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Dec. 16, 2009 For more information, contact: Transportation Committee Prioritizes Highway 63 Segments ST. JAMES—Should the Missouri Department of Transportation receive funding for the four-laning of Highway 63, what sections should be improved first? Meramec Region’s Transportation Advisory Committee has an answer. In August, Mike Dusenberg of MoDOT District 5 office asked the TAC to make recommendations on where the four-lane work should start, if funding was forthcoming. After studying the issue for four months and consulting transportation users in the region, the group prioritized the seven sections of Highway 63 during its regular meeting on Dec. 10. Ranking the highest was Section 7, which includes the Maries County Highway P junction to just north of Rolla. It is eight miles in length with a price tag of $17.7 million. There were 113 accidents and six fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,866 cars travel this section daily. It was noted that the majority of right-of-way has been acquired for this section, because of previous improvement, and much of the design work is done. Nearly six miles of this section is within MoDOT’s District 9. Coming in second in importance was Section 1, which includes the city of Westphalia. It is five miles in length and costs $23.1 million. There were 89 accidents and no fatalities from 2004 to 2008. This is the most heavily traveled route with 7,706 cars traveling this section daily. Coming in third was Section 2, which includes the Osage Route E junction. It is seven miles in length with a price tag of $32 million. There were 104 accidents and two fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,025 cars travel this section daily. Ranking fourth was Section 3, which includes the village of Freeburg. It is nine miles in length with a price tag of $45.7 million. There were 130 accidents and three fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 4,260 cars travel this section daily. Ranking fifth was Section 4, which includes the city of Vienna. It is five and one-half miles in length with a price tag of $23.4 million. There were 169 accidents and three fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,001 cars travel this section daily. Coming in sixth in the ranking was Section 5, which includes the Gasconade River Bridge south of Vienna to near the Rolla National Airport at Vichy. It is eight miles in length with a price tag of $24 million. There were 93 accidents and no fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,814 cars travel this section daily. Coming in last was Section 6, which includes the community of Vichy. This section is two miles in length with a price tag of $6.3 million. There were 42 accidents and no fatalities from 2004 to 2008. Some 5,433 cars travel this section daily. This is the most recently improved section of Highway 63. Mike Dusenberg of MoDOT District 5 office told the TAC that the Environmental Improvement Study was awaiting for a record of decision (ROD) from the Federal Highway Administration. The study broke Highway 63 into seven sections with a price tag of $185.2 million for right-of-way acquisition, construction and stream mitigation activities associated with four-laning the 44.5 mile stretch from Highway 50—near the Mari-Osa Delta—to Rolla in Phelps County. Stream mitigation costs for the total project are estimated at $13 million and are not reflected in the by-section cost estimates. Each TAC member present completed a ranking sheet after discussion. Osage County Commissioner Russell Scheulen, a TAC member who also is a board member of the Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone, put forth the ranking that became the official recommendation. GVEZ had discussed the issue at a previous meeting. Because Section 7 (ranked first) is largely in District 9 and Section 1 (ranked second) is in District 5, it may be possible that the MRPC TAC could advocate both projects at the same time since funding could come through two different districts. “It makes good sense to start at both ends,” said Maries County TAC member Jim Kleffner. “You might stand a better chance at getting more funded.” Phelps County Associate Commissioner Larry Stratman, who represents his county on the TAC, pointed out that the Westphalia-to-Vienna section was the worst stretch. “ I would hate to see that put off 20 years,” he commented. Jerry Wolfe, an Osage County TAC member, recommended leaving the better portions of Highway 63 until the end, and pointed out the highest traffic volumes were on each end. Rolla City Administrator John Butz, who is also a TAC member, shared that the city of Rolla’s recommendation was starting with Section 7, followed by Section 6, with no strong preferences after those two section. The TAC officially went on record with its ranking of sections and requested and received the same action from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission board later in the evening. That information will be officially forwarded to MoDOT for consideration. Dusenberg said it is MoDOT’s intent to do aerial photography of the entire corridor this winter and may start some preliminary engineering work. In other business, the TAC:
Gasconade County Presiding Commissioner Ron Jost chaired the TAC meeting. Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee may contact MRPC at (573) 265-2993. The group will meet again on Feb. 11, 2010. Meetings are open to the public. |