Think Before You Drink

I dropped my kids off today for their first day of school – my little girl started kindergarten. And while it was a bittersweet day for me, I realize how lucky I am to have these moments with my kids. There are families everywhere who don’t have these opportunities because of someone else’s choice to drink and drive.

Today, as Missouri kicks off its annual You Drink & Drive. You Lose. campaign, I urge all drivers to think before you drink.

Besides kicking off our impaired driving campaign, we’re also highlighting a new law to help memorialize drunk driving victims. A new roadside memorial sign for impaired driving victims was unveiled today that will urge drivers to think about their choices this August and in the months ahead.

The signs are part of legislation that goes into effect Aug. 28 called David’s Law. The law is named after David Poenicke, a victim of impaired driving. The blue memorial signs read "Drunk Driving Victim!" and include the person's initials and the month and year they were killed. At the bottom it reads "Think About It!"

If each and every one of us would just take a moment and think about the consequences before driving impaired, we could save so many families from so much anguish. Please think before you drink, and help ensure that each of us is there to spend the big and small moments with our families.

Can We Talk?

As MoDOT's Web manager, I love talking about the many features of the department's Web site. It offers all kinds of community services that can benefit Missourians. It's just a matter of folks using them!

One of these features is our Request A Speaker page at http://www.modot.org/requestaspeaker.

If your group or organization needs a transportation expert to talk about MoDOT projects, services, plans, policies -- or anything along those lines -- just go to the Web address mentioned above and fill out the online form. We'll work with you to find a department speaker who meets your needs.

Whether it's for a civic organization, a local business group or just a group of engaged citizens, we will send someone in person to answer all your questions and make you a part of the process.

The Request A Speaker service is one of the best ways to get first-hand information on your department of transportation.

Why Did You Do It?

Why did you do it?

Can anyone say they have never littered? We are all probably guilty of this at some point, but this video takes away all of your excuses. Keep Missouri litter-free, and feel free to pick up that soda can someone else may have left behind.

And a special shout-out to those who participated in this spring's No MOre Trash Bash. Congratulations on picking up 111,000 bags of trash!

What Lies Beneath

Why do highways need to be rebuilt? This video shows you what lies beneath, and why highways eventually need more than a facelift.

1,000 Fans!

I'd like to send out a big thank-you to each of our facebook fans for helping us reach 1,000 fans today! Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and this blog have allowed us to reach out to customers in new ways, and we appreciate each fan, follower and comment.

Keep 'em coming! We want to hear your thoughts on how to best make your travel in Missouri smooth and safe.

Missouri Is More Bike Friendly

MoDOT works hard to factor bicycle and pedestrian travel into its highway projects, and has made a lot of headway making state roads and bridges more user-friendly for bicyclists and pedestrians. In fact, the League of American Bicyclists recently ranked Missouri as the 17th most bike friendly state in the nation, an 11-spot jump from last year.

Here are just a few examples of bike-friendly projects:
· Under the planned rehabilitation of the Heart of America Bridge, which connects downtown Kansas City with north Kansas City via Route 9, the bridge will be reconfigured to provide a barrier-protected path for bicycles and pedestrians. Signs reminding bicyclists and motorists to share the road will also be installed.

· The project to rebuild Interstate 64 now under way in St. Louis called for two new bicycle/pedestrian underpasses, which are now complete. A multi-use path at Hampton and I-64 that used to cross over a heavily traveled road now passes underneath to protect bicyclists and pedestrians from traffic. In addition, a new, more open bypass just west of Kingshighway lets bikers and pedestrians cross safely under the interstate.

· A protected pedestrian/bicycle walkway was built down the center of Kansas Expressway over Interstate 44 in Springfield as part of a diverging diamond interchange project that was completed in June.

· MoDOT is collaborating with the city of Rolla on a multi-phase project that has provided 9.07 miles of biking and walking paths to date, with an additional 1.72 miles planned. Once complete, the paths will connect to provide a comprehensive bike and pedestrian sidewalk network.

· An asphalt bicycle/pedestrian trail is being built in Riverview Park in Hannibal with federal enhancement funds. When finished later this summer, it will connect Riverview Park visitors to downtown Hannibal.

You can learn more about the league’s bike-friendly report at http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/bicyclefriendlystate/.

