Completion of the Smooth Roads Initiative – a challenge to overhaul 2,200 miles of highway by the end of this year – has the State Transportation Department looking at future projects. MoDOT Director Pete Rahn says the Transportation Department plans to remain innovative, but will have to keep the bottom line in mind. He says MoDOT will do what it can with the money it has, but might require additional money to pursue new ventures. Rahn won’t take a position on whether taxes should be increased to fund transportation projects, preferring to leave those decisions to the Legislature and to Missouri voters. He is pleased, however, that Governor Matt Blunt praises MoDOT as a good steward of the taxpayer dollars it receives.
