MoDOT’s Five-Year Transportation Program Approved, Shows Looming Drop in Funding
MoDOT’s Five-Year Transportation Program Approved, Shows Looming Drop in Funding
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission today approved a new five-year transportation construction program that shows spending for Missouri’s roads and bridges will plummet in fiscal year 2010, which begins July 1, 2009, to a program where limited funding will only cover minimal maintenance and safety work.
The 2009-2013 transportation program includes $300 million in new construction projects because lengthened bond terms and lower than expected interest rates provided additional Amendment 3 bonding capacity. The $140 million bonded amount, combined with state savings from using Practical Design on projects and local matching funds, allows the Missouri Department of Transportation to tackle these new highway projects over the next five years, including additional lanes, interchange improvements and congestion relief.
“Even though it’s great news to be able to pursue this additional work, we can’t overlook that in this program the Amendment 3 bond proceeds are used up, and our state transportation program goes back to critically low spending levels,” MoDOT Director Pete Rahn said. “The program that’s been approved marks the shift from having the opportunity to build new projects to barely maintaining what we have.”
Missouri transitions from a construction program averaging $1.23 billion to a construction program of about $575 million in 2013. Compounding the funding problem is an expected decline in federal revenue, and rising fuel and construction costs.
“We have seen great progress due to Amendment 3,” Rahn said. “Missouri must now have a conversation about what is to come regarding continued improvements to our transportation system.”
The 2009-2013 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program lists all transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2013). It totals $5.8 billion, with approximately $4.35 billion going to about 730 highway and bridge projects, about $810 million to other transportation modes and approximately $640 million to local transportation programs.
“We used an extensive public involvement process to develop this program and have worked with our planning partners from communities around the state to identify and prioritize these projects,” Rahn said.
The 2009-2013 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program includes transportation improvements identified by metropolitan planning organizations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin and St. Joseph. The STIP projects located in these areas are subject to discussion and approval by the appropriate metropolitan planning organization.
For more information, contact MoDOT’s customer service center at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or call the local MoDOT district offices. For a complete list of projects or for maps showing all highway and bridge projects, and corridors to be completed with the STIP, visit the department’s Web site at http://www.modot.org/.
NEW AMENDMENT 3 PROJECTS
Adair County, Route 63, Kirksville relocation
Lincoln County, Route 61, new interchange in Troy
Jackson County, I-70 and I-435, improve capacity
Jackson County, I-70 and Route 40, relocated north outer road Grain Valley
Johnson County, Route 13, Warrensburg relocation north of Route 50
Osage County, Route 50, four-lane Route 63 to Linn
St. Charles County, Route 94/364/Page Ave., Phase II Page Ave.
St. Louis County, Route141, purchase right of way
Jefferson County, I-55 and Route M, add ramps
Monett to Republic, Route 60, add passing lanes
Greene County, Route 65, capacity improvement Battlefield to Chestnut in Springfield
Stone County, Route 13, improve safety and capacity Route 76 to Kimberling City bridge
Butler County, Route 67, roadway improvements Route M to Route 160