Not So Funny

I went to a comedy club the other night and the first thing the out-of-state comedian said was that he hated Missouri cops. Apparently he had been pulled over for speeding just after he crossed the state line into Missouri. On the outside I smiled, but inside I was doing a happy dance and thinking, “Hey the Heat Is On buddy”, and it’s working!

The funny guy went on to try to find a cop in the audience that would admit to his profession so that he could humiliate him in front of a crowd. There was a highway patrolman in the front row, but he wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

I have been pulled over for speeding myself. At the first glimpse of flashing lights in my rear view, my heart rate jumps and the armor comes up. I quickly go on the defensive, “Oh, come on, I wasn’t going that fast. What, are you having a bad day?” When in fact I was 10 mph over the limit.

Law enforcement officers are there, ultimately to keep us from killing ourselves and each other. Without them, who knows how fast we’d drive or how many stupid things we’d try just because no one was watching.

I’m happy to know that the cops are out there – nabbing those funny guys and keeping us safe.

County Maps Available on MoDOT Web site

Here’s a “Didja Know?” that many Missourians might find helpful: Maps of all 114 Missouri counties are available for download in PDF format at http://www.modot.org/newsandinfo/CountyMaps.htm

The maps shows county roads, waterways, airports, hospitals, cemeteries and many other county features that a city map or state map can’t highlight in detail.

If you’re interested in viewing or downloading these maps you need to make sure you have a version of Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. If you don’t, the program is free and easy to find with any search engine or by going to http://get.adobe.com/reader/

Mock Crash Opens Eyes

For emergency service personnel, the scene was all too real.

Smashed cars. Cracked windshields. Life-threatening injuries. A fatality. A drunk driver. Angry, grieving passengers.

Luckily, this time it wasn’t real. It was part of a mock DWI crash held last week in Columbia. The exercise was part of a three-day conference to help prevent drug- and alcohol-related accidents sponsored by Team Spirit.

Students from 11 Missouri high schools saw first hand why it’s a bad idea to drink and drive. Students witnessed a simulated head-on collision where the driver was impaired and one person dies. Last year, 951 underage drivers were involved in alcohol-related traffic crashes in Missouri.

At the end of the mock crash, the students were silent as the scene was recapped.

“It only takes that one lapse to create results like that,” said the narrator.

When asked how many people think a crash like this would affect their school, all hands were raised.

Watch the video below.

Where are the Bullet Trains?

Progress continues toward high-speed rail development in Missouri. While the bullet trains are not coming anytime soon, significant improvements could occur if the Federal Railroad Administration approves MoDOT's application for $200 million in economic recovery funding. Competition for the limited $8 billion in available funding will be strong, considering the $103 billion in applications submitted by 40 states.

However, MoDOT, in partnership with Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak, has developed a very good list of proposed improvements. These projects will not only put people to work quickly, they will remove significant system bottlenecks and allow for increased train speeds. MoDOT has also been working with other Midwest states to acquire modern and efficient train equipment to replace the current 1960's-era trains.

Construction work on Missouri's first-ever publicly funded rail capacity project is on schedule for completion in 2009. This new 9,000-foot passing rail siding near California will eliminate a 25-mile section with no siding long enough to hold a freight train. This area has been a major bottleneck in the past.

Passenger ridership in Missouri remains strong, closing the state fiscal year 10 percent above last year. This is largely due to improved on-time performance, which has been above 95 percent since January 1st. People are running out of excuses for not using this service. What are you waiting for!? Go to www.morail.org and get aboard!

Football Fans, Buckle Up!

With school right around the corner, football teams are gearing up for their next season and fans are ready. No matter what jersey you choose, make sure a seat belt is wrapped securely around it when you're headed to the game.
And if your team is up against a 64-foot player, good luck!

MoDOT Opens Nation’s First Diverging Diamond Interchange

Ever drive on the left side of the road? A highway design common in Europe is now giving Springfield, Mo. motorists this unique experience.

MoDOT opened the first-in-the-USA Diverging Diamond Interchange in June at the intersection of Kansas Expressway (Route 13) and Interstate 44 in Springfield.

