MoDOT construction program lacks funding

Nevada Daily Mail

Though a dark rain cloud hovers over Missouri's transportation funding, the state's new five-year highway construction program was approved in early July by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. Only one-third the size of the 2009 program, it barely has enough funds to take care of the existing system.

Missourians will see very few new projects during the next few years that expand the system and make it safer.

Stagnant state revenues, uncertain federal funding and no more money from Amendment 3 voter-required bonds is causing highway and bridge construction in Missouri to dramatically decrease.

"We've known this grim situation was coming," said Kevin Keith, Missouri Department of Transportation interim director. "It's as if we've fallen off a cliff."

The situation was also foreseen here in Vernon County. "We've been living the effects of it for a while," said Vernon County Presiding Commissioner Bonnie McCord.

To cope with this funding challenge, MoDOT has adopted a five-year direction to deliver commitments promised Missouri citizens. The department plans to focus on keeping major highways in good condition, improving minor state roads and keeping pace with needed bridge repairs and maintenance.

"This five-year direction requires significant cost-saving strategies like reducing the number of MoDOT's salaried employees and operating expenditures for mowing and equipment," said Keith. "These measures are estimated to save more than $200 million that we'll use to keep our roads and bridges in good condition."

Mowing and brush cutting already has been curtailed in Vernon County. The Vernon County Commission recently received a letter from MoDOT requesting them to keep the roadsides clear enough for motorists to see state stop signs. However, since Vernon County has a township form of government, that responsibility falls on each township. The commission forwarded the MoDOT letter and a letter of explanation to each township so they may comply with MoDOT's requirements. This letter is not something new and the Commission has to forward it to the townships each year.

There have been other money saving measures taken by MoDOT in the county.

The MoDOT barn in Sheldon has been closed. The half a dozen employees working there have been offered jobs in other locations. Half of them chose to continue working in Vernon County and the other half went to Barton County.

There are consequences to operating with insufficient funds. It means the department will not be able to address economic development opportunities, deliver corridor improvements or replace major bridges.

The 2011-'15 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2011 through 2015 (July 1, 2010 -- June 30, 2015). The five-year plan for Vernon County includes numerous projects.

According to the MODOT Web site, several bridge maintenance projects are slated to be completed in the county during the projected plan. Pavement improvement projects on portions of U.S. 54 Highway and other roadways will continue to be funded as will a right of way acquisition on Route TT. And the Interstate 49 project will continue to progress.

There is no set completion date for the I-49 project, according to Wendy Brunner, community relations specialist with the District 7 MoDOT office in Joplin.

Brunner said MoDOT is "working on it incrementally," and the funding may take a little longer than anticipated under this new five-year program.

The program totals $5.7 billion, with approximately $4.07 billion going to highway and bridge projects, about $970 million to other transportation modes and approximately $680 million to local transportation programs. The document contains any remaining Amendment 3 and Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement projects. It also includes transportation improvements identified by metropolitan planning organizations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin and St. Joseph.