Kehoe says the legislature needs to be thinking of things like this to finance rebuilding and maintaining 70 and other parts of the state system.

His plan would have the public-private partnership rebuild I-70 from the Interstate 64/Highway 40 intersection in eastern Missouri to Interstate 470 that goes around Kansas City.

Supporters say this approach would rebuild the highway in a much shorter time than the present financing system would allow. Critics say the tolls would be the equivalent of a three-dollar a gallon fuel tax increase and would hurt businesses along today’s highway

  AUDIO: Kehoe in senate 1:02

Convenience store operators figure toll roads are not their friends. And the transportation department’s talk about having a private company turn I-70 into a toll road bothers the convenience store industry. Although the department talks about a system that would not eliminate any of the exits, convenience store representatives like Ron Leone worry about what the final contract would be.

AUDIO: Leone  :18  mp3

He says he almost fell out of his chair when he heard transportation department director Kevin Keith say as much as ten percent of the truck traffic that now uses 70 would like move to non-toll highways. He says that would be a major blow to the businesses he represents.

Joplin resident Joel Hamilton represents a company that has a major truck stop in Joplin and another one on I-70 at Oak Grove. He voices similar fears.

AUDIO: Hamilton  :10  mp3

An open system would retain the current interstate exit and entrance ramps. A closed system would limit access and exits–the turnpikes in Kansas and Oklahoma, for examples.

Hamilton argues toll roads also could hurt a lot of other people, not just operators like his company has.

AUDIO: Hamilton  :27  mp3

Legislators are considering law changes that would let the department contract with a private company to build and run I-70. Some critics of the idea question whether a public vote would be needed on a constitutional change clearing the way for that kind of contract. Keith says the department’s lawyers already have looked into that and feel no public vote would be needed.

Senators have advanced a bill bringing Missouri’s drunk driving and commercial drivers license laws into federal compliance.  Transportation Chairman Bill Stouffer of Napton says the DWI law change will keep road-building money from being spent on safety. Sixteen million dollars that otherwise would be used for roads and bridges will be diverted to highway safety projects if the legislature does not pass the changes in state law by the end of the month.   The state will lose an additional $30 million in this fiscal year and $60 million in federal road construction money in succeeding fiscal years if it does not approve changes in the commercial drivers license laws by the same deadline. 

Federal officials say Missouri’s law allowing judges and the revenue department to grant driving privileges is too lenient.  The state also has to require people with CDLs to have their health records used to get their licenses put online.  The state also cannot expunge records of drunk driving or failure to appear for court dates or other offenses from the driving records of CDL holders. 

The bill (SB443) will go to the House next week.

 AUDIO: Senate debate 37:32 mp3                                           

                                 AUDIO  Keith  :09 mp3   

He and members of a joint legislative transportation oversight committee think voters don’t want a gas tax increase to pay for the work.  The department tells legislators it them to change state law so it can contract with a private company to pay for the rebuilding. The company would get its money back by turning 70 into a toll road, and doing so quickly.

                           AUDIO  Keith  :20 mp3

But critics charge the toll amounts to a four-billion dollar tax that will require a public vote. Missouri Trucking Association President Tom Crawford It’s a “very dangerous public policy” to let a private company tax motorists through highway tolls.

                             AUDIO: Crawford  :23  mp3

And Triple-A’s Mike Right says the plan sets up an unequal tax system. 

                                  AUDIO Right  :23  mp3

Another critic says the proposal allows a private entity to, in effect, tax motorists. Ron Leone, who heads the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores Association, says the legislature should not transfer some of its powers to the state highways and transportation commission.

                                        AUDIO: Leone  :29   mp3

Keith says department lawyers are sure the private partnership procurement effort would not require voter approval.   The legislature will have to change some laws before the effort can go ahead. 

Senator Bill Stouffer of Napton has a bill that would put Missouri’s intoxication-related traffic offenses in line with federal requirements, thereby preserving millions of dollars in federal funding for highways.

When Missouri drivers lose their license because of a DWI, they can get a hardship license, which lets them drive to — according to current law – a business, occupation or employment; medical treatment; school;  alcohol or drug treatment programs; an ignition interlock provider for required service; and other circumstances the court or the department finds would create an undue hardship. Stouffer says the federal government says the courts can’t have that kind of flexibility in DWI cases … it’s the “other circumstances the court finds would create an undue hardship” the federal government doesn’t like. Stouffer’s law would remove that provision.

Stouffer’s bill would also increase community service hours required for repeat offenders.

Also, current law allows prior offenders to participate in and successfully complete a DWI court in lieu of jail time or community service. Federal law, however, does not authorize DWI courts as an alternative to mandatory jail or community service. Stouffer’s measure would let prior and persistent offenders avoid the minimum days of imprisonment by performing community service and completing a DWI court program, and the DWI court program or other treatment program must include a certain number of community service hours.

“As of January 3, 2012, Missouri traffic crash fatalities totaled 773 for 2011, compared to 821 traffic crash fatalities in 2010. This is the first year since 1949 that Missouri has experienced less than 800 fatalities. I appreciate the tremendous enforcement and education efforts of troopers throughout the state, and I thank Missouri’s drivers for joining us in trying to make each year safer than the previous.”

