LARGE TURNOUT IN HANNIBAL FOR TRANSPORTATION MEETING

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Rod Jetton on importance of building roads and improving infrastructure

Click HERE for the full interviews

The Missouri Department of Transportation told participants in Hannibal Monday that the current budget of $700 million will be just enough to maintain Missouri's existing system.

An additional $500 million a year would be needed to get the state back to budget levels of recent years but still shy of what's required.

Former House Speaker Rod Jetton controlled the gavel from 2005-2008
(file photo courtesy of House photographer Tim Bommel)

Click here to learn more about Schultz & Summers Engineering

INTERVIEW: Jetton: Missouri Must Invest More In Transportation

Rod Jetton

SSE Marketing Director, Rod Jetton, co-chairs the Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Missouri Transportation Needs. He joined KWIX Radio reporter Brian Hauswirth for a live interview on June 26, 2012. Click here to listen to Brian's full interview with Mr. Jetton:

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RADIO INTERVIEW

About 100 attend transportation meeting in Cape Girardeau

Sunday, July 1, 2012

By Robert Overmann ~ Southeast Missourian

About 100 local business owners and concerned citizens attended a Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Transportation meeting on Missouri's transportation needs Friday at the Show Me Center. The event allowed citizens to speak about both their concerns for Missouri's transportation system as well as offer solutions to a Missouri Department of Transportation funding crisis.

Organized by Missouri House Speaker Stephen Tilley, R-Perryville, the committee consists of prominent business owners around the state and is headed by former House speaker Rod Jetton and Senate president pro tem Bill McKenna.

MoDOT director Kevin Keith talked about the substantial funding loss MoDOT has experienced. Keith explained that Missouri transportation needs are financed by fuel taxes, vehicle licensing and sales tax on motor vehicle purchases. Missouri's 17-cent state fuel tax has not changed since 1992, according to Keith, though MoDOT expenses have risen substantially. MoDOT revenue, as a result, has decreased by 2 percent for four years in a row due to more fuel efficient vehicles and people tending to drive less.

MoDOT's budget is below $700 million, about $500 million less than what it has been in recent years, according to a Missouri House of Representative transportation facts document available at the committee meeting. Five years ago, MoDOT identified statewide transportation needs that would require an additional $20 billion, according to the same document. Keith also spoke about the importance of a well-maintained and efficient transportation system to the economy.

Concerned citizens, business owners and government employees voiced their suggestions for road improvements and offered solutions to the low funding situation.

Matt Seiler, assistant district engineer for MoDOT's Southeast district, discussed the importance and high cost of keeping roads in good condition.

"The stretch of I-55 between Scott City and Fruitland needs to be six-lane," Seiler said.

Dan Heil, logistics manager at Nestle-Purina pet care near Bloomfield, Mo., emphasized the importance of public awareness about the lack of transportation funding.

"The General Assembly needs to prioritize highway maintenance. Before trying to pass even a modest fund increase, the public needs to be educated about the problem," Heil said.

Lester Goodin, a farmer in Mississippi County, spoke about the importance of minor roads to agriculture, an important industry to Southeast Missouri's economy.

"My suggestion is that, as a farmer, the diesel trucks that cause the most damage to both secondary and major roads should pay more in fuel taxes," Goodin said.

Goodin argued that an increase in the diesel tax is one of the fairest ways to pay for updates to Missouri's transportation system because diesel vehicles, specifically large trucks, consume the most of what MoDOT provides.

Brittany Holmes, a Bollinger County teenager, expressed her thanks to MoDOT for their timely and thorough update of dangerous roads in her area. Holmes had a friend who was killed on poorly marked and poorly maintained roads in Bollinger County. Holmes wanted to emphasize the importance of proper signage and thoroughly maintained roads to road safety. 

Committee members allowed each speaker five minutes to speak, after which the committee members asked questions of the speakers. Friday morning's committee meeting was the fourth of seven such meetings around Missouri. The committee meets next July 9 in Columbia, Mo., at the ARC City Activity Center. Two other meetings of the committee are scheduled for July 23 in Hannibal, Mo., and Aug. 6 in Lee's Summit, Mo.

LINK TO THIS STORY: http://www.semissourian.com/story/1865761.html
LINK TO OFFICIAL MODOT PHOTOS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43000037@N05/sets/72157630393238118/with/7489758784/

Changes Ahead at MoDOT

NEWS

Missouri Department of Transportation

Transportation Funding Crisis Forces Bolder Direction for MoDOT

For more information, contact Sally Oxenhandler, (573) 751-7456 or Community Relations, (573) 751-2840.
JEFFERSON CITY – Faced with a severe decline in funding and the inability to match federal funds in the near future, Missouri Department of Transportation Director Kevin Keith today presented a plan to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission that includes reducing the size of the department’s staff by 1,200, closing 135 facilities and selling more than 740 pieces of equipment. The proposed direction will save $512 million that will be used for vital road and bridge projects.
We asked the director to put forth a bold plan of action to address our transportation funding crisis, and he delivered," said Commission Chair Grace Nichols. "We don’t like having to head in this direction, but the reality of our funding situation makes it necessary." For the past five years, Missouri’s state highway construction program has averaged $1.2 billion a year. Today, MoDOT presented a new, five-year construction program to the commission that is only half that amount - about $600 million a year. "We are facing a transportation funding crisis in Missouri," MoDOT Director Kevin Keith said. "Over the past year, we have worked hard to reduce the size of our workforce and cut costs, but it isn’t enough. We must take further action to become the right size to serve our customers given the severe reduction in funding for transportation." The department’s plan includes reducing the number of its district offices, which administer the state’s transportation program at the regional level, from 10 to seven. MoDOT’s current district boundaries have been virtually unchanged since 1922, when many state roads were still gravel and MoDOT used mules and wagons.
Keith's Presentation



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 News Conference



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Shelby Road Grand Opening YouTube Video

Shelby Road comes in 8% UNDER BUDGET!

