Public meetings to decide spending priorities on proposed $8 billion Missouri transportation spending plan start today in NE Missouri

Public meetings and surveys to determine the project lists and priorities for a proposed $8 billion in state transportation spending over the next ten years are taking place all across Missouri in the upcoming weeks and months. 

MoDOT's Regional Transportation Planning Partners cover every part of Missouri and decide priorities on hundreds of millions of transportation spending annually

MoDOT has, for the first time in history, adopted an approach to transportation planning that completely embraces bicycling, walking, transit, and rail alongside our state's traditional priorities (roads and highways).

For that reason, the opportunity to incorporate bicycle, pedestrian, and trails projects is HUGE.

MoDOT's Regional Planning Partners all across the state are planning public meetings and other public outreach opportunities that they will use to set and refine their priorities for spending these billions of dollars in funding.  

Look up your local transportation planning region here (rural areas/small towns) or here (larger metro areas) and contact them to get involved in the process. More information here about how you can help.

MARK TWAIN REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IN NE MISSOURI ANNOUNCES PUBLIC MEETINGS

The Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments is among the first in the state to announce its public meetings.

Millions of dollars in transportation decisions in Mark Twain's region--Audrain, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Ralls, Randolph and Shelby Counties--will be decided in these public meetings over the next few weeks.

If you would like to see sidewalks, shoulders, trails, bike lanes, trails, crosswalks, or anything else to make our transportation system better or safer for people who walk, bicycle, or drive, now is the time to speak up.

If you live in northeast MIssouri, how can you help?

TAKE THE SURVEY

 Click here to take the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governements survey

ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING

• Tuesday, March 4, 9:00 a.m. at the Ralls County Courthouse, 311 S. Main, New London
• Tuesday, March 4, 1:30 p.m. at the Paris City Hall Community Room, 112 S. Main, Paris
• Tuesday, March 4, 4:30 p.m. at the Audrain County Courthouse Community Room, 101 N. Jefferson, Mexico
• Wednesday, March 5, 10:00 a.m. at the Macon County Expo Center, 1303 S. Missouri Street, Macon
• Wednesday, March 5, 3:30 p.m. at the Shelby County Courthouse, 100 E. Main, Shelbyville
• Wednesday, March 5, 7:00 p.m. at the Marion County Courthouse, 100 S. Main, Palmyra
• Tuesday, March 11, 9:00 a.m. at the Randolph County Courthouse, 110 S. Main, Huntsville
• Tuesday, March 11, 1:30 p.m. at the Pike County Courthouse Annex, 210 W. Main, Bowling Green

More about the meetings, locations, and schedule is on the Mark Twain Council of Governments web site.

WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK FOR?

Here is our list of suggestions--bicycle, pedestrian, and trails improvements that can and should be made in every part of Missouri: 

• First, think of every street that needs a sidewalk, every road that needs a shoulder, every intersection that needs a crosswalk--every other specific bicycle, pedestrian, or trails project you can. Ask that these project ideas be added to your regional project list. 
  
  Brainstorm with your friends, walking, running, and hiking buddies, neighbors, and others.  You know your area better than anyone--and you know what people who walk, bicycle, or use trails need the most to improve safety and access.
   
• Create a regional bicycle, pedestrian, and trails plan.  The region should have a plan and so should city and every county.  Right now, most don't.
   
• Incorporate routine accommodation of biking and walking in every transportation projectbuilt over the next ten years, wherever needed and as appropriate to the location and situation.
   
• Create a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian transportation fund for each regional planning commission and metropolitan planning organization in the state, to support much-needed bike, ped, transit, and shoulder projects.
   
• Create a Walk & Bike to School Safety & Connectivity Fund for each region and metropolitan area in the state, to support much-needed projects that help connect neighborhoods and communities to schools, so kids can walk and bike to school safely.
   
• Create a prioritized list of roads needing shoulders in every region of the state, and devote a percentage of new funds to systematically adding needed shoulders. 
   
• Incorporate safe bicycle and pedestrian access into every major river bridge that is built or reconstructed
   
• Refine, mark, and officially adopt into the U.S. National Bicycle Route System all current national bicycle routes in Missouri; consider creating and marking a regional on-road bicycle route system.

When you speak up in support of bicycling, walking, and trails to MoDOT and your Regional Planning Commission, it really does make a difference.  Thank you!