Transportation Plan Submitted to Highway Commission

A draft form of the 2007-2011 Statewide Transportation Plan has been submitted to the Missorui State Highway Commission. Commissioners will decide, in July, whether to approve the plan. Transportation Director Pete Rahn says it’s a $6.8-Billion spending plan over the next five years, down significantly from the previous STIP costing $7.3-Billion. He says the loss of Amendment Three money at the end of the plan is the biggest hit to it. In fact, STIP construction spending goes from $1.5-Billion in this fiscal year down to $600-Million a year in 2011. Rahn says his agency won’t have money for new projects in this STIP, and it will just have to focus on the commitments already made and work on improving road conditions.