MoDOT long-range funding falls short of public's wish list

After completing a tour of the state and speaking with thousands of Missourians about what they want in a transportation system, the Missouri Department of Transportation learned some financial decisions will have to be made.

MoDOT on Thursday released a draft of its long-range transportation plan containing four goals for the future of Missouri's transportation. The goals were compiled based on Missourians' thoughts on the state's transportation after MoDOT traveled county to county from January to June during its effort called "On the Move." MoDOT is required every five years to construct a 20-year transportation plan.

The goals MoDOT developed are to take care of the transportation system and services; to keep all travelers safe; to invest in projects that spur economic growth and create jobs; and to give Missourians better transportation choices, according to the draft of the plan.

MoDOT district engineer Mark Shelton said more than 12,000 public comments were submitted, proposing a total of about $70 billion in projects. MoDOT's forecasted budget to work on projects over the next 20 years is $17 billion.

"The stark reality is there's just no way that we'll be able to deliver all those projects," he said.

According to the draft, funding for road and bridge construction has decreased from $1.3 billion in 2009 to $746 million in 2013 -- and it is projected to dip to $425 million by 2019.

Shelton said a combination, including the end of Amendment Three's bonding program that was approved by Missourians in 2004, a completion of projects from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the fact more Missourians are driving fuel-efficient cars and driving less, is causing MoDOT to lose revenue. Missouri's gas tax has not been raised since 1992, and the cost of highway construction has doubled and tripled in some areas, he said.

"That stream of income starts to decline," Shelton said.

MoDOT has reduced staff by 1,200 employees, or 18 percent, but the transportation agency can't keep cutting to save enough money "to deliver what Missourians are telling us what they want," he said.

The decrease in funding poses a big challenge for the long-range plan. Choices have to be made, Shelton said.

City of Jackson public works director Rodney Bollinger said in an email that Jackson's top transportation priority is improvements to U.S. 61 through uptown Jackson in the central business district. The project remains on hold until the Cape Girardeau County Commission completes its master facilities plan, he said, which may have an effect on the proposed transportation project.

"Behind that, I would say the next two priorities are Highway 61 from the courthouse square north to the I-55 Fruitland interchange; then Highway 25 from the intersection of 61/34/72 south to Route K," Bollinger said in the email. Both projects are included in the long-range plan draft's full appendix.

The appendix includes a complete list of public comments suggesting MoDOT projects and improvements that were submitted during MoDOT's seven-month tour. The information is broken down by districts of the state and also provides related data for each district.

Comments for Cape Girardeau include suggestions such as designating bike routes, updating traffic signals with bicycle detection and push-buttons and installing street lights along Kingshighway.

MoDOT would "officially start" in the direction of tackling the list of comments and proposed projects when the final draft of the plan is approved by the commission, Shelton said.

Maintenance of the transportation system already in place was the main concern among Missourians, Shelton said. It is residents' expectation that MoDOT does routine repairs to infrastructure, as one does with a home or vehicle, he said.

MoDOT plans to focus on priorities and goals compiled in the draft, make sure they are agreeable with Missourians, and work locally to prioritize projects, Shelton said.

The next step is MoDOT will submit the draft to a 45- or 60-day public-review period, he said. Missourians may visit missourionthemove.org to submit comments on the plan. The public comment period will act as a follow-up with Missourians to see if "we heard them correctly," he said.

Once that is finished, the plan will be presented to the commission for final approval.

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