Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Archives

Budget restrictions mean no raise for transportation employees, either

July 11, 2014 By Mike Lear

Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission member Joe Carmichael (courtesy; Missouri Department of Transportation)

Transportation Department employees, like other state employees, will not be getting a raise because of actions taken by Governor Jay Nixon (D) with the budget.

One of the items Governor Nixon has put a halt on funding in the new budget is a one-percent, across-the-board raise in pay for state employees.

The Transportation Commission can act independently of that budget, but Commissioner Joe Carmichael says it follows what other state agencies do, so a matching raise for transportation employees is also on hold.

“There was also a $25 a month employee deferred comp match, and that is part of the withholding as well,” says Carmichael. “Again, we’ll follow suit, and those are very difficult things.”

Carmichael expresses optimism the restriction will not be permanent.

“We expect once state revenues improve and the state budget becomes more certain that those will be lifted,” says Carmichael. “That’s certainly our hope and, I think, it’s a reasonable expectation.”

Carmichael also noted the restriction of $1-million for the state transit assistance program and $3-million for capital improvements to ports.

Nixon says the legislature’s budget was more than 780-million dollars out-of-balance. Lawmakers say he is using inflated and inaccurate numbers.

Highway Commission’s role on Amendment 7, post project list approval

July 10, 2014 By Mike Lear

Now that the Highways and Transportation Commission has approved a final project list for the Amendment 7 ballot issue, it’s not going to totally step away from the issue.

“We’re not part of a campaign. That’s left to other people,” says Chairman Stephen Miller of Kansas City, “We’ll be a resource to anyone that needs education about these projects.”

The projects total more than 800, ranging from a stretch of sidewalk in some communities to the $500-million dollar expansion of 200 miles of Interstate 70 from four lanes to six. All of them hinge on voter approval of a three-quarters of one-cent sales tax on August 5. Opponents say that tax increase would disproportionately burden the poorest 20% of Missourians.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) has been one such critic. Asked about Nixon’s opposition, Miller, who was appointed by Nixon, says it is the governor’s prerogative as it is for any Missouri voter, to evaluate the project list and the potential impacts of the tax.

“We’re prepared to let all voices be heard in that process, including our public leaders,” says Miller.

Miller is asked about Governor’ Nixon’s opposition to the transportation tax proposal:

Highway commission approves Amdt 7 project list (link to list)

July 9, 2014 By Mike Lear

The State Highways and Transportation Commission has approved a proposed project list for Amendment 7 on the August ballot, which proposes raising the sales tax three-quarters of one percent to pay for transportation projects over ten years.

Transportation Department Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger presents the Amendment 7 project list as MODOT Director Dave Nichols watches.

The 800 projects on the list include replacement of 4 major bridges, improvements to ports, rail, airports, public transportation, pedestrian infrastructure in all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis, and the single biggest project: 500-million dollars to reconstruct I-70 to add a third lane in both directions.

See the list approved Wednesday by the Commission

The approval means voters can now see what projects the Department of Transportation says it will commit to doing if they approve that tax issue next month, that would generate an estimated 534-million dollars annually for transportation for the next 10 years.

Transportation Department Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger says some projects were taken off the list when local public comment showed that other work would be more important to a region, and says the list includes more specifics and less generality.

Commissioner Joe Carmichael says other projects not on the list might also be undertaken by local governments if Amendment 7 passes and makes them more affordable.

Senators Kehoe and McKenna introduce bill dedicated to state transportation needs (AUDIO)

February 5, 2013 By Missourinet Contributor

Senators Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City) and Ryan McKenna (D-Crystal City) have introduced a bill that’s dedicated to benefitting statewide transportation needs.

Senators Mike Kehoe and Ryan McKenna announce legislation from a road construction site on Highway 50 near Jefferson City.

The bill would create a temporary, 10-year, one-cent sales tax that would generate nearly $8 billion for transportation.

McKenna says it was a personal experience that made him want to make Missouri roads safer.

He says a few years ago, a road in his county — Highway 21, known as “Blood Alley” — had more fatalities than anywhere else in the country.

McKenna says there have been major improvements to Highway 21, “but we also have another — it’s perpendicular to Highway 21 — Highway MM and W known as ‘Death Valley … a friend of mine that lived down the road from me as a kid, he was killed on Highway MM 10 years ago.”

He points out that five years ago, 12,000 people were killed on Missouri roads, compared to last year when that number dropped to 800.

Kehoe says filing this bill is a start to the solution, and that people should be able to vote on what they would like to see happen on state roads.

“That bill will bring us to a point where legislators can put this through the process, so then Missourians can then vote on what they want done with their roads,” he says. “It’s really not MoDOT’s roads, it’s the people’s roads and this has gone on long enough where I think it’s the people’s right to decide if they want to continue with the infrastructure that we so badly need.”

Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Chairman Rudy Farber issued the following statement in response to the bill introduced by Senators Kehoe and McKenna, thanking them for their leadership in announcing the funding measure that could address Missouri’s transportation needs for the next decade. “Improvements made possible by the proposed one-cent sales tax would benefit every citizen. Safer highways, less congestion, and a stronger economy with more than a quarter-million supported jobs are to be expected should Missouri voters agree. We appreciate the Legislature’s attention to the importance of investment in Missouri’s transportation system.”

Should legislators pass the measure, it would be put before Missouri voters for approval.

There’s also a similar measure proposed in the House by Rep. Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair) who met with Sen. Kehoe about the bill. The language of both bills are the same, but they were passed by individual houses (Senate and the House). Hinson says one of the changes Kehoe made was that he took out specific ballot language that the House bill has kept in.

To view the Senate Bill, click here.

To view the House Bill, click here.

AUDIO: Mary Farucci reports. (1:00)

MO Highways and Transportation Commission unveils major funding proposal (AUDIO)

January 25, 2013 By Missourinet Contributor

A major funding proposal by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has been unveiled.

Commission chairman Rudy Farber says he hopes the proposal will address the funding issues that he calls “very real and current.” The basis of the funding proposal is on a limited one-cent general sales tax dedicated specifically to transportation needs for a ten year period.

“Our thought is to bond a portion of the sales tax in order to produce a sufficiency of funds,” he says. “Along with funds that we will use from Amendment 3 to do the $1.5 to $1.6 billion that it’s going to take to take care of I-70.”

Farber says although it’s not a final solution, it is a starting point that he hopes to bring to the legislature for long-term assistance on the issue. “While that infuses money into the system for a period of time, it does not solve the long-run problems that we have,” he says.

Farber says he plans to get at the heart of the problem, which is to find a sustainable and long-term fix for the state’s transportation problems.

AUDIO: Mary Farucci reports. (1:01)