A Great Time To Be Orange

This week most of us have finally been able to pull out some spring clothes and notice some tulip plants peeking through the ground. Things just get more colorful with spring in the air, and for MoDOT, that color is orange.

The warmer weather brings more work zones, and it's more important then ever that you're traveling safely through them.

One of the ways MoDOT gets your attention for work zone safety is through Operation Orange, our signature effort to turn significant Missouri landmarks orange. That's right, Orange! More than 70 buildings and landmarks throughout the state sported orange last year to highlight the need to drive safely in work zones.

Join us! Show your spring glow and sign up to be a part of a growing list of influential participants by going orange during National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week April 19-23. Together we can make our efforts bigger, better and ORANGER than ever before and help save lives.

Check out the video on our Operation Orange page to see some of the landmarks close to you that took on a fresh orange glow last year.

Prepare Yourself for that Split Second

It only takes a split second for your tires to drop off the roadway and your life to flash before your eyes. That’s what happened to a friend of mine and her two children recently while they were out in their vehicle not far from home and ended up in a run-off road crash.

When a car runs off the road, many drivers panic and overcorrect causing the driver to lose control of the car. My friend lost control of her sports utility vehicle and ended up flipping it. Thankfully, everyone was buckled and the kids came out without any injuries at all while she only had a broken collarbone. While we all think we’re good drivers, a crash can happen anytime, so it’s better to be prepared.

Run-off-road crashes are a big concern in Missouri. In fact, they attribute to 50 percent of all traffic fatalities. Luckily, a new public service announcement from the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety aims to educate the public on how to recover from run-off-the-road crashes without overcorrecting. Both the 30-second PSA and a two-minute instructional video are available at http://www.savemolives.com/.

The trick to protecting your life and the lives of others in these crashes is: • Remain calm; don’t panic and overcorrect. • Keep a firm grip on the wheel. • Ease off the gas and stay off brake. • Turn your wheel 1/8th turn to the left. • When you feel your tires hit pavement again, turn wheel 1/4 turn to the right. • Now breathe. You just prevented a run-off-road crash. http://www.savemolives.com/programs/video/30secOffRoadWeb.wmv

MoDOT Upgrades Mobile Web Presence

First of all, if you're reading this while driving, put down your phone. While we want you to know about MoDOT's new mobile Web site for people on the go, we don't want you to try it out when you should be focusing on driving.

Here's what's going on. While a lot of "smart phones" can view MoDOT’s Web site just fine right now, many devices still have trouble. To make it easier for everyone, we’re offering two options. When you go to MoDOT.org on your mobile device, you'll now see six simple buttons instead of the whole Web site with all its links and images. The buttons link you to Gateway Guide, Kansas City Scout, a statewide road conditions text report, career opportunities, a form to report a road concern and a site where you can contact us. You can tap on what you want to see and not have to expand the page, zoom in or fiddle with tiny links.

On the other hand, if you’re one of those folks who has no problem with all that stuff and want the site the way it used to be, just click on "Full HTML" at the bottom. You’ll go back to site the way it was before.

A Big Start to Spring

With the arrival of spring comes the beginning of the MoDOT construction season, and for the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program, every week of good weather is spawning more and more bridge projects.

Last year, 121 bridges across the state were improved. Three more have already reopened in 2010. There will be more than 200 projects this year as MoDOT's design-build contractor -- KTU Constructors -- makes its first big foray into the field. KTU plans to build 150 new bridges this year, while MoDOT manages another 50 rehabilitation projects. By the end of 2013, 802 of Missouri's poorest bridges will have been repaired or replaced.

MoDOT's contract with KTU requires that they average 45-day closures for the 554 bridge replacements they are delivering. That's twice as fast as the normal pace for a bridge project! KTU built four new bridges in the fall to test their design and construction strategies that will bring speed to the program.

Over the winter, KTU was busy establishing regional offices in Lee's Summit, Bethany, Chillicothe, Sedalia and Benton -- nearby the areas where much of this year's work will take place. They completed bridge designs and put packages of bridges out for bid with Missouri sub-contractors who will perform much of the work. They also have suppliers busy fabricating pre-cast beams that will be used in this year's projects.

To help motorists stay abreast of the construction schedule and to navigate around these projects, MoDOT has created an interactive Web map that includes suggested detour routes, project details and schedule information -- http://safeandsoundmap.modot.mo.gov/sas.htm.

The color-coded map shows bridges that are under construction, those that have been completed, those that are to begin with three months, those that are to start in the next year, and those that are scheduled for construction in 2011-12-13.

All Aboard!

Amtrak Rider Karen French has seen a noticeable improvement in her Amtrak ride. While in the past she found herself always late to meetings because of late train arrivals, she has now been reaching her destination on time.

"The train is really an advantage for me, and by being on schedule is great," said French.

Since November 2009, and for the first time in history, Amtrak and MoDOT can announce 100 percent on-time performances for Missouri River Runner trains connecting Kansas City and St. Louis. This has been made possible due to rail improvements made just west of California, Mo.

Check out the video “Amtrak on Time”  below or on MoDOT’s YouTube site to visit with passengers and long-time Amtrak users who have seen instant benefits, and learn about how ridership has dramatically increased with the positive changes.

All Aboard!

MoDOT Brings News and Traffic Info Front and Center

We have some new and exciting features on our homepage.

For starters, you'll see links to real-time traffic sites including Gateway Guide, Kansas City Scout and Ozarks Traffic. Similar links will spring up as we add cameras and content to other parts of the state. These sites give drivers current info on traffic speeds, incident reports and road conditions so they can better manage their drive times.

We’ve also put a sharper focus on news items. While we had a little box off to the right that linked to press releases, we now have a bigger presence front and center of the home page. Visitors will also be able to watch videos and listen to audio files related to news items.

Let us know what you think and how we can continue to get important Missouri transportation news to you!

When You Hear the Click

Under Missouri’s Graduated Drivers License Law, seat belt use is required for young drivers. Unfortunately 40 percent of Missouri teens still don’t buckle up. Starting today and continuing through the end of the month, law enforcement will issue tickets to unbuckled drivers.

So why aren’t teens buckling up? A Southern Boone High School student says, “I just don't see it as the most important thing. I think there are other things you can do to avoid a crash.” Do you think the 304 teens killed in traffic crashes over the past three years thought the same thing?

Wearing a seat belt isn’t going to help you prevent a crash. It will, however, greatly increase your odds of surviving a crash. One in four Missouri traffic crashes involves a young driver, and seven out of 10 teens killed in traffic crashes are unbuckled.

Wear your seat belt every time you get in your car. It doesn’t matter if you’re going across town or to another state. It is one of the easiest ways you can protect yourself. Don’t wait until you are in a crash to realize it’s too late. Buckle up and Arrive Alive.

Moving down the Missouri River... Again!

