Local representatives from throughout the state determine how $1.3 billion in Amendment 3 revenue would be spent
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In a first-of-its-kind public meeting, Missouri Department of Transportation officials gathered Feb. 15 with local representatives from throughout the state to begin determining where $1.3 billion in Amendment 3 revenue would be spent. Randy Railsback of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission out of Trenton was among those representing Northwest Missouri at the meeting.
In November 2004 the state’s voters approved Amendment 3 by an overwhelming margin of 79 percent to 21 percent.
“Amendment 3 requires all vehicle sales tax to now come to MoDOT,” said Randy. “And it left money from fees that had been going to other state agencies for transportation-related services they were performing for MoDOT. That freed up $60 million a year. MoDOT has borrowed $1.3 billion and will service it with the $60 million every year.”
During the meeting, the representatives from each of MoDOT’s ten regional districts presented their highest-priority project needs and helped decide which projects most benefit the statewide transportation system.
The three projects from Northwest Missouri District One, which includes Daviess County, were:
– The completion of four-laning U.S. Highway 36 across north Missouri;
– The extension of Route AC (Riverside) in Buchanan County;
– The replacement or restoration of the Amelia Earhart Bridge over the Missouri River; between Atchison, Kansas and Winthrop.
Initial project requests gathered in preparation for the meeting from all across the state totaled more than $8 billion, which meant $6.7 billion’s worth had to go.
“Part of our job at the meeting was to whittle those projects down,” said Randy. “We had to select from the transportation projects in our area that were closer to being ready to go. There are a lot of projects we need to have done, but they’re not far enough along in the planning stages; some, we don’t even know the locations.”
At the meeting, each of the 10 districts had 30 minutes to present why their projects needed to be considered high priority. Don Wichern, the new district engineer for the northwest area of Missouri, presented the northwest district projects. Those projects were then sorted into a high, medium and low priority category.
“We had 59 projects,” said Randy. “By the end of the day, we had to have 20 in the high, 20 in the medium and 19 in the low category.”
At a second meeting in April, the group will rank the projects and come up with a smaller list that will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in May.
“MoDOT officials are merging the results and will narrow the list probably down to half,” said Randy. “At the April meeting, we’ll still have to push and shove to get under $1.3 billion.”
Though they will have to narrow the projects down and be fair across the state, Highway 36 may have a good chance at being funded by some of the $1.3 billion.
“There’s 52 miles left to complete a four-lane corridor across the state,” said Randy. “That’s what business and industry are looking at. It’s no good if it’s only three-fourths of the way.”
Highway 36 was a priority for all three northwest districts, Northwest, North Central and Northeast.
“It showed solidarity across the state,” he said. “Plus the fact that five counties on the east side are trying to form a transportation district. They’ll hold an election in April to pass a half cent sales tax. With all three northern districts pushing it, and if the district raises money itself, MoDOT may see that as the final step and get the four-lane done.”
This $1.3 billion is the remaining bond financing, which has been designated for major new construction projects not currently listed in the department’s five-year construction program.
“These projects are not on MoDOT’s five year construction plan,” said Randy. “This was a one time shot at a chunk of extra money.”
The meeting was held at the Ramada Inn in Jefferson City. Representing MoDOT along with Wichern were Transportation Planning Manager Shannon Kusilek, and Public Information and Outreach Manager Elaine Justus. Along with Randy Railsback, others representing the Northwest District were Nancy Thomson of the Northwest Regional Council of Governments, Tye Parsons of the Mo-Kan Regional Council and Bruce Woody, engineer for the city of St. Joseph.
Smoother, Safer, Sooner
MoDOT has already announced nearly $800 million in new or accelerated projects financed by Amendment 3 under its Smoother, Safer, Sooner program.
The plan’s first element is called the Smooth Roads Initiative, which will provide 2,200 miles of smoother pavement on the state’s most heavily traveled roads by December 2007. Improvements will include new driving surfaces, brighter stripes and signs, reflective pavement markers separating lanes, improved shoulders with rumble strips, and safer guardrails.
The Smooth Roads Initiative in Daviess County includes: I-35, resurface pavement and shoulders with 1 3/4 inches of asphalt from Rte. C to Rte. 136 in Bethany. Estimate total: $5,029,000; and I-35, resurface pavement and shoulders with 1 3/4 inches of asphalt from Clinton County line to Rte. 69 north of Rte. KK. Estimate total: $5,164,000.
The plan’s second element accelerates projects already planned in MoDOT’s five-year construction program. There are no projects slated for Daviess County for Element 2, Accelerated Projects.
Element 3 – Selecting New High-Priority Projects, will add new major projects in the future. MoDOT will work closely over the next several months with local officials to determine the state’s highest priorities for new projects. Details on these projects are coming in May.
Highway and Bridge Construction Schedule
The 2005-2009 Highway and Bridge Construction Schedule for Daviess County includes:
Replace bridges over Muddy Creek, Muddy Creek Channel, Brushy Creek and extend box culvert at Thompson Creek from east of Rte. 13 north junction to west of Rte. V near Gallatin. Project involves bridges F-100R1, F-1136R1, F-102R1 and K-224R. The award date is 2007. The projects total estimated budget is $9,535,000.
Replace bridge over Hickory Creek 1.7 miles east of Rte. 13 near Coffey. Project involves bridge X-968. Has right of way. The award date is 2005. The projects total estimated budget is $950,000.
Replace bridges over Cypress and Little Cypress Creeks and relocate Rte. B from 1.2 miles east of I-35 to 2.0 miles east of I-35 near Coffey. Project involves bridges T-895 and T-896. The award date is 2005. The project’s total estimated budget is $1,828,000.
Overlay with 3.75″ asphalt from Rte. 69 to Rte. DD, overlay with 5.75″ asphalt from Rte. DD to Rte. C, and bridge rehabilitation. Project involves bridges A-17561 and A-17581. The award date is 2006. The project’s total estimated budget is $14,913,000.
1″ asphalt overlay from Rte. 31 in DeKalb County to Rte. 69 in Davies County. The award date is 2005. The project’s total estimated budget is $646,000.