MoDOT
Ready to Tackle State's Transportation Needs, Director Tells
Legislature
JEFFERSON
CITY -- In Missouri's annual State of Transportation Address,
the director of the Missouri Department of Transportation outlined
his agency's accomplishments and future plans, and called for
legislation promoting safer travel and better transportation options.
Pete
Rahn, MoDOT's new director, spoke today before a joint session
of the state legislature.
MoDOT
has made great strides in recent years, but more improvement is
on the way, Rahn emphasized. "We will be a model for what
today's state government should be - efficient, streamlined, forward-thinking,
results-driven and customer-oriented. I have heard many
of you say that you have seen a lot of improvement in MoDOT over
the past few years. To that we say, 'Thank you, but you
ain't seen nothin' yet.'"
But
Missouri's transportation challenges will be great, he warned.
"We have the seventh largest highway system in the country.
In fact, you could combine all of the state highways in
Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas and it still would not equal the size
of Missouri's system. Yet we are 42nd in the amount of money we
spend on that system per mile.
"It really is an exciting time for transportation in Missouri,"
Rahn said, noting recent statewide passage of Amendment 3, which
will fund a $1.7 billion road and bridge improvement program over
the next few years. "Four out of five voters in this state
said they wanted their roads fixed, and they trusted MoDOT to
do it. Since then we've worked extremely hard to identify
needs and get projects under contract. Today, we're
saying to Missourians that MoDOT is ready to deliver, and the
improvements will be noticeable and quick."
Rahn
also called for passage of a primary safety belt law. Current
law allows ticketing for failure to wear a safety belt, but only
if the offender is first pulled over for another offense.
States with a primary law have higher safety belt use and lower
fatality rates. "We have the opportunity to save at least
90 lives every year on the highways of Missouri. I realize
that many believe this is an issue of individual choice.
I would suggest that is not the issue at all. State law
already says that everyone must wear a seat belt. The question
now is 'Will we allow our law enforcement officers to enforce
the law?'
"It won't cost a dime more in taxpayer money. However, the cost
of inaction is far too high. Let's start saving those lives
this year."
Rahn also supported proposed legislation to redirect highway construction
sales taxes contractors pay to multimodal services, saying it
would be one way to use transportation fees to build up chronically
underfunded programs. "A multimodal plan would allow us
to improve our airports that are key to economic development throughout
this state. It would increase access to Missouri's
railroads and river barges. And it would allow for more
public transportation options in both our large cities and small
towns by building facilities and helping to match federal dollars
for capital equipment purchases."
Full text and
web video of the complete address.
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