MoDOT seeks input on long-range plan

The Missouri Department of Transportation Sept. 12 presented a draft of its long-range transportation plan to legislators. The plan provides general guidelines that will identify Missouri's future transportation improvements and determine needs and prioritize projects for all types of transportation, which will guide five-year programs, according to a MoDOT press release.

The department's five-year programs are updated annually.

MoDOT director Harry Hungerbeeler said in the release that the plan will provide a solid foundation for addressing the state's transportation needs.

"This long-range plan will provide the basis we need to determine what our customers want, where needs are greatest and how we can get the highest-priority projects completed quickly ... The plan will be the best tool we've ever had to identify the most important projects and schedule them efficiently," Hungerbeeler said.

He said most projects currently in the department's five-year construction program were identified in past road and bridge improvement programs. The five-year plan spells out the specific projects the department can complete with the funding it has at the time. The long-range plan does not address funding.

MoDOT District Engineer Harry Price said this is the first time MoDOT has solicited public involvement and comment regarding a plan.

"I think this will give us more confidence that we are reflecting what the people of Missouri want out of their transportation system," Price said.

Members of the public and more than 1,500 civic leaders were identified as potential participants in the public involvement program. Those selected for public involvement participated in road rallies, statewide surveys and consensus-building sessions, according to MoDOT.

MoDOT is now asking for public comment on the long-range plan, which can be read at MoDOT's District 8 office at 3025 E. Kearney or on MoDOT's Web site at www.modot.state.mo.us. until Nov. 13. After the public comment period, MoDOT will submit the final plan to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission Dec. 1.

"We'll also report in January on bond financing authority approved by the legislature this year. We're issuing $250 million in bonds to accelerate highway and bridge construction this year, and we'll report to the legislature about plans for using as much as $500 million in bond financing next year to accelerate more construction," Hungerbeeler said in the release.

The new plan will replace the 15-year plan that was established in 1992, which ultimately proved to be unaffordable, according to MoDOT. It spelled out specific projects to be completed over a 15-year period, while the new plan will be used as a planning tool and will allow flexibility as needs and circumstances change.

The long-range plan is different from other transportation studies in that it includes a more comprehensive needs assessment, developed with district, division and stakeholder involvement, according to MoDOT.

Price said the new plan focuses on what can be done to improve existing roadways and bridges without building new ones. Because of the shortage in funding, MoDOT's long-range plan proposes a shift to a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and reconstruction and less toward building new roadways.

Price said improving traffic flow is a priority for the entire state but especially in the southwest region.

"I think the highest-priority projects for this area are projects related to population growth, and therefore, traffic growth. In other parts of the state those (high-priority projects) would be more focused on repair of existing pavements there are worse subsoil conditions and more unpredictable subsoil conditions in northern Missouri than in southern Missouri," Price said.