MoDOT's Commission Chair: If we want more out of our transportation system, we need to put more in
Stephen Miller is Chair of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, which oversees MoDOT.
Miller distributes a regular column with his thoughts about the issues the face MoDOT and Missouri's transportation system. You can sign up to receive Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission Chair Stephen Miller's regular updates - Click here to subscribe.
Currently, MoDOT is facing a severe funding crisis. MoDOT has proposed the Missouri 325 system, which would fund just 8000 miles of main roads, leaving the other 26,000 miles of the system with minimal maintenance. Now Senator Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff has proposed a 6 cent fuel tax increase over a period of three years, that would address the funding shortfall.
Wednesday MoBikeFed was in Jefferson City representing Missouri's bicycle and pedestrian community and testifying at the hearing for Senator Libla's bill. We indicated our concern, that the fuel tax dollars are earmarked for motorized transportation only, yet millions of Missourians walk and bicycle, with 80% of that walking and bicycling taking place on the state's road system.
In the 21st Century, we need to address all of the users of the road and highway system, not just a few specific interest groups. The needs of Missourians who walk and bicycle can be met with relative ease and with relatively little expense. But we must meet those needs head on and have a plan for doing so.
With that as the background, Miller gives MoDOT's perspective on the transportation funding issue:
I have previously addressed the chronic underfunding of transportation over the last two decades which has thrust Missouri to the brink of forfeiting hundreds of millions in federal funds and forced MoDOT to propose historic cuts in service as it implements Missouri’s 325 System. Ironically while we invest less in our system we continue to demand more from it. For instance, this legislative session, as in the last several years, bills have been filed to increase the weight limits on our roads and bridges and to also increase speed limits. Both of these put additional pressure on our underfunded system.
The situation reminds me of a person who won’t spend the money to change the oil or replace the tires on a car but wants to pull heavy loads and drive at top speed. Something has to give. Before we begin to entertain further demands on our our transporation system we must commit to first fund it – not merely band aid measures but long-term sustainable revenue sources.
Providing for the safety of our citizens and enabling the economic competitiveness of our state are two of the primary reasons for having a modern and efficient transportation system. Raising the speed limit on rural interstates and freeways puts convenience before safety. MoDOT Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger told the House Transportation Committee last month that when the speed limit was raised in 1996 from 65 mph to 70 mph, Missouri saw a 45 percent increase in fatal crashes and that when Kansas raised the speed limit on its interstates, fatal crashes jumped by 54 percent.
There are good reasons for increasing weight limits on our highways, but only if they are made in concert with providing additional resources that are adequate to replace MoDOT’s critical condition and weight-restricted bridges. Increasing weight limits for trucks is not appropriate at a time when our construction budget is falling to a level that is insufficient to maintain our statewide transportation network. Increasing weight limits while bridges are deteriorating is not a formula for success.
We simply cannot afford to add additional wear and tear to our roads and bridges. We currently have nearly 600 bridges that are in critical condition and 1,400 that have load restrictions. At projected annual contractor award levels of $325 million, it’s anticipated that we will see the need to load-post and close an increasing number of bridges in the future. We have five closed across the state today.
Deteriorating roadways will crumble under the weight of heavier trucks as well. In fact, it’s projected that only 27 percent of our state’s supplementary highway system will be in good condition in 10 years. Heavier vehicles will accelerate that rate of deterioration.
These two scenarios illustrate that if we want more out of our transportation system – like better bridges and safer highways – we need to pay more to realize those improvements. There is no free lunch. The time to act is now.
Let’s get going!
Stephen R. Miller
Chairman
You can sign up to receive Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission Chair Stephen Miller's regular updates - Click here to subscribe
Read more of Chairman Miller's View from the Chair columns as posted on MoBikeFed News here.
Visit the Missouri HIghways and Transportation Commission page here.
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