away from gas altogether have led to declining fuel use, and that means less money coming in from the tax.

The Missouri Transportation Alliance, a coalition of groups that is pushing for more transportation funds for the state, has been talking to Missourians for more than a year about new methods of revenue generation for MoDOT.

Jewell Pateck, an organizer for the alliance, said the most talked-about options are an increase in the fuel tax, a sales tax dedicated to transportation or toll roads. But none has gained broad support among voters, who would have to approve such a measure.

"None of them is a silver bullet, and none of them are pleasant," he said.

He said he has seen more awareness lately about Missouri's transportation funding problem. And when Missourians are ready to embrace a proposal, the alliance will try to make it happen, he said.

"We want to be a resource for Missourians to coalesce around a solution, but we're waiting for Missourians to be ready for it," he said.

That is crucial, he said.

"It's here. It's now. It's real," Pateck said. "It affects every single person in our state."

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Interstate I-44 at Joplin, Missouri closed due to destructive massive tornado

Mon, 23 May 2011 10:27:00 -0700

By: Lindsay Godfree

The Missouri Department of Transportation says I-44 is completely shutdown at Joplin due to tornado damage. Officials say several tractor trailers have been overturned on the interstate.

Travelers need to be aware that getting through is impossible and getting around Joplin is very difficult, with Interstate 44 shut down and streets clogged with emergency vehicles and the wreckage of buildings.

Interstate 44 enters Missouri at the eastern terminus of the Will Rogers Turnpike from Oklahoma, 200 yards south of the Kansas state line. The road then runs through southern Joplin.

Map of road closures are available at http://www.modot.org/

The same storm system that caused the Joplin tornado created twisters through a wide section of the Midwest, from Oklahoma to Wisconsin.

Additional storms are predicted across the southern Plains through Thursday morning. Shelter info, tornado preparedness & response tips, and the latest news available on mo.gov.

Further, travelers should also be prepared for more extreme weather.

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Macon, the little town that could

Mon, 23 May 2011 07:55:00 -0700

MACON, MO. -- With 80 jobs on the line for the city of Macon, residents came out in full force to try to reverse the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission plans to shut down the Macon District Office.

Residents met on Thursday night for the second time in 10 days. The odds appear to be stacked against the city of Maples, but residents are making it clear. They aren't going down without a fight.

Around 275 people packed the Macon Expo Center for round two discussions on how to save the Macon District Office.

Residents have poured in support by writing letters, making phone calls, even creating Facebook groups.

Local resident Barbara Primm said that the Missouri Transportation Commission might have a flaw and she's onto it.

"There might be a little chink in the armor. When I first heard of this presented a couple of weeks ago I didn't know if there was a chance of modification, but I do feel now that there might be some room for some modification on the plan," Primm said.

With 80 or so jobs at stake, Macon residents have made it clear that want the office to stay in Macon due to the central location of the office. However, it has come down to a choice and it is a choice Macon might not be happy with.

"He said tonight they chose Springfield over Joplin because it’s centralized. We're centralized so it should carry a lot of weight," said City Administrator Allen Muncy.

"The advantage Macon has is that it's centrally located and if we thought that was the decision point we would put the office in Macon. It could have worked here just as easy as Hannibal. It came down a choice we had to make," said MoDOT Director Kevin Keith.

The facilities remain a hot topic. As of now, Hannibal is getting the nod over Macon. With the Macon facility creeping up in age, those in favor of keeping the office in Macon have said that should not be a game changer.

"This district office has functioned since the 1920's. Its provided good service. They have done over 4 million dollars on updates on the building, so there's no reason why it wouldn't be affective here," Muncy said.

"I have a 30 year old facility on 100 acres in Hannibal that will serve our needs for 100 years. I have an 80 year old district office in Macon, that I can close." Keith said.

However, there is hope at the end of the tunnel. MoDOT has made it clear they would like to keep the Macon operation facility open. The state of the art facility would employee up to 75 people.

Yet, residents such as Barbara Primm are still hunting for the best prize of all. The district office to remain in Macon.

"Macon has a history of getting it done. We are a can-do community," Primm said.

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Briefings in North Central Missouri

Monday, May 23 - 9:00 a.m.
Howard County Commission Meeting, County Courthouse in Fayette
(includes legislative and city elected officials and RPC)

Tuesday, May 24 - 9:00 a.m.
Grundy County Commission Meeting, County Courthouse in Trenton
(includes legislative and city elected officials and RPC)

Thursday, May 26 - 9:15 a.m.
Saline County Commission Meeting, County Courthouse in Marshall
(includes legislative and city elected officials and RPC)

Thursday, May 26 - 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (formal presentation to begin at 5:30 p.m.)
Adair County Pubic Briefing, ATSU University in Kirksville (Mehegan Classroom)

Wednesday, June 1 - 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (formal presentation to begin at 5:30 p.m.)
Randolph County Pubic Briefing, High School Gymnasium in Moberly

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Missouri Transportation Alliance

Cuts lead MoDOT to push new tech for road safety

Public meeting set to discuss Missouri I-70, tolls

MoDOT: Future big projects on hold

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.

Highway fatality rate at record low thanks to technology

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

News MoDOT Uses New Technology to Save Money

MoDOT restructuring brings demotions, pay cuts

Luetkemeyer Discusses Need for Funding Transportation

Missouri lawmakers are willing to talk about I-70 tolls

Kansas City Business Journal

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

Our Opinion: I-70 project popular; tolls, taxes, not so much

MoDOT Director Proposes Toll on I-70

MoDOT meeting held in Kirksville over Macon District Office

MoDOT: No Construction Statewide This Holiday Weekend

MoDOT proposal generates lively discussion from few at meeting

MoDOT to restructure -Carthage resident engineer office to close, maintenance lot to remain

Pulaski County emergency responders mobilize for Joplin tornado victims

MoDOT putting brakes on construction projects- declining fuel use cuts agency's tax revenue; new sources needed.

Construction

Revenue

Interstate I-44 at Joplin, Missouri closed due to destructive massive tornado

Macon, the little town that could