Six thousand tons of fertilizer on top of four barges began its Missouri River trek from St. Louis to Brunswick, Mo. on Thursday morning. In previous years, especially over the past eight, most who would hear or read this news would probably say that can't be true. Well, believe it!

Since 2002, drought and low water levels basically shut down shipping on the Missouri River corridor -- in fact, river traffic became almost non-existent because water levels were so low. Well, for the start of the 2010, water levels are back up! Thanks to healthier water levels, this large 6,000-ton load of fertilizer is signifying the start of what many hope will be a very prosperous waterway shipping year.

Moving freight on the Missouri River provides many advantages compared to moving freight in other modes. The most immediate include cost savings and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. For example, it costs .72 cents per ton, per mile, on a barge to ship commodities or products -- compared to more than 26 cents per ton, per mile, for semi-truck trailers to move freight.

One barge full of freight on the Missouri River roughly equals the same amount of cargo found inside 70 semi-truck trailers. That's an impressive amount of gas and emissions saved.

I would say it's a great early start to the Missouri River shipping season when you can move so much cargo with just one waterway shipment. Hopefully many more will follow.

MoDOT's Five Year Direction

The following text is today's script of Director Pete Rahn's weekly podcast. It carries an especially important message regarding a new direction for MoDOT as we face severe funding challenges ahead. You may also listen here. A video of Rahn's full presentation to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission is also available on MoDOT's Web site at http://www.modot.org/.

Over the past five years, MoDOT has made great strides improving Missouri’s transportation system and rebuilding trust with the people we serve. Now, 86 percent of our major roads are in good condition. Overall satisfaction with MoDOT is at 85 percent and 89 percent of Missourians trust us to do what we say we will do.

However, over the next five years, we are faced with a great challenge. Our construction program is declining due to stagnant state revenues, uncertain federal funding, rising costs from employee benefits and no more money coming from Amendment 3 mandated bonds.

Our plan for the next five years is to focus on keeping our existing transportation system in good shape rather than building new highways, bridges and other facilities. We are also committed to meeting all commitments made in the five-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

It won’t be easy and it will require MoDOT to make tough decisions. By reducing the size of our workforce and changing the way we do business we will save more than $200 million over the next five years. Internally, that will mean an immediate hiring freeze on most positions that become vacant, reducing the number of offices and buildings we own and reducing administrative costs.

There also will be reductions that are more visible to you. Mowing and litter pickup activities will be reduced and signs will be replaced less frequently. We will find a less expensive way to do striping, reduce our use of consultants and use shorter-term pavement treatments.

These actions are not taken lightly, but they are necessary. Your Department of Transportation will rise to the challenge. We are fully committed to keeping the existing transportation system in good condition and maintaining your trust and satisfaction with the department at the current high levels or higher.

Let's Pick It Up

Let’s Pick It Up

Have you heard the song “I Got a Feelin” by the Black-Eyed Peas? Whether you’ve heard it or not, whether you like the band or the lyrics, surely you’d agree that the thumpin, beat makes you want to get up and dance or maybe pick up some litter?

All winter long we drive Missouri’s roads and see it. It’s in the grass, on the river banks, in the ditches, it’s everywhere, and it’s disgusting. Luckily, April brings warmer weather and the annual No More Trash! Bash in Missouri, so let’s all jump off that sofa and pick it up!

In 2009, more than 10,000 volunteers collected more than 111,134 bags of trash throughout Missouri, 26,659 bags more than last year. MoDOT crews, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers, incarcerated personnel, Department of Conservation staff and Stream Teams combined to make our roadsides more attractive. Many others also participated in litter-prevention educational events

Some things you might consider for April:
• Pick up litter
• Educate others about litter
• Conduct a litter-free activity
• Encourage friends and family to participate
Please report your activity to us by May 15 and we’ll send you a No More Trash Bash lapel pin.

If you are already pitching in and cleaning up, thank you.

I got a feelin that Missouri is going to be cleaner than ever this April. Help us pick it up and make Missouri litter free!

MoDOT Property Sales = $$ For Roads and Bridges

Garage sales are a great way to get rid of stuff you don’t want anymore but that might be worth something to someone else. MoDOT recently held a garage sale of sorts to dispose of property it’s no longer using to build or maintain the state’s highway system.

The agency advertised 21 highly marketable pieces of property for sale by auction or sealed bid over a five-day period. The realty blitz not only brought in $676,739 that will be used for road and bridge projects, it transferred idle land in the state’s inventory to interested property buyers.

Because the effort was so successful, MoDOT will hold a second sales blitz from April 26-30. Thirty-two pieces of property ranging in size from a quarter of an acre to 200 acres will be offered for sale to the public at that time. More information can be found at www.modot.org/realtyforsale.

Roads, Rivers and Runways

Last Friday was a deadline for MoDOT to obligate more than $30 million of Recovery Act funds to important projects in public transportation, airport and river port projects. Did we make it?

Absolutely. In fact, that deadline was more than met -- much of the money has already been put to work, and improvements are fast and furious.

More than $20 million went to public transportation. Already, more than 300 rural transit vehicles have been purchased and delivered. Four of six purchased intercity buses have been delivered, and five transit facilities are being improved. All of these improvements are a lifeline for citizens depending on public transportation.

On the river, more than $4 million is being invested in five port projects that are all already under construction, including construction of a high-water rail line at Southeast Missouri Regional Port in Cape Girardeau County.

And more than $5 million was obligated for projects at four Missouri ariports, including runway rehabilitation and the construction of aircraft aprons. These projects are complete and benefitting Missourians today.

This is all in addition to the $31 million in high-speed rail grants MoDOT received in January. That money is funding three projects that will increase reliability, speed and safety between St. Louis and Kansas City via rail.

These vital improvements keep Missouri on the move. So, where do you want to go today?

Is Transportation Important to the Economy?

Director Pete Rahn addressed the U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works this morning and answered a key question: Is Transportation Important to the Economy?

Pointing to the jobs that have been created with transportation Recovery Act funds, his answer is a resounding "yes." While transportation received six percent of total Recovery Act funds, it created 14 percent of direct jobs saved or created to date.

But you don't just have to take his word for it. The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials has found workers across the country whose jobs were saved or who went back to work. Their stories show just how investment in transportation benefits all of us.

The Highway Trust Fund has been extended for another 30 days, and it's a welcome relief as DOT workers can get back to the business of improving the nation's economy. But as Director Rahn pointed out to the committee this morning, a multi-year authorization bill is still vital.

Listen to Director Rahn's comments at the hearing here.

Missouri Miles

Many people may not realize how much transportation really affects them. More than just road work or your daily commute, transportation affects how you live, work and play each day in Missouri.