Signs, pavement markings and concrete islands at the new interchange guide drivers on Route 13 as they criss-cross at traffic signals on both sides of the bridge at Interstate 44. That puts oncoming traffic on the right, but separated by concrete barriers that also form a pedestrian walkway down the center.

Left-turning vehicles on Kansas Expressway get a "free left" onto the I-44 on-ramps. At the same time, two lanes of traffic continuing north or south on Kansas Expressway are able to travel more steadily through the interchange.

A DDI is a great solution in high traffic areas. Motorists no longer have to cross opposing traffic. Left turn crashes are eliminated and the chance of being in a rear end crash is reduced. Motorists spend less time being stuck in traffic, which is also good for the environment as idle time is reduced at the interchange. Plus, Springfield’s DDI design came out to be cheaper and shaved about a year-and-a-half off the construction time.

Look for similar Diverging Diamond projects in Missouri, including one on National Avenue at the James River Freeway (Route 60) in Springfield and in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Keep Your Butts in the Car

The other day I was driving home from work, when I saw the guy in front of me flick a cigarette butt out his truck window. So since The Litterer couldn’t actually hear me from my car, I honked at him. I guess I just wanted him to know someone was watching.

Littering is one of my biggest pet peeves. And many people don’t consider throwing out their cigarette butts as littering. Do people think that once the cigarette butt hits the road, it magically disappears? It’s really just like throwing a bag of garbage out the window. Cigarette filters can take years to degrade. And according to my online research, cigarettes are the most littered item with several trillion butts being littered worldwide every year.

I have picked up litter many times, as part of my Adopt-A-Highway group, and I’ll tell you, it’s not fun. But because people still litter, someone has get out there and clean it up. MoDOT already spends about $5 million a year to clean up litter off the roads, and our AAH groups contribute another $1 million in efforts. Although there are many different items that people throw out of their vehicles, cigarette butts are the things I see the most. Not only are they ugly and smelly, but the toxic residue in cigarette filters is damaging to the environment, and littered butts cause numerous fires every year, some of them fatal.

So what can we do? MoDOT is always accepting new volunteers in our Adopt-A-Highway or Sponsor-A-Highway programs. Just go to www.modot.org/ or call 888-ASK MODOT to join. Butt, if you happen to see someone flicking their butt out their car window, honk and let folks know you’re watching too.

A Bright Idea

You pay attention to those bright yellow signs on the road, right? At least the ones telling you about the possibility of a giant rock falling on your car?

Now those signs warning you about a sharp curve, narrow bridge or dead end up ahead will be even brighter.

MoDOT has changed the type of sheeting it uses on the diamond-shaped warning signs to a fluorescent yellow - bolder and brighter than before. So even if you're driving along singing with your favorite radio station, these signs should grab your attention.

They won't all go up at once. As a current sign is in need of replacement, the brighter one will be used. But as someone who has been known to host my own off-key live concert in my car, I appreciate all the help I can get.

MoDOT Web site lets citizens report potholes and more

See a pothole on a state road? Tell us about it!

With MoDOT’s Report a Road Concern online form, you can help your department of transportation keep Missouri roads safe and smooth.

Linked from the MoDOT homepage at www.modot.org, Report a Road Concern lets citizens contact the department about a variety of road-related issues. Look for the link on the right-hand side of the homepage.

Existing report categories include: mowing, striping, signs, potholes, signal problems, highway lighting, guardrail/guard cable issues, illegal dumping on the highway and non-stormwater discharge into a drainage ditch. There is also a blank comment field in case the problem being reported is not on the existing list.

Travelers are our most valuable resource for information. They’re the ones using our highways and bridges every day. They know if something is not right immediately. This online form is another way they can communicate with MoDOT.

You can go directly to the Report a Road Concern here: http://www.modot.org/asp/repair.htm .

All-Star FanFest 2009

Baseball greats will soon infiltrate Missouri for the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star game. St. Louis will host the event for the first time since 1966, the inaugural season of the previous Busch Stadium.

MoDOT teamed up with the Illinois Department of Transportation and TEAM (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) Coalition to promote the importance of designating a sober driver and always buckling up at All-Star FanFest July 10-14.

FanFest features interactive exhibits and attractions for baseball enthusiasts of all ages. Fans can hit against some of the MLB’s best pitchers in the video batting cages, record their own play-by-play and attend free autograph sessions with baseball’s biggest stars.

