Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES —The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) and the newly formed Multimodal TAC worked to prioritize the regions High Priority, Unfunded-Needs at a joint meeting on Feb. 13. Approximately 45 people attended the meeting.

The Missouri Department of Transportation working with its statewide regional planning partners, have identified $1.1 billion in annual unfunded needs. From the broader unfunded needs, MoDOT has developed a High-Priority Unfunded Needs list to guide the development of needs into funded projects as state and federal transportation funds increase. The High Priority, Unfunded-Needs list provides direction for future years’ Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) development.

The MRPC TAC prioritized projects for Highways 50 and 63, the top two regional needs in the Meramec area. The Highway 50 prioritization focused specific identified needs while Highway 63 was prioritized by sections as identified in the Highway 63 Environmental Improvement study. The prioritization is as follows: 

Highway 50:

1. Improvements from CR 604 west of Linn to Rte. 89 east of Linn;

2. Improvements including widening to Super 2, shoulders and horizontal alignment building towards four-lane for approximately 43 from Gasconade County to Osage County;

3. Relocate/straighten the roadway at Drake;

4. Address safety concerns and install traffic calming measures at Rte. 100 in Osage County; and 

5. Install climbing and passing lanes at Hwy. 50 and Rte. K in Gasconade County. 

Highway 63: 

1. South of Maries River Bridge at Westphalia to South of Osage CR 524 (7-mile stretch);

2. South of Maries CR 325 to North of Hwy 68 (8-mile stretch); 

3. South of Maries CR 443 to Phelps County Super 2 (8-mile stretch); and

4. North of Hwy 68 to South of Maries CR 443 (2-mile stretch).

The Multimodal TAC prioritized rail, transit, airport and bicycle/pedestrian needs. The prioritization of the top three projects in each category is as follows:

Rail Projects:

1. Creating a sitting/intermodal hub at the Union Pacific Railway near the airport and industrial park in Potosi;

2. Rehabilitating and re-opening the rail line to Pea Ridge Mine in Washington County; and 

3. Providing an Amtrak stop in Rolla. 

Transit Projects:

1. Increase rural transportation including frequency and options in Phelps County;

2. Increase rural transportation including frequency and options in Washington County;

3. Create a partnership between OATS and State Technical College to run shuttle between school and downtown locations; and

3. Providing more buses by SMTS in Washington County. 

Airport Projects: 

1. Extend the runway at 2/20 at the Potosi Airport; 

1. Install a weather system at the Potosi Airport; and 

3. Construct hangars and taxi lanes at the Rolla National Airport in Maries/Phelps counties. 

Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects:

1. Complete construction of the Rock Island State Park in Gasconade County; 

2. Construct a bike path/pedestrian access along Hwy. 8 to connect to the bike trail at Steelville City park; and 

2. Improve safety for pedestrians on Old Wire Road from Menards to Sally Road in Phelps County. 

This prioritization was approved at the MRPC board meeting later that evening. To see the full prioritized lists, visit www.meramecregion.org/transportation-planning. 

The TAC chairman is Waynesville Mayor Sean Wilson, and the Multimodal TAC chairman is Sam Rhodes of Washington County.

Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee or Multimodal TAC may contact MRPC at (573) 265-2993. For more information on Transportation needs in the region or other programs offered by MRPC, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion or visit www.meramecregion.org. 

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Mary Heywood, representing the unemployed, serves as chairman of the board. A professional staff of 26 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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Cutline: Members of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Multimodal TAC met on Feb. 13, 2025 to prioritize High-Priority Unfunded-Needs for the Meramec Region.