Emerson speaks out against MoDOT cost-cutting plan

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson isn't pleased with the Missouri Department of Transportation's plans to close a district headquarters and consolidate staff in rural areas of the state, including Cape Girardeau and Scott counties.

In a statement this week, the Cape Girardeau Republican said she is "highly concerned about any plan to reduce the attention given to our rural state roads and highways, and I am dead set against the proposal on the table to do just that with MoDOT."

Kevin Keith, the department's director, earlier this month proposed cutting 1,200 positions statewide, shuttering three district offices, closing more than 100 maintenance facilities and selling more than 700 pieces of equipment as federal stimulus dollars dry up. The budget is projected to drop by more than half, to $600 million from $1.2 billion, under Keith's proposal.

The plan calls for the closure of maintenance facilities in both Cape Girardeau and Perry counties, and nixing some major improvement projects in Southeast Missouri.

Emerson said the proposed elimination of MoDOT District 9 means other regions must absorb nearly 10,000 square miles of the state containing 3,744 road miles.

"Between Sikeston and Springfield, from Jefferson City to the Arkansas line, there would be one office to serve the citizens of Missouri," she said.

The MoDOT plan proposes to cut two-thirds of the agency's staff in the region.