Click here to watch the video.

"Corridor of Commerce" Is Open For Traffic

Poplar Bluff opens Shelby Road a new 1.9 mile four lane roadway from Hwy. 67 to Hwy. PP

POPLAR BLUFF- Even though it was a foggy morning, the future looked bright for Poplar Bluff Missouri as the ribbon was cut marking the official opening of Shelby Road. Over 400 citizens gathered to mark this milestone in the development of Poplar Bluff. City Councilman Loyd Matthews said, “The cooperation between government and a private individual made the project possible and we need to do more of these kinds of projects in the future. Already we have a new hospital and shopping center planned and in 20 years this roadway will look completely different because of all the development that will take place along this corridor.” Chamber Director Steve Halter added, “This is a great day for Poplar Bluff! As Ed Strenfel mentioned at the ribbon cutting, this is a new “Corridor of Commerce” for Poplar Bluff and we now have a huge asset to use when selling our City to prospective businesses.”

There were several dignitaries who made comments including Reps. Elect Richardson, and Cookson, MoDOT District 10 engineer Mark Shelton, City Councilman Loyd Matthews, Presiding Commissioner Ed Strenfel, Schultz and Summers owner Bob Summers, and property owner Paul Duckett.

Shelby Road is a 1.9-mile 4-lane connection between Highway W and Highway PP. The total project cost approximately $5.4 million and took four years to develop and build. As part of their long-range planning, the City of Poplar Bluff, in conjunction with the Cripple Creek Transportation Development District, constructed the road that will provide the City with a new development corridor along the West side of Poplar Bluff. Schultz and Summers Engineering completed its design in 2009 and helped the two entities secure funding through the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Emery, Sapp & Sons, Inc. (ESS) and Robertson Contractors Inc were selected as the contractors for the project and they kept Shelby road on track. The first phase was completed this spring by Robertson Construction. The second phase, which involves the gravel base and paving, has just been completed by ESS. Frank Carroll, former assistant to the Chief Engineer of the Missouri Department of Transportation and Schultz and Summers Engineering employee had this to say, "The weather has been great for construction and the contractors have made the best out of it. Everyone worked hard to deliver this project on time and on budget. All-and-all it’s been a wonderful project that the City will be proud of for years to come."

There were several other activities surrounding the opening of Shelby Road including the inaugural “Movin On Shelby Road 5K” run, parade of classic Shelby’s, and an old fashioned BBQ . Over 80 runners participated in the 5K with Joanne Roberts winning the ladies race with a time of 20:55 and Bailey Davidson winning the mens race with a time of 18:46. Leading the parade were Paul Duckett and several other Shelby owners along with over 150 fellow citizens who wanted to be the first to drive down the new roadway. At the conclusion of the day’s activities, Paul Duckett said, “This is an exciting day for Poplar Bluff and my family. We are very proud to have been able to do something that will benefit our community and our children for years to come. This road was possible because of the hard work of several individuals. The city council and MoDOT were invaluable as was Schultz and Summers engineering, but Frank Carroll with SSE brought everyone together and turned this dream into reality. ”

SSE owner and Chamber board member Bob Summers concluded, “Shelby road will be a huge asset for attracting new business and jobs to Poplar Bluff. It is also a major step in completing a total road corridor around our City that will make it easier for trucking and business commerce to access all areas of Poplar Bluff. Paul Duckett, City manager Doug Bagbey, and Frank Carroll deserve much of the credit for completing this project.”

Shelby Road Gets Started

POPLAR BLUFF, MO - Shelby Road, a 2-mile 4-lane connection between Highway W and Highway PP is quickly nearing completion. As part of their long-range planning, the City of Poplar Bluff, in conjunction with the Cripple Creek Development District, is constructing the road that will provide the City with a new development corridor along the West side of Poplar Bluff. Schultz and Summers Engineering completed its design in 2009 and helped the two entities secure funding through the Missouri Department of Transportation. The first phase was completed this spring by Robertson Construction. The second phase, which involves the gravel base and paving, is currently under construction.
Emery, Sapp & Sons (ESS) was selected as the general contractor for the paving work. ESS has subcontracted the laying of the base to Robertson Construction, which is expected to be complete by September 27th. The paving crews are expected around the 1st of October and completion is planned for early November.

Frank Carroll, former Vice-Chief of the Missouri Department of Transportation and Schultz and Summers Engineering employee had this to say, "The weather has been great for construction and the contractors have made the best out of it. We expect to be placing pavement within the next couple of weeks and we hope to be driving on it within a couple of months. At this point, the project appears to be within budget and fairly close to our original completion date. All-and-all its been a wonderful project that the City will be proud of for years to come. Schultz and Summers Engineering and the City have worked well togethor and we look forward to eventually extending the road all the way to Highway 53."

Colby Robertson, owner of Robertson Construction, was quoted as saying, "Shelby Road has been a great experience for my firm and will be a great improvement to the City's infrastructure. We're expecting to finish this up over the next several weeks and then open it up to traffic."