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April 16, 2007For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Bonnie Prigge, (573) 265-2993
TRANSPORTATION LEADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN STATEWIDE PLANNING PROCESS
Scheulen to serve as TAC District 5 co-chair
ST. JAMES—Missourians typically like to know what they are buying, and with several transportation funding ideas being generated, the Missouri Department of Transportation expects that it will be asked how the state would spend additional transportation dollars. By the end of the year, MoDOT plans to have an answer, and its statewide planning partners will help the state agency develop a priority list, the Transportation Advisory Committee of Meramec Regional Planning Commission learned at its regular meeting April 12.
Machelle Watkins, transportation planning director for MoDOT, explained the process by which TAC's and regional planning commissions across the state will each develop a list of needs, projects and initiatives and submit those of highest importance to MoDOT for inclusion in a larger prioritization process by Aug. 1. MoDOT will compile a list of all the needs statewide and share it with the TACs. Then at a statewide meeting late in 2007, each regional planning commission will make a presentation on its top projects, and planning partners will rank all presented projects. All rankings will be tallied to create a prioritized list, Watkins said.
Watkins explained that funding levels in the highway and bridge program will revert back to 1990 levels, and multimodal funding is not expected to increase. Bonding and Amendment 3 money have allowed the state to accelerate projects, but the state will soon begin paying back bond proceeds.
"We are facing a particular challenge because people have expectations," Watkins said. MoDOT expects that legislators will be posing the question, 'if we have more money, how would you spend it?'
"We want to be prepared to answer the questions we think they will be asking," Watkins added. Watkins also reported that Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission on Wednesday approved the Missouri Advance Planning report, the state's long-range transportation plan.
"The process in which we developed the plan was just as important as the end result," she explained. MoDOT used a multitude of outreach methods including regional teams, online surveys and road tours to determine that Missourians believe that the state should take care of the existing system, that traffic flow should be improved, that transportations dollars should be stretched to their max, and that the state needs to secure additional funding for transportation but that should not be in the form of additional taxes, Watkins said. MRPC TAC members Donald Dodd, T.R. Dudley and MRPC Executive Director Richard Cavender, along with Tony Crismon of Pulaski County and Joy Tucker of St. James, participated in the development of the MAP.
The long-range plan found that Missouri has $37 billion in documented transportation needs over the next 20 years, and roughly $19 billion in anticipated revenue for the same time period. That leaves a gap of $18 billion over 20 years.In other business, the TAC:
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Appointed Russell Scheulen, presiding commissioner of Osage County, to serve as the TAC co-chair from District 9. A few months ago, the TAC adopted bylaws that provide for the committee to be led by two co-chairs, one from each MoDOT district in the region.
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Learned that the city of Hermann is requesting about $100,000 through MoDOT's District 5 enhancement grant program to build sidewalks to connect the elementary school to the high school and middle school. The work, according to Hermann Economic Developer Jay Gourley, is part of a three-phase project that will provide safe routes for children to walk and bike to schools and benefit tourism in this northern Gasconade County town. At a special meeting in May, the TAC will hear about other enhancement projects in District 9.
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Learned that USA Tours, in partnership with MRPC, will kick off a new Fort Leonard Wood Commuter Service in Rolla and Lebanon, starting on May 1. Those working at Fort Leonard Wood will now be able to park in either Rolla or Lebanon and ride a bus to and from work. Federal employees can have a part of the monthly fair subsidized through the Fort. Cost of the ride for those qualifying for the subsidy will be $5 per day, after the subsidy. A feasibility study conducted by MRPC and Missouri Transportation Institute found sufficient interest in the service. MRPC and MTI, using a grant from MoDOT, continue to study other commuting opportunities that the new service may address.
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Heard reports from Chris Rutledge of District 9 and Alan Trampe of District 5 on highway and bridge projects in the Meramec Region. Trampe reported that Highway 100 east of Hermann is closed because a portion of the roadway collapsed and slid downhill due to the heavy rains. MoDOT, working extended hours, plans to rebuild the section in 40 days. Gourley, of Hermann, commended MoDOT on its work so far on this emergency project.
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The TAC will meet in special session at 4 p.m. on May 10 to develop a list of needs and projects for the statewide planning process.
Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee may contact Connie Willman at MRPC, (573) 265-2993. Meetings are open to the public.
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