The Missouri Department of Transportation Plans to Make Interstate 70 A Toll Road to Finance Rebuiling The Highway.
From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG Mo. Digital News Missouri Digital News MDN.ORG: Mo. Digital News MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
Lobbyist Money Help  

The Missouri Department of Transportation Plans to Make Interstate 70 A Toll Road to Finance Rebuiling The Highway.

Date: November 10, 2011
By: Mengti Xu
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
I-70 a toll road? Not yet... But maybe eventually.
RunTime:  0:40
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The head of the Missouri Department of Transportation is proposing to make I-70 a toll road to finance reconstruction of the highway between Kansas City and St. Louis.

And it will soon be in the hands of the state legislature.

The department's chief engineer David Nichols says they have had contact with several lawmakers.

Actuality:  DAVE01.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "We begin our formal discussions with our legislators in January when we introduce or try to introduce some legislation to get the opportunity to do a public private partnership."
 
Although Nichols says the rebuilding is needed for Missouri, voters overwhelming voted down the proposal on the same issue in 1992.
 
Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mengti Xu.
Intro: 
The head of the Missouri Department of Transportation is proposing to make I-70 a toll road to finance reconstruction of the highway.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: I-70 was one of the first interstate construction projects for the US in the 1950s.

But the Missouri Department of Transportation Chief Engineer David Nichols says the road could use some work.

Actuality:  DAVE02.WAV
Run Time:  00:10
Description: "We also have a congestion challenge or problem across the corridor. Anybody who drives it knows that there is a lot of congestion across the corridor and that will only get worse with time."

Nichols says they want to add a dedicated truck lane or possibly an additional lane in each direction.

But it will all come after the state legislators and voters pass the proposal of making I-70 a toll road.

They must authorize the department to enter into a public private partnership to finance reconstruction.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mengti Xu.