MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Safety and smoothness rather than extended capacity for Missouri's roadways is how MoDot plans to spend its increased revenue from the passage of Amendment 3.
Acting on what he called a "mandate" from the citizens of Missouri, Missouri's new transportation department director unveiled a three-year plan for Missouri's highways on Tuesday.
Amendment 3, which requires that all taxes collected on fuel and automotive sales be earmarked for road improvements, passed with more than 78 percent support.
"This says fix the roads and we trust MoDot to do that," said Peter Rahn who was hired in late August.
Rahn announced a three-pronged attack that promises to make Missouri roads smoother, to accelerate projects already underway and to select what he calls new high priority projects.
"This is an extremely aggressive schedule when we are talking about this much work accomplished within three years," Rahn said.
Rahn plans to fund the ambitious project with government bonds. During the next three years Amendment 3 will add an estimated $180 to $190 million annually. However, the money is phased in over a period of time and therefore won't be available immediately. Rahn said MoDot is not going to wait to address Missouri's highway needs.
"We will advance these revenues to us through the utilization of bonding and whatever vehicles we need to make those dollars available to us now," Rahn said.
When compared to other states, the quality of Missouri's highways rank near the bottom. According to The Road Information Program, a non-profit organization that provides national highway data, Missouri's roads are the third worst in the nation and Missouri's bridges are the fourth worst.