The MoDOT booth encouraged fans to film a video or take the pledge to follow MLB’s Fan Code of Conduct, never drive impaired, always have a designated driver, and to buckle up and arrive alive. Fans also took souvenir photos in the replica Busch Stadium Cardinals dugout.

Check out the video from our FanFest booth below. You can also check out a number of the Fan Videos that were submitted during FanFest here.

If you are attending the All-Star Game events or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:

• Be a designated sober driver or designate your sober driver before the game begins


• Give your designated sober driver your car keys and your appreciation for making sure you get home safely


• Before you go out, program the numbers for local cab companies in your cell phone, so if you find yourself in need of a ride, it is just one touch away


• Remember, always buckle up and arrive alive.
  
  

Are We There Yet?

Are we there yet? We could be. Learn more about why we need to invest more in transportation.

Speedy Bridge Projects

Wow. MoDOT contractors have been completing and reopening bridges around the state every day-and-a-half since late April.

On Friday, Chester Bross Construction Co. completed the 50th bridge project in MoDOT's Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program -- the Route BB bridge over Island Creek in Gentry County, near King City.

Speed of construction is a key feature of the Safe & Sound program, and so far so good. The average bridge closure to date has been 40 days and the projects have been completed an average of three days ahead of schedule.

By the end of this year, more than 100 new bridges will have been completed on the way to the program's total of 802 by Oct. 31, 2014.

Soon, KTU Constructors will determine its schedule for the most ambitious part of Safe & Sound -- the complete replacement of 554 bridges.

Stay tuned.

Getting Ready to Race

When the gun is fired Sept. 7 in St. Louis, the third annual Tour of Missouri will begin -- moving along more than 600 miles of Missouri's roads before ending in Kansas City Sept. 13. As the MoDOT Tour of Missouri project coordinator, I'm teaming up with a variety of highway and traffic experts and public information co-workers around the state to take care of our two primary responsibilities.

First, we've worked with other partners to identify a race route that's safe and attractive for both the professional cyclists and those who will watch along the roads. We consider things like work zones, traffic hazards and construction projects. Most of the course is planned on low-volume, rural routes where hills and curves offer the American and foreign atheltes the challenges they like.

Second, we make sure the traveling public will be informed of the traffic interuptions throughout the seven-day event by coordinating traffic management plans with local communities and law enforcement agencies. We make plans to get the word out so those that want to avoid traffic delays can do so.

We also helped the Missouri Tourism Division by creating host city signs. These signs are being put up on the current city limit sign posts along key routes leading in and out of the communities that will be hosting a race start or finish.

We’ve worked hard to help make this a successful event for our state, and as the race goes along, safety for the traveling public and the cyclists is our main concern.

We're proud the national and international race coverage will highlight our state and that Missouri’s highways will be on display throughout the world!

You'll find race information, race route details and photographs at http://www.tourofmissouri.com/ and http://www.modot.org/.

Starts With a Bang, Ends With a Whimper

Suppose your boss surprises you one day with an unexpected one-time bonus. You decide to use the money to build that new patio you always wanted for your house. Because you’ve planned for that patio for some time and have carefully researched prices, you end up getting a good deal. The money you save on the patio lets you do some repairs and other odd jobs around your house.

But suppose looming in the future is the likelihood your income will decline to almost a third of the current amount. You’ll be lucky to keep what you own, much less buy anything new.

That’s how it is with the Missouri Department of Transportation’s five-year highway construction program. As MoDOT Director Pete Rahn puts it, “It’s a lot like when someone comes to you and says, ‘Do you want the good news or the bad news. That’s how it is with our construction program. We’re going to be able to do a lot of great things at the beginning, but we won’t be able to maintain that momentum.”

Boom!

Did you know Missouri has more major river bridges than any state in the nation? Replacing large bridges is an extensive and costly process, and the old structures go out with a bang.

Enjoy this explosive video as a complement to the fireworks you see this weekend. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Seventy Days of HEAT

The HEAT is on this summer and it won’t just be 90-degree August days. For the past four years, Missouri has recorded the highest number of fatal and serious injury crashes between July and September.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is partnering with law enforcement to take precautions to reverse this trend. Law enforcement agencies across Missouri will be using High Enforcement Action Teams to crackdown on impaired drivers and ticket speeding and unbuckled drivers and passengers.

