In most Missouri cities, MoDOT roads are both the most important commercial centers and also the most pedestrian and bicycle unfriendly roads in the city. MoDOT policies and procedures have a strong influence on the transportation policies and practices of all Missouri counties, cities and towns.
For this reason, MoDOT leaders must fully support the creation of a true multimodal transportation system. The director and commissioners must be interested in and knowledgeable about the big factors that influence transportation planning such as sprawl, smart growth, public health, connectivity and transportation choice.
And at least one member of the Highways and Transportation Commission should be a representative of the community of transportation alternatives ? someone very knowledgeable about pedestrian, bicycling and transit issues. These issues are vital for Missouri's future and someone needs to speak for them at the highest levels of statewide transportation planning and policy.
What can you do? Clip or print this article from the Star and send it, along with a brief personal note saying that you support the idea, to:
Missouri Governor Bob Holden Missouri Capitol Building, Room 216
PO Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0720
Telephone: (573) 751-3222
FAX: (573) 751-1495
Email: mogov@mail.state.mo.us
Governor Holden will appoint the two new MHTC members.
MoDOT James B. Anderson, Chair of Director Search Committee
Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission
POB 1687
202 S John Q Hammons Parkway
Springfield, MO 65806
MoDOT's email submission form 1-888-ASK-MODOT
When emailing comments, include a note that they are "ATTN: MoDOT Director Search Committee"
MoDOT must do more than build roads
By Brent
Hugh
Special to The Star
In the next 10 to 15 years,
Missouri must rebuild its transportation system. This creates a historic
opportunity to create a transportation system that meets the needs of all
Missourians.
Recently two key leaders of the Missouri Department
of Transportation resigned, and the term of another is set to expire in
March. The replacements for these leaders will set the tone and direction
for Missouri's transportation system for many years to
come.
Transportation policy across the country for the past
decades has, to a great degree, been driven by an automobile-centered
vision. The result has been a vicious cycle in which wider, faster roads
lead to sprawl, which leads to more motor vehicle trips, which leads to
more congestion despite ever more and ever bigger
roads.
Meanwhile, our communities have become progressively less
walkable and more difficult to negotiate on bicycle. Six-lane roads are not
friendly for walking or bicycling, especially when sidewalks, crosswalks,
and bike lanes have been omitted.
Missouri communities need to
“Complete the Streets” — make streets that meet the needs of all
Missourians, including the 60,000 who walk or bike to work every day, the
25 percent or so who don't have a driver's license, the 60 percent who will
ride a bike over the course of a year, and the large majority who will be
pedestrians when they park their cars or step off the bus.
MoDOT
leadership is vitally important in bringing a better transportation system
to Missouri. In most Missouri cities, MoDOT roads are both the most
important commercial centers and also the most pedestrian and bicycle
unfriendly roads in the city. MoDOT policies and procedures have a strong
influence on the transportation policies and practices of all Missouri
counties, cities and towns.
For this reason, MoDOT leaders must
fully support the creation of a true multimodal transportation system. The
director and commissioners must be interested in and knowledgeable about
the big factors that influence transportation planning such as sprawl,
smart growth, public health, connectivity and transportation
choice.
And at least one member of the Highways and Transportation
Commission should be a representative of the community of transportation
alternatives — someone very knowledgeable about pedestrian, bicycling and
transit issues. These issues are vital for Missouri's future and someone
needs to speak for them at the highest levels of statewide transportation
planning and policy.
Or, using the excuse that money is tight and
roads in such bad condition that we can't afford to spend money on
“non-essentials,” Missouri can take an automobiles-only approach that will
leave the state with thousands of miles of shiny new roadways that will
barely meet the needs of our motor vehicles and will not meet the needs of
the people who drive them.
Thousands of bicyclists, pedestrians,
and ordinary citizens around the state support a MoDOT that will create
transportation choice. MoDOT's new director and new commissioners must
support real transportation choice, as well.
Brent Hugh is
chairman of the Missouri Bicycle Federation and a professor of music at
Missouri Western State College. He lives in Raytown.
By Brent Hugh
Special to The Star
In the next 10 to 15 years, Missouri must rebuild its transportation system. This creates a historic opportunity to create a transportation system that meets the needs of all Missourians.
Recently two key leaders of the Missouri Department of Transportation resigned, and the term of another is set to expire in March. The replacements for these leaders will set the tone and direction for Missouri's transportation system for many years to come.
Transportation policy across the country for the past decades has, to a great degree, been driven by an automobile-centered vision. The result has been a vicious cycle in which wider, faster roads lead to sprawl, which leads to more motor vehicle trips, which leads to more congestion despite ever more and ever bigger roads.
Meanwhile, our communities have become progressively less walkable and more difficult to negotiate on bicycle. Six-lane roads are not friendly for walking or bicycling, especially when sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes have been omitted.
Missouri communities need to “Complete the Streets” — make streets that meet the needs of all Missourians, including the 60,000 who walk or bike to work every day, the 25 percent or so who don't have a driver's license, the 60 percent who will ride a bike over the course of a year, and the large majority who will be pedestrians when they park their cars or step off the bus.
MoDOT leadership is vitally important in bringing a better transportation system to Missouri. In most Missouri cities, MoDOT roads are both the most important commercial centers and also the most pedestrian and bicycle unfriendly roads in the city. MoDOT policies and procedures have a strong influence on the transportation policies and practices of all Missouri counties, cities and towns.
For this reason, MoDOT leaders must fully support the creation of a true multimodal transportation system. The director and commissioners must be interested in and knowledgeable about the big factors that influence transportation planning such as sprawl, smart growth, public health, connectivity and transportation choice.
And at least one member of the Highways and Transportation Commission should be a representative of the community of transportation alternatives — someone very knowledgeable about pedestrian, bicycling and transit issues. These issues are vital for Missouri's future and someone needs to speak for them at the highest levels of statewide transportation planning and policy.
Or, using the excuse that money is tight and roads in such bad condition that we can't afford to spend money on “non-essentials,” Missouri can take an automobiles-only approach that will leave the state with thousands of miles of shiny new roadways that will barely meet the needs of our motor vehicles and will not meet the needs of the people who drive them.
Thousands of bicyclists, pedestrians, and ordinary citizens around the state support a MoDOT that will create transportation choice. MoDOT's new director and new commissioners must support real transportation choice, as well.
Brent Hugh is chairman of the Missouri Bicycle Federation and a professor of music at Missouri Western State College. He lives in Raytown.