To show you the scenes behind those orange cones, MoDOT has started a video series to keep you up-to-date on everything Missouri. We take you along Missouri Miles to show you construction projects in your area, provide tips on safe travel and show some unique perspectives of how transportation affects you. With our pilot show, you even get a chance to take a road trip to Bennet Springs for a little winter fishing.

Travel Missouri Miles each month by visiting www.modot.org/modotvideos or through our YouTube channel. Let us know what you think, and what you might like to see covered on a later show.

Nobody Likes a Pothole

It will soon be that time of year; the snow will begin to melt, temperatures will begin to warm up and before you know it we’ll hear the first sounds of spring…our tires falling into potholes. Potholes are annoying – period.

Potholes occur because of expansion and contraction of water under the pavement. This expansion causes pavement to bend and crack, leaving gaps or voids. When cars drive over these gaps, the pavement collapses and pieces of roadway are kicked out, creating a pothole. The more freeze-thaw cycles an area has (like most of Missouri), the more potholes you will see.

Roads with high traffic volumes have more potholes due to amount of use. Bridges and ramps, which receive more salt and snow removal chemicals in the winter, also are more prone to potholes. Older roads tend to have more, as you’ve probably noticed.

Our Maintenance crews try to get out and patch potholes for safety reasons, as soon as the weather allows. Repairing potholes during inclement weather, or when an immediate repair is needed to maintain safety, means using cold patch asphalt until a more permanent repair can be performed. These patches are quick to do, but only temporary.

When the weather warms up, hot asphalt patching of potholes begins. These patches usually take more time to fix, depending on size and location, but will last considerably longer.

The long-term solution to potholes is to reconstruct the pavement, but this is also the most expensive option that takes the most amount of time.

If you notice a pothole on a state route, try using MoDOT’s online form to let us know. So even though we all agree potholes are annoying, please be patient as our crews work hard to patch them as quickly and safely as possible.

For a better look at how roads deteriorate over time, view the Life Cycle of a Highway video:

MoDOT's Environmental and Historical Preservation Section Launches New Web Site

Many people don’t know it but MoDOT’s responsibilities go beyond building roads and bridges. The department must also be a vigilant steward of Missouri’s environment and historical culture.

Because of the nature of its work, MoDOT encounters many opportunities to preserve and protect elements of Missouri’s culture and natural resources. In fact we have an entire division dedicated to these tasks.

The group is called the Environment Studies and Historic Preservation section and it is dedicated to protecting the things that give Missouri its identity.

Recently the section launched a new Web site to inform the public of what it does and how it does it.

On the site, visitors can learn about how MoDOT studies and addresses air quality, community impacts of projects, endangered species, Missouri archaeology, historic bridge preservation, and noise pollution.

To learn more about MoDOT’s Environmental Studies and Historic Preservation section, go to http://www.modot.org/ehp.

Our Primary Goal

One of the top strategies for reducing fatalities and injuries on Missouri roads is strengthening Missouri's seat belt law to allow for primary enforcement. Getting this law passed in our state will save lives, reduce injuries and save our state a lot of money. To me, it’s truly a no-brainer, but there are still people who don’t understand why we need a primary law.

Seven out of 10 Missourians killed in 2008 Missouri traffic crashes were unbuckled. Of those not killed or injured, 97 percent were wearing their seat belt at the time of the accident. And although our fatality rates on our roads have been decreasing for the last four years, we still had 880 people killed on our roads in 2009 – and many of them weren’t wearing their seat belts.

In fact, a 2009 survey reported only 77 percent of Missourians are buckling up. The state's rate has been at a plateau since 2004 and remains consistently below the national average of 84 percent. Research shows a primary seat belt law would increase the usage rate saving 63 lives, 759 serious injuries and $179 million in costs in the first year it goes into effect. Amending the current law will also provide $16.2 million in a one-time federal incentive grant to use for safety enforcement, education and engineering.

Missouri’s current seat belt law is considered only a secondary offense, meaning that a person must first be cited for some other traffic violation before being issued a ticket for failing to wear a safety belt.

Representative Steve Webber from Columbia recently introduced HB 1877 to the House of Representatives that would change all that. This bill would modify Missouri’s current seat belt law by making it a primary traffic offense and all drivers and passengers would be required to wear a safety belt.

I know there are still some people who won’t be in favor of a primary law, but the truth is Missouri needs it. This law will save money, reduce injuries on our roads and most importantly save lives – maybe even of someone you love. Let’s make this the year Missouri makes safety its primary goal.

One Year Later

What were you doing one year ago? 

One year ago sites like facebook and Twitter still seemed relatively new to many - now users have increased exponentially and both of my parents have accounts.

One year ago my daugher still didn't know about Dora the Explorer - now I sing the "map" song every night before bedtime, in the car, during dinner...

And one year ago today Missouri made history as the first state in the nation to begin a Recovery Act project - now Missouri has shown that investing in transportation creates jobs, boosts the economy and improves our roads and bridges.

See some of those improvements in the photos of that first-in-the-nation project, the Osage River Bridge.

And one year from now?  Who knows, but I'll hopefully have expanded my repertoire of children's songs by then.

How Fun is That?

I was happy today to check MoDOT's facebook page and see that we have surpassed the 3,000 fan mark. How fun is that? If you're a page administrator, trust me, it's pretty fun.

In checking some of the demographics, it turns out MoDOT has fans from mulitple states and countries, including Turkey, Denmark, South Korea and Jamaica. Wow! It's interesting to think of our Jamaica fans, perhaps with a laptop under a sunny tropical sky, checking the latest MoDOT update while crews are out today clearing roads on a snowy Missouri Monday.

I want to thank all of our facebook fans for their comments and participation. I hope you'll continue to give us your valuable feedback, and ask your friends to do the same. We want to hear from you!

In the meantime, we'll keep the updates coming and hope to see some of those sunny skies here soon, too.

Tangible Results

People expect their government to be efficient and held accountable. MoDOT takes that to heart and focuses on strong tangible results. A recent podcast by the Texas Department of Transportation interviewed MoDOT Director Pete Rahn and spoke with him about MoDOT's comprehensive performance management program. Listen to how it keeps Missouri moving in a positive direction and gives Missouri the accountability it deserves. Let us know your thoughts!

MoDOT's Performance Management

MoDOT Recovery Act Funds Obligated Ahead of Schedule

MoDOT meant business when it set out to show the world that transportation projects could have an immediate impact on creating jobs and boosting the economy. Before the ink was dry making the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act law, Missouri had signed a contract and began construction on the nation’s first stimulus project.

Keeping that momentum rolling, MoDOT has now obligated all of the $524.6 million it received in recovery act funds for MoDOT-administered projects well in advance of the March 2nd deadline.

“From launching the nation’s first transportation stimulus project to obligating all of our recovery act funds ahead of schedule, MoDOT has worked rapidly to show that transportation projects do play an integral role in supporting jobs and rebuilding our nation’s economy,” said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn. “While these funds don’t come close to covering all of our transportation needs, they have helped fill a short-term gap as other federal and state resources continue to decline.”

