JEFFERSON CITY - State law requires the Missouri Department of Transportation to submit an annual report to the legislature each November.  This year's highlights?  An independent audit showing sound financial practices and continuing progress in improving road conditions throughout the state.

   "We seem to really be hitting our stride as an agency," said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn.  "We have continued to build on the success of our Smooth Roads Initiative and make roads smoother and safer statewide.  We've also worked to prove we're serious about bringing projects in on time and within budget."           

As a result, Rahn said:

• Missouri has gone from having the third worst pavement on major roads to an estimated ninth best.
• Seventy-four percent of the state's major roads are now in good condition. 
• Missouri jumped from 28^th to 17^th in overall performance of the state highway system from 2004 to 2005 and from 39th to 17th in overall performance over the five-year period from 2000 to 2005.  These figures are from a Reason Foundation report that also showed the state had the third lowest administrative costs per mile. 
• The Show Me State recorded the largest drop in traffic-related fatalities of any state in the nation in 2006.
• Customer satisfaction with MoDOT rose from 75 percent in 2005 to 79 percent in 2006.

   Rahn warned the state will not be able to maintain these improvements over the long term because of a looming drop in highway revenue.  Stagnant state funding, lagging federal revenue and increasing construction, maintenance and fuel costs will cause the amount of money spent on highway improvements to fall off a cliff in 2010.

   "We will drop from a construction program totaling $1.23 billion in 2008 to an annual program of $569 million in 2010," Rahn said.  "That means we'll barely be able to maintain our highways, much less address congestion, safety and economic development concerns."

Also in the report:

• The Better Roads, Brighter Future program will bring 85 percent of Missouri's major highway system up to good condition by the end of 2011.
• Within two months of the tragic bridge collapse in Minnesota, MoDOT had inspected all bridges similar in design and declared them safe for travel. 
• Construction contracts awarded in fiscal year 2007 came in 7.4 percent under budget - a $90 million savings.
• The agency launched a new traveler information program, Driving Edge, that includes electronic message boards along Interstates 70 and 44, an online traveler information map and 24/7 customer service. 
• The U.S. Department of Transportation gave Missouri $2 million to study the feasibility of dedicated truck lanes on Interstate 70. 
• The department launched its Trees for Tomorrow initiative, which will provide half a million trees a year for the next five years to youth groups throughout the state. 
• MoDOT is one of the first state agencies in the nation to recycle tear-off shingles to resurface or rebuild highways.

 A copy of the complete report can be found on the department's Web site at http://www.modot.mo.gov/newsandinfo/reports/annualreports.htm or by calling 1-888-ASK-MODOT.