MoDOT cost-saving plan includes seven districts, job cuts and fewer facilities

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Transportation believes it can do more with less.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will decide Wednesday whether or not to approve the "Bolder Five-Year Direction" plan, according to Mark Shelton, district engineer for MoDOT's Southeast District.

The plan's goal, Shelton said, is to provide outstanding service by focusing on priorities while tightening the belt.

"About a year and a half ago, we recognized we were entering a transportation funding crisis," he said. "MoDOT's funding comes from the gas tax, it comes from automobile sales tax and license and registration fees. That funding level has essentially stayed about the same over the last several years. But as the cost of materials goes up, the cost of fuel goes up, the cost of employees goes up, that eats away at the number of dollars you have available to put on the road."

The proposed plan would reduce the number of employees, close and consolidate facilities and trim back the department's equipment pool.

"What that gets us over the next five years is an additional $520 million to put on the roadways," Shelton said. "Every one of those dollars will find its way to the roadway."

It important, according to MoDOT officials, to have enough money budgeted for local matches required for federal funds.

"Most of our highway projects are on an 80-20 split with the federal government," Shelton said. "The economy still is sluggish and as we looked forward, it was apparent that if we didn't do something different, we would not be able to match federal funds in 2017. There is still not a new federal highway bill and there are no signs of federal government or voters increasing transportation funding."

How many jobs will be lost in each district is not determined yet.

"It will be spread out across the state, everybody will be affected," Shelton said. "Every district and our central office in Jefferson City, everybody is to be reduced."

Another 850 positions will be eliminated in addition to 350 already reduced under the previous plan for a total reduction of 1,200.

"About 12 percent will come from ... the maintenance side of the shop," Shelton said. "But that reduction will not be from our boots-on-the-ground maintenance folk. ... The idea is, we want to deliver great customer service. We need to keep them out there mowing the right-of-ways, pushing the snow, patching the potholes."

Southeast District facilities listed for closure, some of which MoDOT has already moved out of, include construction offices at Sikeston and Kennett and maintenance sheds at East Prairie, Portageville, Arbyrd, Brazeau, Puxico, Naylor and Steele and for Williamsville Special-Regional Bridge and the Delta Special-District Maintenance.

The plan includes closing district offices in Macon, Joplin and Willow Springs and reorganizing as seven districts.

Statewide, MoDOT would have about 135 fewer facilities.

The number of area engineer offices, which Shelton said are "the face of MoDOT," would only be reduced by seven, however.

"If a community has a need or issue they need to work on with MoDOT, they don't need to go to the district office, they can go to the area office," he said.

Equipment reductions are aimed at keeping only the right number of tractors and loaders to do the job, Shelton said.

What isn't needed, about 740 pieces of equipment, will be sold off.

"We just want to try to be as efficient as we can," Shelton said.

If the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approves a plan, MoDOT will begin operating under that plan the next day.

"If the plan is approved as presented on June 8, it would be fully implemented by Dec. 31, 2012," Shelton said.