To date, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded 187 economic stimulus projects totaling $469 million. The ARRA funding awarded to date will support 12,524 direct, indirect and induced jobs based on Federal Highway Administration estimates.

Under the Dome

I spent February 3 at the Missouri State Capitol. It was Transportation Day - a day when the leaders of MoDOT's regional districts and division leaders from headquarters make a special effort to visit with State senators and representatives.

I hung out in the Rotunda on the third floor, just outside the House of Representatives. Pretty rich surroundings for this office worker. Amid the marble, the columns, the bronze busts of honored Missourians and all manner of architectural wonder came Capitol visitors with comments and questions. Good comments and questions.

"I think the texting ban should extend to all ages." - Legislation to ban texting for ALL drivers was filed and is under consideration.

"What's with these train pictures?" - MoDOT administers the funding that makes AMTRAK possible in Missouri. The state legislature, federal lawmakers and administrators, Union Pacific Railroad and MoDOT worked as a team to jumpstart track improvements that have already improved on-time records for passenger rail service - and freight transportation time, too. More are on the way. The cooperative effort is a great success.

Between appointments, MoDOT leaders gathered to compare notes. They reported that legislators praised highway crews for valiant snow fighting efforts and asked questions about local projects and plans. They challenged the department to continue to squeeze the best value from every taxpayer dollar ... and to remain responsive to legislative ideas and requests.

The Capitol is a busy place of ideas, plans, action and opinions. Be sure to share your ideas and opinions on transportation and other topics with your elected officials - and with MoDOT, of course!

Traveling Through History

I’m sort of a history nut, so when our mapping and engineering policy groups started building the Missouri Highway Map Archive, I got into it. Those old maps were just the kind of historical gems I loved to bump into.

They were like snapshots of Missouri’s transportation history. It wasn’t just seeing the network of highways spread across their pages over the decades that was cool. It was the design of the covers, the Art Deco fonts from the 1930s, the flowery official language on the panels, the cover photos and layouts. All the details that captured the time period when they were printed. Even the map legends reflected issues of days gone by. Descriptions like “Earth Road Graded by State -- But Not All Weather” or designations for “Big Game Preserves” echoed values and concerns from a different era.

Now you can view these archives in PDF form at www.modot.org/historicmaps. They are printable but we scanned them at almost full size to maintain as much detail as we could. They won’t fit on 8 1/2 by 11 paper -- unless you want to print them in sections – so you may just want to view them on your computer screen. Either way, if you are a history buff or just interested in seeing what old Missouri road maps looked like, take a minute and check out these glimpses of our past. They show a changing picture of Missouri you just can’t get anywhere else.

Make the Right Call Super Bowl Sunday

It’s time for the the Super Bowl. Saints vs Colts. Brees vs Manning. It’s both the happiest day and the saddest day of the year for my husband. Happy because this is what the entire football season has came down to: the two best teams competing for the title. Sad because Super Bowl Sunday marks the end of football for the next six months.

Regardless, it’s a great day for friends to come together to cheer on their favorite team – or commercial. Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s largest and most entertaining sporting events; but it can also be one of the most dangerous days on the road, due to drinking and driving.

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one somewhere else, be a responsible Super Bowl host by following these tips:
• Make sure everyone has a designated driver.
• Serve plenty of food and include soft drinks, juice and water.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game.
• Have the number of local cab companies at hand.
• Take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.
• Only serve alcohol to guests over 21 years of age.

Luckily I get to take the year off from being Super Bowl Host Extraordinaire and take in the festivities at a friend’s house. But even as a guest I need to remember to do my part:
• Designate my sober driver before the party begins (or in my case, volunteer to be the sober driver)
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast.
• Never let a friend get behind the wheel of their vehicle if they are impaired.
• Always buckle up – it’s the best defense against other impaired drivers.

Remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. Make the right call and ensure everyone will Arrive Alive from this year’s Super Bowl.

Missouri Captures Millions for High-speed Rail Projects

With the recent addition of a new rail siding at California, Mo., riders of Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner have already been rewarded with much improved on-time performance, but there’s more good news. Missouri captured $31 million in recovery act funds for several high-speed rail projects that will support good jobs and keep the momentum building toward a faster and even more reliable passenger and freight train service.

The recovery act funding will be used for three shovel-ready projects:
• a second rail bridge over the Osage River;
• a universal crossover near the Kirkwood Amtrak station; and
• safety improvements at several rail crossings, primarily west of Sedalia.

It will also fund preliminary engineering on six future improvement projects worth approximately $100 million, including double tracks between Lee’s Summit and Pleasant Hill, a passing siding at Kingsville, a grade separation at Strasburg, a passing siding extension at Knob Noster and universal crossovers – a device that allows trains to crossover to another track in either direction – at Bonnots Mill and Hermann.

Missouri’s success was part of the larger Midwest Regional Rail Initiative’s effort that, as a whole, captured $2.6 billion of the $8 billion in recovery act funds available for high-speed rail corridor improvements.

Tall, Orange and Handsome

Hold onto that steering wheel.

This week, a tall, orange and handsome stranger arrived in Kansas City. Known as Barrel Bob, he began his job this week as a fixture on the kcICON Project, reminding motorists to slow down and take it easy in a work zone.

Barrel Bob won't be a stranger for long -- he has a debut appearance in a PSA about driving safely in the kcICON Corridor. Don't miss it.
Who's behind those barrels? He's the creation of Robert Ohl, a Clarkson Construction employee. Barrel Bob took about 10 hours to build and comes in standard safety gear.

Safe Driving – A Guide to Teaching the New Driver

I’ve had two teens enter the driving arena in the past two years, and I’d like to say I was calm, cool and collected throughout. But lightening would strike. When you take a turn on two wheels or get close enough to the car in front of you to read the fineprint on its bumper sticker, it’s hard to be emotionally level-headed. My son constantly groans, “Mom, I do a fine job when you’re not in the car!” Hmmm . . .

So instead, I’ve turned to the experts at the Department of Revenue to find some sage advice on how to teach a teen to drive. First, they recommend that parents and teens develop an agreement so everyone is clear about the family driving rules and expectations. You can find a sample form on their Web site or you can create your own. What a nifty idea! I wish I would have thought of it.

The revenue department also offers a booklet titled Safe Driving – Guide to Teaching the New Driver. I highly recommend it as a must-read for those with new drivers. Again, I wish I would have thought of it. But I didn’t, so here are my own personal tips, which, while not eloquent, do come from personal experience and may help ease the tension when driving with a teen:
• Set a good example and practice what you preach – speeding, road rage and other bad habits can be learned practices.
• Don’t yell or nag – it’s tempting, but it only makes things worse.
• Be patient – every new task has a learning curve, and this is one that can’t be taken lightly.
• Don’t overload your driver with facts and tips – make comments sparingly and when appropriate or your remarks could be distracting.
• Be positive – compliment your teen on driving the speed limit, signaling in a timely manner, looking both ways before proceeding, etc. Praise works better than criticism.
• Encourage young drivers to speak up for what is safe and right – peer pressure can lead to trouble when teens are behind the wheel.