In order for Missouri to reach the statewide goal of 850 or fewer fatalities by 2012, the spike in fatalities between July and September must be prevented.

Enforcement will be coupled with paid media in July and August.

We had a lot of fun - and a lot of heat - shooting the video spot for the campaign. Check it out.

Braking News

Knowing that I work in the motor carrier world, friend Pepper Foxpath (not her real name) asked if I would address some things she’s always wondered about commercial trucks. She asked some fabulous questions that I’ll address over the next several postings.

Today’s subject is braking distance. Pepper wanted to know how cars and tractor-trailers compare. I found some stats from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that are very interesting. If we look at average total stopping distance at 55 mph, the reaction and braking time for a car and trucks are as follows:

Passenger car -193 feet (2/3 of a football field)
Loaded tractor-trailer with cool brakes -256 feet
Loaded tractor-trailer with hot brakes -430 (twice as long as a car!)
Empty tractor-trailer -249 feet
Tractor only (driving without a trailer) -243 feet

I’m impressed that a loaded truck’s stopping distance is just 63 feet longer than a car when its brakes are cool. Think about it. The semi and its load weigh 20 times the average 4,000 lb. weight of American cars, minivans and SUVs. That’s some fantastic mechanics! Still, that same truck with hot brakes has a stopping distance 68 percent longer.

Truck brakes heat up as they’re used. That’s why in mountain states, downhill stretches of highway have mandatory pull-offs where trucks sit and cool their brakes.

So when you’re out on the road, how can you tell if a truck has hot brakes? From the driver’s seat of your car, it’s nearly impossible. I think I’ll just drive as if all the trucks around me are steaming hot. No darting in front of trucks or making a last-minute turn into the same lane. Giving trucks the full passing lane as we both descend Missouri’s steep spots. Not braking willy-nilly because I think a truck is tailgating me. Driving smart could keep me from being squashed!

Be On the Lookout for Striping Crews

This is a busy time for highway striping crews. These workers are taking advantage of the warm, dry weather to paint brighter, more visible lines on Missouri roads.

Despite the fact that several trucks, complete with flashing signs, travel behind the paint truck to warn drivers to slow down and change lanes, five MoDOT crews have already been involved in crashes this year and have narrowly escaped injuries.

So what more do motorists need, you might ask? MoDOT has a ready response: pay attention and focus on the task at hand - driving. Be patient, obey the speed limit, don't talk or text on cell phones, keep a safe distance from other cars and buckle up.

That just may keep a near-miss from happening to you.

Breathe Easier

Some people say government is full of hot air. With MoDOT and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources working together to reduce diesel emissions, our air will be easier to breathe.

The departments have joined forces to improve air quality and public health in the state's metropolitan areas. MoDNR will administer a grant that helps MoDOT retrofit more than 130 vehicles with technology that reduces pollutants.

Emissions will drop by 288 tons per year - enough to fill 427 Goodyear blimps. Updates for the fleet will also mean better fuel efficiency.
Blue skies all around!

Keep Your Cool

Summer officially began this week, and the heat is here in Missouri to prove it. If you're like me, you'll be spending some time looking for ways to keep cool. Swimming pools, movie theaters and a vacation to just about anywhere come to mind.

One of the most important places to keep your cool is on the road. MoDOT's Director Pete Rahn speaks this week about some of the biggest work zones to watch out for. There's not much use in heading to the pool or other summer activities if you're not going to get there safely. Focus on your driving, slow down when you see a work zone and arrive alive.

Tell Us Your Thoughts About Busses

When was your last road trip by bus? What would you like to see improved? Perhaps you always choose a car over a bus - why?

MoDOT is studying ways to improve long-distance travel options in Missouri, specifically what is known as long-distance bus carriers such as Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, Burlington Trailways, etc. We would appreciate it if you took a few minutes to share your thoughts. It will help identify unmet needs for long-distance service in Missouri.

Ride for Remembrance

Remembering the fallen.

