The Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking public suggestions on transportation needs through a number of listening sessions being held this week.
The Department of Transportation has intiated a statewide effort seeking public opinion from all Missouri residents to engage in a listening session called “On the Move” as a way to update Missouri’s long-range transportation plan by asking residents what they would want transportation to look like into the future.
Spokeswoman Sally Oxenhandler says department is mandated to have a long-range plan. The listening sessions are meant for the department to use the public’s feedback for their future plans such as where they think the Department of Transportation should be spending revenue that they get and how they should be spending it. As well as discussing different options of transportation projects across the state that the public would think might be important as long-range plans.
“Whether it’s additional funding for public transit, whether there are certain projects that they would like to see done down the road,” she says. “That’s the type of information we’re needing from them so we can formulate our long-range plan.”
The first of the listening sessions will be held this week in Columbia. Oxenhandler says there will be three sessions held in the St. Louis area, three in the Kansas City area, one in Cape Girardeau, Joplin, Springfield, Lebanon, Poplar Bluff, Kirksville, Hannibal, Maryville, and St. Joseph. She says there will be listening sessions throughout the state through mid-April.
The Department’s Long Range Transportation Plan is meant to take a look at the state’s projected transportation needs beyond a 5-year plan and all transportation departments must update their 20-year plan every 5 years.
For more information, visit www.missourionthemove.org
AUDIO: Mary Farucci reports. (1:00)