Funds needed for Missouri’s long range transportation plan

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved a new long range transportation plan Wednesday afternoon.

However, they cautioned that without additional resources the Missouri Department of Transportation has slim chances of delivering it.

Most of the projects revolve around maintenance, safety and the economy over a 20 year period.

However, with the decreasing amount in federal funding MoDOT officials say by 2017 they won’t have enough money to maintain the current roads, let alone work on new projects.

Currently MoDOT has suspended all new projects and their cost shares program.

They hope this plan shows legislators there is a real problem and they need more government funding.

“Ultimately it is going to be the public that decides how much money they want to spend on transportation,” said Joe Carmichael, the commission chairman.

The Missouri senate appropriations committee a proposed constitutional amendment on a 1% state sales tax for road projects.

Now the measure will wait until it’s put in the schedule for debate on the full House floor.