Roadways more traveled receiving new funds

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The director of the state Transportation Department provided a preview Wednesday of how officials plan to spend new money voters have set aside for roads, with an immediate focus on repaving heavily traveled routes.

Pete Rahn presented the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission with a plan for issuing about $1.3 billion in bonds to make roads, in the agency's new slogan, "smoother, safer, sooner." Voters last week overwhelmingly passed a state constitutional amendment to direct all vehicle sales taxes and some gas taxes to improving roads and bridges.

"The ball is now in our court. We've got to be sure we don't drop that ball," Rahn said.

Rahn said details are still being worked out, but he intends to ask the commission in December to approve part of the plan's first phase. It calls for spending about $400 million on the most traveled 2,200 of the state's 32,000 miles of roads within three years. Rahn said those 2,200 miles account for 60 percent of the state's traffic volume and are within 10 miles of 86 percent of residents.

Not surprisingly, those roads include major Missouri corridors, such as interstates 70, 55, 44 and 35.

That money will largely be spent on resurfacing, but also will go to restripe roads, provide guard rails and install other safety features. Some of that work could begin as early as April, he said.

Transportation officials also plan to speed up projects they had expected to begin in the next few years, as well as undertake new major projects -- for both new roads and road rebuilding. New projects would focus on easing congestion and promoting economic development, transportation officials said.

Rahn said the state's economy will benefit. He estimated a $1 billion investment in construction would create 42,000 jobs.

State budget officials estimated the amendment will produce $73 million for roads next year and $187 million a year when fully phased in.

Despite the optimism, Rahn warned the state's transportation system can't be fixed with this money alone.

"Amendment 3 is not going to solve Missouri's transportation problems. It's one step," he said.

Some commissioners said they like the plan but want to be sure it's not too ambitious.

"A wow effect is what people need to see," said commissioner James Anderson. "I want to make sure we over-deliver, and not over-promise."