If nothing else, you can always resort to putting one of those “Student Driver” signs on your vehicle. That will explain everything.

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

Making a difference in the world usually begins with figuring out how to do it. Often it is not some grand action that can bring change, but a subtle adjustment of our habits and lifestyles. Sometimes the smallest gesture can steer us toward world-changing decisions -- especially if millions of us share that gesture.
 By visiting www.modot.org/Multimodal/CarbonFootprint.htm, visitors to MoDOT’s Web site can get a snapshot of how big an imprint they’re leaving on the planet. They’ll also be connected with links to Missouri’s multimodal options to help them shrink that imprint.

The impact we have on the environment can be measured, especially when it comes to our choices in transportation. Often we make these choices based on convenience or even habit. It’s not that we don’t care what impact we have on the Earth is, it’s just we don’t have time to think about it.
To help people see what effect their transportation choices have on our environment, MoDOT has connected with the Federal Transportation Administration’s "Carbon Footprint Calculator. "

Every journey begins with a single step….so pick a warm and sunny day and walk to work or the store or school when you can. You’ll leave the kind of footprints the Earth can live with.

You Know You're In Missouri When...

"People tell me they know when they drive into Missouri because the roads get better. They used to tell me it was because the roads got worse." -- MoDOT Director Pete Rahn

It wasn't that long ago that less than half of Missouri's highways were considered in good condition. But in the last six years, that number has steadily increased. Now, when you hit the highways in Missouri, you'll find 86 percent of the state's busiest roads in good condition.

Funding from Amendment 3 certainly made a difference. It helped MoDOT make 2,200 miles of the state's most heavily traveled roads smoother and safer, and accelerate or begin projects that were years down the road. Another factor is the Better Roads, Brighter Future program, where hundreds of miles are getting a facelift -- smoother surfaces, wider stripes, brighter signs and paved shoulders.

It may be difficult in the future to keep this up, as dramatic funding decreases loom. But today, it's evident that six years of hard work are truly paying off for Missouri drivers.

Highways Honoring Heroes

The first "Heroes Way" memorial sign to be erected in Missouri under a law passed last year by the Missouri legislature went up this week in St. Louis. The law allows interchanges to be named after service members killed in Iraq or Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001.

Located at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Cave Springs (Exit 225), the sign honors Marine Lance Cpl. Drew Weavers, a St. Charles County native. Weavers was killed Feb. 21, 2008, while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

It's a small tribute when compared with the price paid by those who have given their lives serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still, highway signs honoring those men and women are a constant and visible reminder of the sacrifices made to preserve our freedom.

How Low Can We Go?

In 1950, it cost 20 cents for a gallon of gas. Today, of course, it's a bit more.

But in some ways, we've got the '50s beat. Missourians are driving five times more miles, and the number of registered vehicles has quadrupled. More importantly, this past year, Missouri highway fatalities were at their lowest point since 1950. For the fourth year in a row, Missouri has reduced its highway fatalities, largely due to the efforts of highway safety advocates in the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety.

With combined efforts of law enforcement, education, emergency medical services and engineering, amazing things can happen.

Coalition members announced today in press conferences across the state that fatality numbers are dropping. The video below includes comments from Missouri State Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel James F. Keathley and MoDOT Traffic Safety Engineer John Miller.

Still, there is more work to be done. The coalition continues to promote the top strategy to save lives on Missouri roads -- strengthening Missouri's seat belt law to allow for primary enforcement. This would save more than 60 lives each year in Missouri, and that's hard to beat.

You Text. You're Next.

Texting, talking, eating –we’re all guilty of some sort of driver distraction. But what we might not realize is the deadly consequences our bad driving habits can have. Distracted driving is the leading cause of traffic crashes in Missouri. In 2008 alone, cell phone use was attributed as the cause of 1,788 Missouri traffic crashes.

Last year Missouri made a small step in curbing some of that distracted driving by passing a law prohibiting drivers 21 and under from texting. Five bills have already been filed this year in the Missouri legislature that would expand the texting ban to all drivers.

Yesterday Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood unveiled the first survivor-powered national organization dedicated to putting an end to distracted driving. The group, FocusDriven, grew out of last year’s distracted driving summit sponsored by the US Department of Transportation in Washington. Secretary LaHood also unveiled the 30-second public service announcement below.

Missouri will be launching its own anti-texting while driving campaign next month with new radio spots to raise awareness of the consequences of texting while driving. Those texting spots can be previewed here.

Avoid distractions while driving. Keep your eyes on the road and Arrive Alive.

Message Boards Play Role in Finding Missing Children

The electronic signs that dot our interstates give you critical travel information every day, from upcoming construction work to wintry road conditions.

They can also help end a parent's worst nightmare.

Under the AMBER Alert Plan, area radio and television stations interrupt regular programming to air information about missing children using the Emergency Alert System. MoDOT's message boards play a part, providing a direct and immediate way to reach the public when time is crucial.

Jan. 13 is National Amber Alert Awareness Day, and the dynamic message boards will note this important day to help build awareness for this essential service.

Since it was created in 1996, the AMBER Alert program is credited with the successful recovery of 492 children, and MoDOT is proud to lend a helping hand. You can find more information, including guidelines for having alerts sent to your e-mail or cell phone, at www.missouriamberalert.com/current.php.

And The Beet Goes On

After brutal cold and snow-covered roads last week, the recent snow storm seems to be behind us. You could sense that yesterday was back-to-normal, with schools in session and the parking garage full at work. People even seemed to be getting back to those new year's resolutions, as evidenced by the packed YMCA I visited in the evening.

It's great to see the roads clearing up and to know they're safer. But as low as temperatures were last week, did you know that salt was not the only weapon in the snowplow driver's arsenal? For the past few years, MoDOT has also been using an anti-icing product called Geomelt, made from sugar beets.

Your mom was right, vegetables really are good for you, in more ways than one. Combined with salt, the beet juice freezes at a lower temperature than just salt alone so it can be used when the weather is colder - even at temperatures closer to zero.

Adding the beet juice also reduces the corrosive properties of salt and improves its effectiveness - for our vehicles and yours. That means less salt, more efficiency and less equipment, bridge deck and vehicle corrosion.
"Anything that keeps roads safer during extreme temperatures and bad weather means more lives saved," said Jim Carney, MoDOT's State Maintenance Engineer. "Because of the great results we've seen using beet juice, we've increased usage almost 700 percent over the last couple of years."