The 2011 fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, or if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release was sent out.

Troopers investigated 163 traffic crashes with 75 injuries and 5 fatalities. In addition, troopers made 114 arrests for driving while intoxicated.

During last year’s New Year’s holiday counting period, troopers investigated 157 traffic crashes with 70 injuries. Statewide, there were five fatalities during the 2011 New Year’s holiday. Troopers made 90 arrests for driving while intoxicated during the 2010 New Year’s weekend.

Two fatalities occurred in the Troop F, Jefferson City area, one fatality each occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area, the Troop B, Macon area, and the Troop I, Rolla area.

Robert D. Theissen, 23, of Morrison, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve and travelled off the left side of the road. The vehicle then struck a ditch, overturned and struck a tree. Theissen was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 100 just west of County Road 203 in Gasconade County.

Kameron C. Gwin, 19, of Columbia, died when the vehicle he was driving travelled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Gwin was not wearing a seatbelt. Officials pronounced Gwin dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle who was wearing a seat belt was seriously injured. The crash occurred on Missouri Route Z just north of St. Charles Road in Boone County.

Joann Vice, 37, of Greentop, died when the vehicle she was riding in failed to stop at a stop sign and drove into the side of another vehicle. Vice was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. She died at the Northeast Regional Medical Center. The driver of the vehicle Vice was riding in, who was not wearing a seat belt, received moderate injuries in the crash, which happened on U.S. Highway 63 at Missouri Route W in Schuyler County.

Virginia F. Bruce, 40, of Kansas City, was killed when the vehicle she was driving was struck in the rear as it was disabled and stationary on the right shoulder of Interstate 470. Bruce was wearing a seatbelt. She was pronouced dead at the scene. A passenger received minor injuries.

Wayne C. Taylor, 44, of Steelville, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the centerline and struck another vehicle head-on. Taylor was not wearing a seatbelt. The Crawford County Coroner pronounced Taylor dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle received serious injuries. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 19 near Missouri Route O in Crawford County.

Rep. Shane Shoeller of Willard — who is also running for Secretary of State — has filed a bill that would require a photo ID requirement for voters. He says it’s common-sense legislation.

AUDIO: Jessica Machetta reports (2:21 min.)

The measure was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon last year, and the Supreme Court struck down the requirement in 2006. Opponents of the measure say it disenfranchises poor and elderly voters. Nonetheless, Schoeller thinks it will gain approval by the Republican-led General Assembly, and hopes if it does that Nixon will pen the legislation into law.

Schoeller is also proposing legislation that would create two state commissions — one would have authority over ballot summaries for initiative petitions, the other would be responsible for drawing new borders for Missouri’s 163 state House districts and 34 state Senate districts.

The legislative session begins January fourth.

Schoeller says the budget will undoubtedly be front and center of this year’s legislative agenda. It’s the one thing legislators are required by the constitutional to pass each year. Schoeller says he’ll be watching closely how the state’s public schools fit into that budget, and doing his part to make sure schools aren’t short-changed. Schoeller says another issue that will likely come before legislators is whether to make Interstate 70 a toll road. He says he will vote against that measure.

Missouri’s Transportation Department spokesman Chuck Gohring says the new regulations, which decrease the number of hours truckers can work per week and restricts drivers from being on the road between 1 and 5 am, are to keep drivers safe.

He says the rules hadn’t changed in decades, and it was time for regulations to be updated. Also, another new regulation, this one created by Missouri’s transportation department, commercial truck drivers in Missouri are prohibited from using their mobile phones while on the road.

He says there hasn’t been a formal response from any truckers unions to his office, but thinks there probably will be.

AUDIO Allison Blood reports. Mp3 [1:00]

The map app finds your location and shows the road conditions in the area.

The Traveler Information App, better known as the “map app” is now available from the State Transportation Department. They have developed it to give people an idea of how clear the larger roads in the state are as the weather gets bad this winter. Department Spokesman Matt Hiebert says the application gives a map of the state, with all the major roads highlighted. They’re color coded to indicate road conditions or construction.

He says those working in the field update the conditions of the road by radioing back to MoDOT headquarters, and the status is changed within five minutes. It shows major roads and highways, but also some smaller roads.

The app is free for iPhone and Android phones. Hiebert says this app should not be used while people are in the car because it’s dangerous to drive distracted. He says also this should be used for planning ahead for what the highway conditions are, and once someone is in the car, it’s probably too late to plan a new route.

MoDOT urges motorists to not use this app while driving.

He says he expects this app to be very popular during the winter months. Those without smart phones can visit MODOT’s website for the same information, or call MODOT to speak to someone about road conditions.

The department put out another application earlier in the year called the Show Me My Buzz App, which gives people an idea of if they’ve had too much to drink, and if they have, it gives an option to call a local cab company. Hiebert says it’s been downloaded thousands of times, so this new app should also be very popular. The department is working on ideas for a few new applications, but none are in the development phase. Hiebert says hopefully the more information that people have at their fingertips, the safer they will be on the roads.

AUDIO Allison Blood reports. Mp3 [1:03]