MoDOT switches emphasis to maintenance

People in Southeast Missouri may take some pleasure from the Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission's latest decision on a funding split -- between rural areas such as ours and the urban areas of St. Louis and Kansas City -- slightly favors the rural areas.

But that pleasure might be short-lived once the 52-to-48 percent split plan, which goes into effect in 2006, is examined a little closer.

The reason it favors rural Missouri is because we have some of the worst roads and bridges in the state. And, after the failure of a $483 million transportation tax package in the August election, the commission is changing its focus to maintenance instead of expansion of the current highway system.

In fact, $400 million of the anticipated $969 million budget the Missouri Department of Transportation will have in 2006 is earmarked for maintenance.

No matter what the split, it only seems appropriate to keep up what we have before building more.