LARGE TURNOUT IN HANNIBAL FOR TRANSPORTATION MEETING

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Rod Jetton on importance of building roads and improving infrastructure

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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)

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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/

Committee Weighing MODOT Options

The following story is taken from the Daily Dunklin Democrat and can be found in its original format here: http://www.dddnews.com/story/1855943.html

Committee Weighing MODOT Options

Sunday, June 3, 2012

COREY NOLES SEMO News Service

A committee of Missourians, co-chaired by Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham, is travelling the state hoping to answer questions for MoDOT regarding necessary infrastructure improvements and repairs.
(Photo by Corey Noles/SEMO News Service)

How important are good roads to you?

This is one of several questions the Blue Ribbon Citizen's Committee on Missouri's Transportation Needs is asking Missourians to think about.

Dexter's City Administrator Mark Stidham co-chairs the committee alongside Rod Jetton and Bill McKenna as well as 18 others from across the state.  The committee began meeting in April when they learned about the challenges the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) faces in years to come.

"Basically, by 2015, the Federal Highway Commission and the Missouri Department of Transportation will be out of money," Stidham said. "The surplus they have operated on through the recession is almost gone." MoDOT's funding is based primarily on income from the state fuel tax. Since 1992, MoDOT has received 17-cents per gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel sold. That revenue is the same whether gas is at two dollars or four dollars per-gallon. This money comes to MoDOT through the Highway Trust Fund, which has helped finance bridge and highway projects since 1956.

Over the 20 years since, the cost of almost everything has risen dramatically. Asphalt has increased approximately 175 percent. Concrete has increased almost 200 percent per cubic yard.

At the same time, the amount of money coming in to MoDOT has actually decreased due to more fuel efficient vehicles and people being more conscientious due to the price of fuel.

According to MoDOT figures, Missouri ranks seventh of the 50 states in terms of the amount of highway in miles. The state ranks seventh from the bottom in terms of fuel tax to fund highway maintenance and expansion.

What does this mean to the committee?

The committee is looking at several different things.

First, they are listening to groups and individuals share the needs for the roads in their region. These range widely from interstate expansion to dangerous curves to river port work.

All of these things fall under MoDOT's jurisdiction, but as the money decreases, so is the output.

Second, the committee is tasked with finding the solution to MoDOT's financial issues. Big projects take money. For instance, Stidham explained MoDOT plans to make I-70 three lanes across Missouri to alleviate congestion issues.

Another area of concern is I-44 from St. Louis to Springfield. Simply put, road work is expensive.

Does this mean more taxes?

It's possible, but they believe there are other options.

The most obvious option is to change the way the fuel tax is calculated. Instead of having it calculated by the gallon, have the tax be on the dollar amount.

This method, Stidham said, would allow for inflation to occur while keeping MoDOT functional.
"Could you live on what you did in 1992?" he asked. "That's basically what MoDOT is doing. Utiliities have gone up. Supplies and fuel have gone up and they're stuck at the same income."

There are several things the committee could recommend to the governor and legislature.

Another option is an increase in licensing fees when purchasing a new car.

A third option is the possibility of toll roads in some places. Other states have had success with this method, but there is some reluctance to bring the practice to Missouri.

"Missouri is the crossroads of the nation," Stidham said. "You can be anywhere in the country in two or three days from Missouri. Our highways are crucial to our economy and business not just within the state, but right here in Dexter."

After the board's scheduled seven public meetings, they will meet among themselves to discuss and determine what their recommendation will be.

"We really don't know what we'll recommend yet," Stidham said, noting that the group is only having its second meeting today, Friday, June 1.

On Friday, June 29, 2012, the group will have its only Southeast Missouri meeting. It will take place at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau at 10 a.m.