Saturday, June 13, was brimming with the sounds of motorcycle engines as hundreds of people rode into Jefferson City in remembrance of fallen MoDOT workers. The choppers, cruisers and even some classic cars carried riders who were themselves MoDOT employees or who had some connection to a MoDOT worker, killed in the line of duty. MoDOT has lost 128 employees since 1945.

I’ve never been on a bike with an engine, but watching the motorcycles enter the parking lot one after another stirred a sense of pride in an organization whose employees are doing their best to make traveling Missouri better and safer than it has ever been.

The spirit of comraderie at the memorial rally was nurtured with food, games, vendors and fun for young and old. The proceeds go to the MoDOT Fallen Workers Memorial which we hope to have built near the Capitol soon. If you’d like to make a donation please go to www.teamontheweb.com.

Know Before You Go

With heavy rains today, remember some of these flood safety tips, and check MoDOT's Traveler Information Map for updated road closure information.

• Slow your speed for better control on rain slick roadways.


• Allow extra distance for braking.


• Turn your lights on whenever wipers are required -- it's the law!


• Don't try to cross a flooded roadway. If you see water on the road ahead, turn around and find another route.
  
• If there is no other route, get to higher ground and wait for the water to subside.


• Even if the water appears shallow, don't cross. The road underneath could have dips or may have washed away.


• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most cars, causing loss of control or possible stalling. One or two feet of water can sweep most vehicles away.


• If your car stalls, get out immediately and move to higher ground.


• Don't drive unless necessary.


• If it's necessary to drive, know before you go. Check which roads are closed due to flooding on MoDOT's Traveler Information Map at http://www.modot.org/ or call 1-888-ASK MoDOT or the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Giving Green to Get the Green

Recycle, reduce pollution, use alternative fuels, and get cash back. What better incentive does a contractor need?

A new pilot green incentive program allows MoDOT contractors to receive "green credits" for using environmentally friendly practices during a project. Awards are received for meeting a green credit goal and additional award levels are available for exceeding the goal.

Meet the green credit goal: Redbud award - $5,000 bonus
Exceed goal by five credits: Hawthorn award - $10,000 bonus
Exceet goal by ten credits: Dogwood award - $15,000 bonus


The flip side is that a contractor not meeting their goal will actually lose green - they will pay a charge per credit that they are short. One more reason to keep that recycling bucket handy.

Driving to Distraction

Today’s high school and college students text constantly. I should know, I’m one of them. Texting has become the favored form of communication for those in class, eating dinner, or hanging out with friends. However, if a new law passes in Missouri, young drivers will find texting from the drivers seat not just dangerous but also expensive.

The Missouri Legislature passed a bill that makes it illegal for anyone 21 or younger from text messaging while driving.

The bill seems like a good idea. The road should be the driver’s number one concern. However, I have to wonder, why the age limit on the ban? Is an older driver somehow better at texting? Sen. Ryan McKenna doesn’t seem to think so. As the bill’s sponsor, he originally wanted it to cover those over 21 as well.

Not including those over 21 isn’t the law's only loophole. Officers may not be able to tell the difference between drivers dialing a phone and completing a text message. The ban may outlaw texting, but phones today also have Internet access, which creates an entirely new level of driving distraction. Imagine music, weather, sports updates, and games all a button push away. These phone capabilities are not included in the ban, leaving drivers able to use them freely. Should an officer pull over an individual texting or scrolling through their favorite website, how will the officer be able to tell what exactly they were doing with their phone?

Don’t get me wrong, the ban has the best of intentions. Keeping any segment from texting while driving will reduce the number of accidents. I simply believe the ban’s specificity is what keeps it from being functional. For example, some states have handheld cell phones banned from anyone driving. Not much room for excuses there. Until the ban is defined a little more thoroughly we can continue to expect accidents simply because the driver is too busy texting to make good driving decisions.

Your MoDOT Minute

60 seconds of the latest Missouri transportation headlines:

New blue icon lets motorists see into the future

MoDOTs Traveler Information map gets thousands of visitors every month. With work zone season upon us, a recent addition to the online map will make traveling across Missouri even easier. A new blue icon has been added that lets travelers see the location of future work zones up to a week before they start. This means you can see what’s ahead of you days before you even leave your house. Want to know what the drive to Branson is going to be like next week? Go to http://maps.modot.mo.gov/travelerinformation/, click on the checkbox next to the blue icon and get a look. The blue icon can let you prepare for delays which makes for a less stressful drive to your destination. The feature is also great for truckers who want to schedule around routes that may cause them drive time. It’s like seeing into the future!

