Comments being sought on MoDOT five-year work program

ST. JAMES—Missouri highways are improving, state highways commissioner Mike Kehoe of Jefferson City, told the Meramec Regional Transportation Advisory Committee during its regular meeting on June 8, however, more money is needed to address needs and to offset a decrease in transportation construction revenue, expected in 2010.

Kehoe, a Jefferson City car dealer who owns a farm in Phelps and Pulaski counties, is one of six members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and was appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt. Kehoe said the highway commission’s focus is, first, safety, and then economic development. The Smooth Roads Initiative (SRI), which will be completed one year a head of schedule, is improving Missouri roadways. The first phase of the SRI program focused on 2,200 miles of the most used highways. In 2004, less than half of Missouri’s roadways were in good condition. In 2005, that number had increased to over 60 percent. MoDOT will soon begin gearing up for Phase 2 of the Smooth Roads Initiative, which will focus on the next 3,300 miles of the most used state roadways.

Kehoe said that the highway commission is trying to regain the trust of Missouri transportation users through the SRI program.

“We’re going to prove it to you,” he told TAC members. “We’ve started, and we’ll keep proving it to you.”

However, major transportation projects cannot be completed without additional funds, Kehoe said. Kehoe discussed the need to improve 8,000 state bridges and improving Interstate 70.

“Right behind 70 is I-44,” Kehoe noted.

He also pointed out that higher petroleum costs was impacting construction projects. Right now, MoDOT projects are running 6.9 percent over budget because of construction costs increases. The national average is 20 percent to 22 percent.

“We are managing that better than our counter parts in other states,” Kehoe said.
Kehoe commended the MRPC TAC on its work and pointed out that the group was considered a model around the state. He also stressed his support of the planning framework process that provides local leaders the opportunity to partner in transportation decisions.

“I don’t think six commissioners sitting in Jefferson City should be deciding what is built in your backyard,” Kehoe pointed out. “You should be doing that. The process allows for local people to decide what happens in their area, and I believe that’s the right way to do it.”
He also said that MoDOT was going to need the help of its planning partners, like the MRPC TAC, to find other revenue sources to continue improving Missouri’s transportation system. He said the state needs to be acting on something within two years to avoid a significant decrease in revenue and construction improvements.

TAC members, for several meetings, have been discussing the need for increased transportation revenues statewide and say that MODOT has done a good job improving the state’s transportation system with the funds available.
In other business at its June 8 meeting, the TAC :

• Learned the 2006-2007 State Transportation Improvement Plan is now available for public comment. The document, available on MoDOT’s website, is a five-year plan with approximately $6.8 billion worth of work. The formal public comment period ends June 27.

• Heard a report from Eric Curtit of MoDOT on the statewide long-range planning process, known as MAP. The regional focus group sessions have been completed, and the group will soon be sharing its recommendations with the state highway commission. T.R. Dudley of Potosi, Donald Dodd of Salem, Tony Crisman of Pulaski County, Joy Tucker of St. James and Richard Cavender of MRPC participated in the statewide MAP process.

• Learned that MoDOT planners are considering funding for an environmental improvement study on Highway 63 in Maries and Osage counties and design work for Highway 50 in Osage County. District 5 Engineer Roger Schwartze pointed out that the Highway 50 design work could be completed in-house, meaning that MoDOT staff would design the project, however, construction funds are not currently to make any recommended improvements.

• Heard a request from Charlie Walls of St. James regarding on/off ramps at the Highway U overpass on I-44 east of St. James. Wall pointed out that the additional access would help with traffic detours on Interstate 44. Walls also pointed out that more enforcement was needed to reduce speeding trucks that are tearing up pavement. He suggested looking at how other states handle large truck traffic.

• Heard progress reports from District 9 Engineer Tom Stehn and District 5 Area Engineer Alan Trampe.

• Received a draft copy of the Regional Transportation Plan from Connie Willman of MRPC. This is a three-phase plan; Phase 1 covers the state system, and Phase 2 will incorporate city and county transportation information.

• Reviewed the 2006-2007 work program between MRPC and MoDOT. A new component will be the development of a regional Blueprint for Safety team to encourage safe driving, including the use of seat belts.
Willard “Decky” Finn of Vienna chairs the TAC and serves as the TAC liaison on the MRPC board. Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee may contact Kelly Sink-Blair at MRPC, (573) 265-2993. The group will meet again Aug.10 at MRPC. Meetings are open to the public.