Beet juice is a natural product that works well when mixed with either rock salt or liquid salt brine to keep ice from forming on the roads before a storm. It also helps melt snow and ice once they are already on the roads.

So keep your mom happy - eat your vegetables, and travel more safely with them, too.

Potential Goods

While Mark Twain's writings show strong ties with the Mississippi River, I think he would be proud of Missouri's efforts to build up communities along the Missouri River as well.

Missourians from a variety of organizations and interests, from MoDOT to agriculture producers, are working to bring more freight to the Missouri River. This could go a long way in reducing congestion on our highways, and is an environmentally friendly way to move large amounts of goods

On the Mississippi, a 15-barge tow is not uncommon. For some perspective, those 15 barges can hold the same amount of cargo as more than 1,000 semi-trailer trucks.
Last month, MoDOT hosted a development forum on bringing freight to the Missouri River. About 90 attendees identified key needs and task forces were created to run a market analysis for river corridor development, as well as examining ways to improve ports and river management. MoDOT will oversee these task forces.

While the waterways are not right for every commodity, they can provide significant relief for crowded roads and rail lines. The extra commerce on the Missouri river could also spur more economic and community growth, making Missouri a more attractive place to live and do business.

Record Cold + Blowing Snow = Cautious Driving

Right now, Missouri seems more hospitable for polar bears than for people. With brutally cold temperatures and snow hitting the state today, it's awfully appealing to just stay home.

But when you need to get out, you need clear, safe roads. And MoDOT is pulling out all the equipment, people and materials needed to make your travel as safe as possible.

It's going to be tougher for this storm. Record cold and blowing snow will make clearing roads more difficult. Temperatures this low mean the salt is not as effective on ice, and the blowing snow could mean it takes longer to clear roads.

We'll add other products like calcium chloride and beet juice to the salt to help it work better as temperatures drop. But there are some additional things you can do to make your travels safe. Your caution and attention is crucial. Please don't crowd the plows or try to pass them -- they're only trying to help. Be sure to buckle up, keep your lights on and don't speed.

And be sure to know before you go. Real-time road conditions are available at http://www.modot.org/through the Traveler Information Map. The map shows routes in different colors ranging from clear, to partially covered, covered or closed to travel. You can also call MoDOT's toll-free number, 888-ASK-MODOT, to get road condition information.

Stay warm and stay safe!

2010 Trash-Can Decorating Contest

Are you a teacher looking for a fun and educational classroom project? Or the parent of a K-8 student? Encourage your class or school to participate in the 2010 “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter Free” Trash-Can Decorating Contest.

The contest encourages Missouri elementary, middle and home school students K-8 to join in the fight against litter by decorating and displaying a large trashcan with the “No MOre Trash!” logo and a litter-prevention message using a variety of creative media.

Participating classes and groups must submit an entry form and photo of the completed can. There is no entry fee. Schools may submit one entry in each competition category: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Only Missouri schools, including home schools, are eligible.

In addition to the educational value of teaching children about the impacts of litter on their lives and the environment, the first-place entry from each competition category receives a $100 award. All first-place winners are eligible for a grand prize of $500 and a trophy. Entries are judged based on creativity, adherence to contest rules and effective use of theme and logo. Deadline for entries is March 1.

The annual contest is sponsored by the Missouri departments of Conservation and Transportation as part of their ongoing “No MOre Trash!” campaign to raise awareness about Missouri's litter problem and to discourage littering.

Pictured is the 2009 grand prize winner, School of the Osage Middle School, Osage Beach.

Contest rules, entry forms, the “No MOre Trash!” logo, 2009 contest winners, facts on litter and educational information are available online at nomoretrash.org. For more information, call 573-522-4115, ext. 3362, or email nomoretrash@mdc.mo.gov.

Be Prepared

As the New Year kicks off, it never hurts to be prepared.

MoDOT is helping first responders with some preparation for 2010 by sponsoring training for those who would most likely be the first on the scene for an aircraft crash or other airport emergency.

Participants learn techniques specific to aircraft emergencies. They learn vital information about aircraft, such as where to turn off electrical equipment and the location of the aircraft fuel tanks.

The training is funded through a State Aviation Trust Fund grant administered by MoDOT and is free of charge to participants.

Additional classes are coming up for the winter months, so emergency responders in your area can be prepared.

Gifts I am Thankful For

It may sound odd, but two things I am immensely grateful for this holiday season (besides my new Wii fit) are median guard cable and emergency reference markers. The day after Christmas, my family and I traveled to northwest Missouri, and on the way, we counted 40 cars either stuck in the median or off the side of the road in the ditch.

Many of those vehicles were sitting in median guard cable. Sure, they were going to have a big repair bill for their vehicles – but they were alive to make the 911 calls. My husband asked, “How many lives has that guard cable saved already?” That’s the big question. Conservative estimates say we save about 40 lives a year with the cable. That’s certainly worth celebrating.

One of the accidents we came across happened right before we got there. Without knowing if the folks in the vehicle had their cell phones handy or not, I made the call. I knew to look for the emergency reference marker on the side of the road and easily was able to tell the Patrol the exact location of the incident. Located every tenth of a mile, the markers help emergency responders find incidents more quickly, and they also help to mark the edge of the pavement for motorists. As we all know, every second can be critical when responding to traffic crashes.

They don't fit under the tree, but because of median guard cable and emergency reference markers, more people made it safely to their holiday destinations this year, and for those gifts we should all be thankful.

The Truck Stops Here

It never fails. When Dearest Husband and I are taking a trip, I’m always the one who calls for a rest stop. I’ve got the locations of many rest areas committed to memory.

I know that the welcome center at Conway (I-44) has a springy surface under the play equipment. (It’s fun to walk on.) The Wright City (I-70) rest area was the first place I experienced a hands-free hand wash. At Eagleville (I-35), I gape at the amazing mosaic mural.

The truckers who share Missouri’s highways commit these locations to memory, too. They have to. Drivers are limited to a specific number of hours they can work before they must pull over to rest. If they don’t, they violate federal safety rules and take a hit to the wallet, so finding a place to park and rest is an important part of the job.

Imagine what would happen if suddenly, rest areas and welcome centers closed. That’s going on in some states that have budget issues. There, drivers have to spend time looking for a spot to stop before their work time is up for the day – giving up miles of progress to stay on the good side of the law.

It’s a different story in Missouri. During the past nine years, MoDOT increased truck parking spaces 45 percent. More are on the way. When rest areas and welcome centers are built, MoDOT tries to make room for as many truck/recreational vehicle spots as possible. When rest areas and weigh stations are decommissioned, paved areas are rechristened as truck parking areas.

Drivers know that there are a lot of good, safe spots to rest in Missouri. Here they can make productive use of drive time and reduce their costs.

