Missouri Advance Planning needs your input

Missourians,

MoDOT is asking for citizen involvement in planning Missouri's future. They really need a *wider range* of citizen feedback than they are getting, though. The reports I hear are that most citizens are asking for just what you might think they would--more, bigger, faster, wider roads for cars.

If you are one of the many Missourians who "thinks different", I hope you will consider spending a couple of hours visiting one of MoDOT's "working groups" for long range planning. They are scheduled all around the state next week, April 3, 4, & 5, 2006. See schedule below.

You can also visit the MoDOT Advance Planning web site to give feedback or take the "Funding Allocation Challenge" (click on link in middle left) which gives them feedback about your priorities for Missouri transportation.

MoDOT especially needs to hear from you if you are a
- woman (*very* under-represented in their working groups)
- minority (ditto)
- mother (ditto)
- have a lower household income than average (ditto)
- regularly use or rely on walking, biking, transit, carpooling, rail, etc. for transportation
- concerned about sprawl
- concerned about the high and rising price of oil on our transportation future
- support transportation choices

The notes below say you can "attend and listen" but my experience is there might only be one or two extra visitors at a meeting and if you just go and start participating like everyone else you'll be accepted as a full participant.


Meetings are held in every corner of the state April 3-4-5:

Southwest Regional Working Group Meeting
April 3, 2006 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Joplin Chamber of Commerce
320 East 4th Street
Joplin, MO 64801

Purpose:

The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussions of the Regional Working Group.

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Central Regional Working Group Meeting
April 4, 2006 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Meramec Regional Planning Commission
4 Industrial Drive
St. James, MO 65559

Purpose:

The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussions of the Regional Working Group.

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Northeast/St. Louis Regional Working Group Meeting
April 4, 2006 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

BASF Corporation
3150 Highway JJ
Palmyra, MO 63461

Purpose:

The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussions of the Regional Working Group.

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Southeast Regional Working Group Meeting
April 5, 2006 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Missouri Department of Transportation - District 9 Office
910 Springfield Road
Willow Springs, MO 65793

Purpose:

The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussions of the Regional Working Group.

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Northwest Regional Working Group Meeting
April 5, 2006 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

MO Department of Conservation - Northwest Regional Office, located on Missouri Western State University campus
701 James McCarthy Drive
St. Joseph, MO 64507

Purpose:

The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussions of the Regional Working Group.

An open house will be held for the public to attend directly after the meeting. Beginning at 4:00 pm, guests are welcome at this time to ask questions and discuss the MAP process.

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West Central/Kansas City Regional Working Group Meeting
April 5, 2006 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Missouri Department of Transportation - District 4 Office
600 NE Colbern Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64086

Purpose: The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussions of the Regional Working Group.

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