Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

Garver USA updates TAC on Forward I-44 study

ST. JAMES— Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) is forming a multi-modal advisory committee to better identify high-priority, unfunded multi-modal needs, MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge shared with the MRPC Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) during its Aug. 8 meeting. This committee will be similar to the current TAC but its focus will be on alternative modes of transportation.

The existing TAC will focus on road and bridge needs while the multi-modal advisory committee will look at aviation, rail, port, bicycle, pedestrian and trail needs within the region and what the needs for those specific entities include. Staff is currently working on reaching out to key stakeholders who can provide input on these areas and is planning an inaugural meeting in September with the committee. Once the advisory committee is identified, it will be appointed by the MRPC board. These committee members will also be invited to the county-level needs meetings that MRPC and MoDOT conduct yearly. 

“I always use the example that when we do our Public Transit Human Services Coordination Plan, we have a lot of recommendations to expand routes, but we really need to get more down in the weeds and determine where we need routes and how many more buses we need,” MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge said. “We have a lot of good participation but when that plan is done, everyone goes home and we don’t get back together for five years. We want to be able to continue having those conversations that could lead to funding opportunities that might help move some of those projects along – not just what MoDOT can provide but put some projects together using other funding sources. We’re excited about getting that started.”

MoDOT has expanded its planning partnership agreement with MRPC and other regional planning commissions across the state. The Meramec group would meeting quarterly and would be responsible for providing an annual high-priority, unfunded multi-modal needs list for MRPC to report to MoDOT. The existing TAC would continue to develop the annual high priority, unfunded needs list for road and bridge projects on the state system as it has done for many years. 

The TAC also heard a progress report from Garver USA, one of two consultants completing an environmental survey on I-44 as a part of the Forward 44 effort. In Missouri’s fiscal year 2023 budget, the General Assembly signed into law by Governor Parson provided $20 million for an environmental study of more than 250 miles of the I-44 corridor from Oklahoma state line to the Franklin County/St. Louis County Line. 

Forward 44’s goals are to validate the outcomes of the 2008 Purpose and Need Study, provide opportunity for public input and divide the 250 plus miles into logical independent segments for further in-depth study and prepare for detailed design and construction. In the Meramec Region, I-44 runs approximately 80 miles through Crawford, Phelps and Pulaski counties with 21 interchanges. Crash rates are greater than the statewide average through St. Robert and to the east nearing Phelps County. The study hopes to provide information about the possible hazards with solutions on fixing these hazards, thereby making the roadways safer. 

Additionally, the TAC also heard an update on the road safety audit completed at Hwy. 21 and Diamond Road in front of the Kingston K-14 Public Schools in Washington County. A road safety audit allows area partners, including MoDOT, to come together to and find low-cost solutions that might improve a section of roadway. 

Recommendations that came from the road safety audit included improving school zone signage and enforcement, driver education such as the use of docudramas and redesigning the school entrance. 

The TAC also elected new officers. Sean Wilson, mayor of Waynesville, will serve as chairman. Wilson replaces Steve Vogt of Belle as Chairman. Phelps County Presiding Commissioner Joey Auxier will serve as vice-chairman, while TR Dudley of Potosi will serve as secretary. 

Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee may contact MRPC at (573) 265-2993. The group will meet again at 4:00 p.m. Oct.10 at MRPC, 4 Industrial Dr., St. James. Meetings are open to the public. The group will identify top regional road and bridge needs at its December meeting. The regional prioritization once approved by the MRPC board, will be shared with MoDOT for consideration for inclusion in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). 

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 of Bourbon, representing the unemployed on the board, serves as the current chair. A professional staff of 30 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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