So it turns out that what’s good for professional drivers is good for my pocketbook…and my traveling comfort!

Santa in the Air

According to NORAD, Santa is already on his way. Luckily for Missourians, his flight options have expanded in the state.

The new Branson West Airport opened to air traffic on Dec. 15. The aiport, owned by the City of Branson west, includes a 5,000-foot runway capable of handling corporate aircraft, a full-length parallel taxiway, an aircraft-parking apron and T-hangar taxi lanes. The city continues to work on completing storage hangars, a maintenance and terminal facility, an automated weather station and other capabilities. A grand opening is planned next summer.

While many people think only of the airports in larger cities, Santa has lots of options in Missouri. MoDOT works with more than 120 public-use airports in the state, administering federal funding, conducting safety inspections and providing safety equipment -- sometimes reindeer food. In 2008, there were more than one million take-offs and landing in Missouri.

An important Christmas fact: More than 160,000 tons of cargo are transported by air in Missouri each year. It's top secret how much of that comes from Santa's sleigh.

The Spirit of Giving

At this time of year, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas. There are presents to buy and wrap, food to be made and travel plans to adhere to.

But for some, the holidays don't have this same look or feel. That's why the news in the days surrounding Christmas is full of heart-warming stories of generosity and giving.

Missouri Department of Transportation employees are among those who have opened their hearts and wallets to those less fortunate. For the third year in a row, MoDOT contributed the greatest amount to the annual Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign. MoDOT employees donated $217,614, making MoDOT the first state agency to surpass the $200,000 mark in the 25-year history of the campaign.

And they weren't alone. Overall, Missouri state employees broke last year's record contributions by raising more than $1.25 million for local, state and national non-profit organizations.

And more than 1,100 charities and the people they serve are better off this holiday season as a result.

The True Heart of Christmas

What do you look forward to this holiday season? My kids and I made a list: baking cookies, looking at Christmas lights, watching favorite holiday movies, visiting Santa, decorating a Gingerbread house, sledding (if possible), singing Christmas carols and reading ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ just to name a few. It’s the time with family and friends that make this time of year so special.

But what would you do if it was all taken away by a drunk driver? All it would take would be for one person to drink and drive and you or someone you love to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The holidays this year will mark the one-year anniversary of a tragic highway fatality for 19 Missouri families. In 2008, from Christmas Eve through New Year’s weekend, 19 people were killed and 41 injured in traffic crashes on Missouri roads involving an impaired driver.

Help ensure your family and friends don’t suffer the same fate, and give the gift of a safe lift. Send a Designated Driver Gift Card and serve as the sober driver to ensure your family and friends make it home safe and avoid a DWI arrest. The gift cards, distributed by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, can be sent electronically at saveMOlives.com.

And besides promising to never drive impaired, make a new year's resolution to always wear your seat belt. Over 70% of people killed in Missouri traffic crashes are unbuckled. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.

So remember that the true heart of Christmas is thinking of others first. Don’t drink and drive and please wear your seat belt. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year’s, and safe travels to all.

Traveler Information Map Makes Trip to Grandma's House Easier

Well the weather outside is...great actually. Unseasonably warm, kind of sunny. But if you’ve lived in Missouri for a while, you know that trend can turn on a dime.

On Christmas Day things are supposed to get soggy. Snow and other precipitation are forecast for some parts of the state. If you’re going to be on the road for the holidays, give yourself a little stocking stuffer and visit MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map before you leave your house.

Most of you who follow this blog have heard me go on and on about our award-winning, nationally recognized, super cool online road conditions map -- so this message is repetitive. But if you know anyone from out-of-state (or who’s not as web savvy as you) please tell them about it.

The Traveler Information Map gives up-to-the minute road conditions for all major routes MoDOT maintains. It gives you a good idea of what waits for you ahead and can even help you decide whether you should travel or wait a bit.

So, while your trip to Grandma’s may be easy (except for the kids fighting in the back seat), your return journey may be wet, cold and a bit slick. Make sure you know what’s in front of you by visiting www.modot.org and clicking on the big state map in the middle of the page.

Top Ten for 2009

Making lists is popular this time of year, whether it’s for holiday shopping, a year-in-review list or the things you’re pledging to do (or not do) in the new year.

Topping MoDOT's accomplishment list this year is a drop in highway fatalities for the fourth year in a row. The completion of I-64 and first-in-the-nation status aren't too shabby, either. Watch below to see MoDOT's "Top Ten" for 2009, and send your comments on what you'd like to see in 2010.

Passion for Protection

Passion for protection

As the mother of three kids, I’ve lightly dabbled in the arena where teachers excel -- the classroom. I’ve taught Sunday school, and watched the occasional classroom full of kids while a teacher goes to lunch. I’ve also coaxed my 6-year-old son to write 10 words on a piece of paper in a single sitting. Good teachers are a gift.

Last weekend, we lost one of our chosen few in a car crash when a 29 year-old Nixa elementary school teacher was killed after being partially ejected from her vehicle; she wasn’t wearing a seat belt.

Missouri’s state legislature has failed to pass a primary seat belt law. However, odd as it may seem, Nixa, a small town just south of Springfield is among 12 cities that have now passed their own city primary seat belt ordinances. In those cities drivers can be pulled over solely for not wearing their seat belt. Fines range from $10 and up and include city court costs. In Nixa, the cost of a seat belt ticket is about $75.

Willard, another southwest Missouri town passed their city ordinance on Monday, Dec. 14, just after the teacher from Nixa elementary was killed. The timing is a chilling coincidence.

Other towns in Missouri with primary seat belt ordinances include Ava, St. Louis County, Creve Coeur, Ballwin, Weston, Merriam Woods, St. John, Willow Springs, Chesterfield and Herculaneum. Many of them site crash statistics in the area as the reason they’ve taken matters into their own hands, in the absence of action on the state level. Often it is the passion of a victim’s family member or friend that helps to get things moving. Possibly something like the unnecessary death of a beloved young teacher who touched the lives of so many kids.

Laws can help protect real people, so can your seat belt. Please buckle up!

Fun on the Highway!

Missourians had a chance to walk, run, jump and even play cards on the New I-64 in St. Louis on Dec. 6. The video below gives you some reactions from residents and a look at the offical ribbon cutting.

Hold That Message

Looks like a ban on texting while driving will be a hot topic again this legislative season. Three Missouri lawmakers have already filed texting while driving bills for the January legislative session. All three bills would make texting while driving illegal for all drivers, regardless of age.

Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do while on the road. Missouri’s current law prohibits those 21 years old and younger from texting behind the wheel.

In addition, MoDOT recently banned employees from texting while driving work vehicles. The ban also applies to personal vehicles when on-the-job.

Texting drivers spend 400% more time with their eyes off the road. A recent study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that truck drivers face a 23 times greater risk of crash or near crash when texting than when not doing so.

