ALERT: Deadline for submitting your public comment on MoDOT's multi-billion dollar Unfunded Needs list is today (Dec 22nd) - How to submit an effective comment in 5 minutes or less

MoDOT has just released a massive list of proposed projects and needed projects - many or most of which will be funded by the recent federal infrastructure bill and other newly available funding. The purpose of the prioritized list of projects was to get ahead of the proposed federal funding so that Missouri would have a good idea of how this funding - and any future funding that may be received - will be spent.

MoDOT is asking YOU what your priorities for Missouri transportation are.
MoDOT is asking YOU what your priorities for Missouri transportation are. Comment deadline December 22nd, 2021.

MoDOT is asking for public comment on their project list - a list that includes many roads, highways, and bridges and also a large number of pedestrian, bicycle, trail, transit, rail, airport, and other projects.

Deadline for public comment is TODAY, December 22nd.

Full details are here - but here is how you can write an effective letter to MoDOT in 5 minutes or less:

 #1. Go to MoDOT's feedback page at https://www.modot.org/submit-comments

 #2. Write a couple of sentences explaining who you are and why bicycling, walking, and/or trails are important to you and your community.  (Brief is best - and easiest!)

 #3. Say that you are writing to support including bicycle, pedestrian, and trails projects in the Unfunded Needs list and that you support the following points made in the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation's letter in response to the Unfunded Needs list.

(You can just copy & paste the following points into your letter - or whichever ones you agree with!  In MoBikeFed's letter we will explain each point in more detail so that there will be no mistake about exactly what is intended with each point. It really helps if hundreds of citizens, clubs, groups, organizations, businesses, etc write in to support our points.)

---you can copy/paste this section into your letter----------------------------------------------------

Please include the following important projects in the "Statewide Projects" section of the High Priority Unfunded Needs list:

  • Fund the statewide Rock Island Trail project - Missouri State Parks now owns the trail and every bridge, tunnel, and segment of that 144 miles is now a high priority unfunded trail project.

  • Hire a full-time statewide bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, one MoDOT employee working full time and solely dedicated to bicycle and pedestrian policy, planning, issues, and projects

  • Create and implement statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and Complete Streets standards as required by the recently passed federal infrastructure bill

  • Create a statewide bicycle map and update it regularly

  • Install wayfinding signage U. S. Bicycle Routes 66 and 51, the American Discovery Trail, and the Butterfield Stage Experience trail, across Missouri

  • Implement a statewide grant program or other focused plan and program to improve roads, shoulders, and bicycle safety on all Missouri U.S. Bicycle Routes such as USBR 76 and USBR 66

  • Implement all remaining projects statewide in the Sidewalk Assessment program

  • Expand the statewide sidewalk assessment program to a broader range of communities statewide

For each road, highway, and bridge project currently on the Unfunded Needs List, please carefully examine each proposed project and and ensure that the following measures are implemented on each of these projects:

  • Bridges, overpasses, underpasses, and causeways include appropriate pedestrian and bicycle accommodations as needed in each location and context.

  • Roads and highways should include appropriate pedestrian and bicycle accommodation

  • All projects should implement rumble strips and shoulders so as to safely accommodate bicyclists, including maintaining at least 3-4 feet clear space on the shoulder beyond the rumble strip, and implementing periodic gaps in the rumble strips to allow bicyclists to safely cross the rumble strips

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If you want to know more details about each of these points, find them here.

If you want to know ALL the details and background about MoDOT's High Priority Unfunded Needs list and an explanation of each of the points listed above, find all those details here.

Thank you!  When citizens speak up to elected officials and state agencies, it REALLY makes a difference - as we have seen time and time again.

 

Help MoBikeFed reach our year-end goals and start on 2022 on strong footing:

 * Join/renew your MoBikeFed membership here.

 * Donate towards our year-end fundraising campaign here

 * Join our prestigious Yellow Jersey Club here

 

Working to build citizen support for statewide bicycle, pedestrian, and trail funding, planning, and policy, and keeping people across Missouri informed about opportunity for public comment on important projects is one way MoBikeFed helps build a world-class bicycle and pedestrian network across Missouri, improve safety for all road users, encourage more people to walk and bicycle more often, and build a statewide movement in support of bicycling and walking in Missouri.

And those are exactly the four major goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri

Your ongoing membership and generous financial support helps turn our Vision into reality.  Thank you!

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