For immediate release
For more information, contact
Anne Freand
or
Caitlin Jones
ST. JAMES—The Missouri Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) has started a safety circuit rider program to help local governments improve safety on local roads. Gidget Koestner is the newly hired safety circuit rider and discussed the new program with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) at its meeting on June 11. Koestner is working to develop the program direction and content. She explained that the main goal of the program is to decrease fatalities and increase safety on locally owned roadways outside the state system.
The program aims to assist local public agencies in the analysis of safety issues on locally owned roads and help determine possible low-cost solutions to improve safety. The program takes a systemic approach to finding solutions for the state. Koestner is an engineer and previously worked for MoDOT.
The program can also:
These services are available to local road and bridge agencies as well as public works and street departments with limited or no in-house transportation safety engineering resources.
The LTAP is a national program established by the Federal Highway Administration in response to the need for funding and technical support to local communities that maintain roads and bridges. Each state in the US has an LTAP Center, and in Missouri, that center is located at Missouri S&T, and Heath Pickerill is the director. MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge is a member of the MO LTAP advisory board.
Additionally, during the TAC meeting, Preston Kramer and Steve Engelbrecht with MoDOT gave an update on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and how COVID-19 has affected funding. Some projects already in the STIP may be pushed out a year or so, depending on funding. No new projects were added to the STIP for FY 2024-25.
The TAC also approved MRPC’s FY 2020-21 Transportation Planning workplan and recommended that the MRPC approve the plan also. The workplan outlines the planning work that MRPC staff will perform in partnership with MoDOT this coming year.
Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee may contact MRPC at (573) 265-2993. The group will meet again at 4 p.m. Aug. 13 at MRPC, 4 Industrial Dr., St. James. Meetings are open to the public. Ray Walden of Dent County chairs the TAC.
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. Gasconade County Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel serves as chairman of the board. A professional staff of 34 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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