Even if you’re willing to take the risk of injuring or killing yourself, you’re not the only one at risk. You could injure or kill someone else. Eighty percent of all crashes involve some sort of driver distraction.

It’s important for drivers to focus their full attention on their driving. Texting is a dangerous distraction that takes away the driver's attention from the task at hand which is driving. An all-driver texting ban is another positive step in reducing driving distractions.

What are your thoughts: do you support an all-driver texting ban?

A Passing Lane for Trains

The eastbound Amtrak Missouri River Runner train whizzed by California City Hall just minutes before a dedication ceremony kicked off to officially open a new railroad side track located just west of California, Mo. The $8.1 million, 9,000-foot track enables two trains to pass.

The project was completed on time and under budget. It has helped unclog a major “bottleneck” caused by a 25-mile stretch of single track between Kansas City and Jefferson City. The new passing lane for trains allows a slower moving freight train to move off the main line so faster Amtrak trains can pass.

The side rail is estimated to reduce passenger train delays by nearly 17 percent per year. In fact, two out of the first three weeks it has been open, Amtrak trains have achieved a 100 percent on-time rate – the first time ever. Plus, ridership on the corridor is up 30 percent from 2007.

Union Pacific, Amtrak, MoDOT and the state of Missouri worked in partnership on this project to help increase capacity on the St. Louis to Kansas City corridor. Funding came from a $5 million allocation specifically for rail development from the Missouri General Assembly and a $3.1 million grant through the Federal Railroad Administration.

100 Percent On Time!

One-hundred percent on time! That’s the exciting news MoDOT gets to report for Amtrak trains during the Thanksgiving holiday week. All four Missouri River Runner trains that carry passengers from Kansas City to St. Louis and vice versa arrived safely and on time from Tuesday, Nov. 24 through Monday, Nov. 30. Nearly every single person to whom I announced this news had the same reaction, “One-hundred percent on time? I’ve never heard that before.”

Exactly. Rodney Massman, Administrator of Railroads for MoDOT told me that in his entire career (which spans more than a decade) he has never been able to report a 100 percent on-time performance. In fact, Massman told me that in as recent as last year, the on-time performance was hovering in the 60 percent range.

So how in the world can this be? How can Amtrak trains crossing the entire show me state arrive on time and do this during the busiest travel week of the year?

The passenger-friendly answer is called the California Siding Project. MoDOT, Union Pacific, and Amtrak found the place that created the biggest bottleneck problem along the entire 275-mile rail corridor -- California, Mo. It was there that a 25-mile-long stretch of single track rested that forced delays due to trains not being able to pass one another. Well, not anymore. The California Siding Project laid down 9,000 feet, nearly two miles, of additional track next to the main corridor. This will now allow freight trains to be set aside in California so that Amtrak passenger trains can glide through without stopping.

The really neat thing about this is the California Siding Project was just finished on Nov. 20… meaning its first test was the super-busy Thanksgiving holiday week! Talk about a promising project! Its first time on the job and already it hits a 100 percent on-time performance. That's a great talking point for MoDOT Director Pete Rahn, who is scheduled to officially announce the opening of the California Siding Project on  Dec. 8 at 10 a.m.

May We Have Your Attention Please!

Winter is still around the corner, but winter weather is already upon us. As temperatures drop and precipitation falls, Missouri roads need some attention … And not just attention from MoDOT!

As a driver, you should turn your attention to state road conditions by visiting MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map at:

http://maps.modot.mo.gov/travelerinformation/TravelerInformation.aspx

The map gives web visitors current road condition information so they can decide whether or not to drive on Missouri roads. Drivers can see if roads are clear, partly covered, covered or closed due to snow and ice. The map also gives info on incidents, work zones and flooding for a complete snapshot of what a highway driver can expect before they leave the comfort of their home.

Of course, the map only shows the major routes that MoDOT maintains -- and weather conditions can change in an instant -- so travelers need to also pay attention to local news and any other reports on weather-related road conditions.

In the mean time, you can “know before you go” by clicking on the big state map in the center of MoDOT’s homepage. It’s your first stop for info on Missouri highways.

Making a Difference

"Pete Rahn is one of the country's most innovative transportation officials," according to Governing magazine who named him as one of their 2009 Public Officials of the Year. Rahn's willingness to take risks and his desire to make a difference helped him become the first state transportation director to earn this national honor in the 23-year history of the award.

Watch the video below to learn more about this honor and the other 2009 recipients.

Cyber Monday: Give the Gift of a Safe Lift

I was brave this weekend – I woke up at 4 a.m. to tackle the Black Friday sales. It was hectic and exhausting and stressful and at times scary. The shopping malls and stores will continue to be zoos as all of us procrastinators finish (or start) our Christmas shopping. So why battle it?

We have the perfect gift for that friend who has everything except a sober ride home from the party. Send a Designated Driver Gift Card and serve as their sober driver this holiday season to ensure they make it home safe and avoid a DWI arrest.

The gift cards, distributed by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, can be sent electronically or printed at saveMOlives.com. Gift card-givers merrily offer to be a sober chauffeur to the recipient. Recipients are asked to return the favor.

This holiday season, give the gift of a safe lift. It will cost you nothing – and could save the life of your friends and loved ones. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.

Send a Designated Driver Gift Card at http://www.savemolives.com/play/drivercard.htm

"Government Doesn't Usually Act This Way"

"Government doesn't usually act this way." -- Jim Manis, Gambrill Gardens

Thanks to the quick-thinking of some MoDOT employees, a senior independent living facility in the St. Louis area will have a happier Thanksgiving.

When Gambrill Gardens' 24-passenger transit vehicle was deemed unsafe and taken off the road, the staff sent out a plea for help. Sure, there's a usual process of applying for grant assistance, but that would take time, and residents needed the transportation now.

Cue MoDOT. Employees in the multimodal operation's unit of MoDOT used some quick-thinking and offered Gambrill Gardens a way to purchase an older, but still useful, vehicle. The vehicle was part of a group of rural and small urban transit vehicles that had been replaced with federal recovery act funds.  Most of the vehicles replaced have 200,000-300,000 miles and are no longer suitable for use.  However, a few still have some useful life, and Gambrill Gardens was happy to put one of these to use.

The turnaround time from the request? Only two weeks.

"Government doesn't usually act this way," said Jim Manis with Gambrill Gardens. "It is not the new vehicle we eventually would like to get, but it really helped us get through this emergency."

Photo above (left to right): Shirley Tarwater, MoDOT multimodal operations transit employee, Jim Manis, Gambrill Gardens director of fun development, Chris Brundin, MoDOT multimodal operations transit employee, Diedre Rombach, Gambrill Gardens director of activity and Mike Cicchese, Gambrill Gardens executive director, show off the 24-passenger transit vehicle that solved Gambrill Gardens' transportation need.