A random survey of about 3,500 Missourians gives the state Transportation department a favorable grade for 2017. MoDOT engineer Brian Haeffner tells Missourinet affiliate KWIX in Moberly the surveys are helpful.
“We do a bi-annual survey of Missourians just to make sure that we’re doing the right things and doing what Missourians want us to do,” says Haeffner. “This past time, 83% were overall satisfied.”
The department is getting as much mileage as it can out of every dollar in its tight budget for roads and bridges maintenance. Haeffner says several bridges considered in poor condition have been fixed this fiscal year.
“Every year, we get another ten or eleven or so that fall into that poor condition,” says Haeffner. “If we can replace that many each year, we are kind of holding our own.
The General Assembly is expected to address this legislative session whether to increase Missouri’s fuel tax to help pay for the state’s infrastructure system. The 17-cent tax has not been changed in more than two decades.
Missouri’s transportation task force will unveil its final recommendations tomorrow, including 10-cent gas and 12-cent diesel tax increases.
By Bob Ehle of Missourinet affiliate KWIX in Moberly