Good transportation systems are key to construction

Transportation systems are crucial to construction.

Springfield area residents, and most other Americans, think our transportation needs are the No. 1 construction priority.

Missouri is sixth at both the local and state levels in miles of highway, first in miles of navigable waterways, and has the second and third busiest rail facilities in our nation.

We are in the middle of the 48 contiguous states, so everyone travels through our state and millions each year through our area.

Partners in Progress

Partners in Progress is the name used by the partnership of the city of Springfield, Greene County, the Mis-souri Department of Transportation and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

This partnership and the consent of almost 80 percent of Springfield voters have led to the eighth-cent sales tax.

This tax is for four named projects on Glenstone and four on Kansas Express-way and has a four-year sunset.

The Glenstone-Sunshine intersection handles 80,000 cars per day, compared with the intersection of I-44 and 65 Highway, which handles 65,000 cars per day.

These projects are on MoDOT's five-year plan.

With local cooperation, they can be started and completed sooner.

The state pays us back to cover the expenditure.

MoDOT's District 8th assistant district engineer, Gary Ludlam, PE, emphasized the importance of local input and dollars.

"Our voters expect all levels of government to work together," he said.

Springfield Public Works Director Marc Thornsberry, PE, noted the old saying, "Many hands make light work."

The ability to travel is important to the traveler and to the Springfield Contrac-tors Association. The first priority of a road is safety. Other priorities are less congestion, economic development and accountability.

Part of the success of the Partnership Industrial Center is its fluid traffic flow. The Partnership Industrial Center represents $160 million in construction costs plus the retention or creation of 2,100 jobs.

Springfield hosted the Missouri High-way Commission July 9 and 10. The commission listened to presentations from the public and from the Partners in Progress.

Led by Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee Chair and Springfield Contractors President Bill Adams, the Partnership thanked the Commission for the work in our area and presented future ideas and prospective projects.

Travelers do not care if the road is city or state or federal; we care if it is convenient and free of congestion.

Members of SCA are partners too; we have liaison committees with Southwest Missouri State University, the city of Springfield and City Utilities, Spring-field Public Schools, Ozarks Technical Community College and the Springfield Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

These committees look for ways to cooperate and to solve mutual challenges.

Our internal committees plan seminars and socials and provide education and scholarships.

"We Build the Ozarks" is our motto, and we are more than 350 strong.

(M. Elise Crain is treasurer of the Springfield Contractors Association.)