A transportation initiative is seeking public engagement for long-term planning with the Department of Transportation.

The Department of Transportation has kicked off its ‘On the Move’ initiative as a way for Missouri citizens to have a voice and engage in the public process in long-term planning for their transportation system in the state.

Director Dave Nichols says his goal is to talk to as many people as he can about the vision of transportation that they have of where transportation needs to be going in the future. Nichols says he’s very excited about the initiative. “We’re hoping that we can wrap up our mobile tour somewhere around the 4th of July,” he said. “There is no urgency, but we want to set a date where we can have that discussion with stakeholders.”

He says it’s intended initiative discussions with stakeholders and by the end of August, a draft will be presented to stakeholders with long term plans for transportation.

“It’s very strategic in how we set these meetings up around the state to engage these key stakeholders in a direction about where the direction of transportation needs to go,” he said. “Not just on identifying projects, which we have seen many times in other venues through the Blue Ribbon Committee reports, etc. We wanted to engage the stakeholders in not just in identifying key projects, but also talk about transportation alternatives.” Nichols says it also includes the effects that transportation funding has on making tough decisions with a limited budget.

For more information on Missouri’s ‘On the Move’ initiative, visit www.missourionthemove.org

 

AUDIO: Mary Farucci reports. (1:01)