Go Green, Save Green

Did you know you can “Go Green to Save Green” by visiting MoDOT’s Web site? This week, we launched a new online carpooling “ride sharing” database that let’s you find -- or create from scratch -- carpools anywhere in the state.

Click on the “Find a Ride” button and follow the instructions to get started. You’ll be matched with people in your area headed in your direction. Carpooling saves money and reduces your carbon footprint. Basically, it’s a win/win scenario that’s good for you and good for Mother Earth. On the site, you’ll find a map of our state-operated commuter lots complete with directions to and descriptions of each lot. We’ve also added links to some existing ride-matching sites in Missouri who have a base of subscribers.

Summertime slide

Shriveled french fries in the cup holder, a sticky sucker on the seat and melty crayons on the floor. My car is the mecca of childhood messiness because in the summer, we sometimes let things slide. But in my car, and those of my friends, I am the car seat police. They know that in my car, or any car in which my kid is riding, they better be in the right kind of seat and they better be buckled up. No exceptions, no excuses.

I am quite often struck by how many well-loved children (and their parents) think its perfectly fine to ride to the ballpark, to the neighbor’s house or just up the road a ways without a seat belt. It’s NOT.

If you don’t believe me, conduct a summer time favorite – a science experiment. (Your kids can help!) Take your car to an empty parking lot. Put several heavy objects in your kids' seats, maybe a nice big watermelon, or a sack full of groceries with some eggs and milk, or heck, a bucket filled with water balloons. If the kids are along, position them safely out of the way, near a building, in the shade. Go ahead and get in and be sure to buckle up. Now, drive up to about 10 miles per hour and then slam on your brakes. Your precious cargo will most definitely be jolted from the seats and may suffer some damage.

Was it scary?

Thank goodness your kids weren’t riding with you – unbuckled. Please, make it a priority. It is a no-brainer, so easy and it’s one rule that you should NEVER back down on – not even on summer vacation!

Safe & Sound Web map can help you get around closed bridges

Today, five more bridges have been closed around the state to allow them to be swiftly re-decked. Two more will close tomorrow. This means 36 bridges on the Safe & Sound program are under construction. Twenty-five have already been completed!

We understand that road closures are an inconvenience. But doing so allows the construction team to work as quickly as possible. It also controls cost by virtually eliminating the need to buy new right of way and to build lots of costly new sections of roadway.

Since last fall, MoDOT has been holding community briefings to prepare residents for the projects that are coming to their areas, and to learn of local constraints that may impact construction schedules. So far, so good. A recent survey of people who attended some of those events found that 90 percent of them felt the decision-making process was open, transparent and fair; 97.7 percent said MoDOT had explained the projects in a manner that was completely understandable; and 86 percent said they were satisfied with how their concerns were addressed.

One tool MoDOT has been using to help people cope with bridge closures is an interactive map on the MoDOT Web site. The map locates each of the 802 Safe & Sound bridges with icons of different colors that indicate where the bridge stands within the schedule -- a future commitment, construction within 12 months, construction within 3 months, under construction, and construction completed. Clicking on each icon gives you a picture of the bridge, facts about the bridge and the construction plans, and in most cases a suggested detour map to get around the construction site. The data is updated every day.

It might help your travels this summer.

Back Seat Driving with Trucks

My husband, Mr. Terrific (not his real name), and I did some interstate traveling this week with a good friend. As expected, we encountered several large trucks along the way. What with all the gorgeous Missouri hills and all, we had the opportunity to pass a few.

I reminded Mr. Terrific to re-enter the driving lane only when he saw the truck’s full grille in the rearview mirror. He also got reminders about keeping the truck’s big mirrors in view when driving behind one. (Yes, I was in the back seat.)

That started a discussion in our vehicle. Good Friend remarked how anxious she gets when driving near commercial trucks. I explained that truck drivers are among the most safety-conscious people I know. It’s built into their jobs as rolling businesspeople. They check their vehicle safety systems before they start their workday. They log the location and time of every start, stop and break because there are tough rules about the amount of time they can be behind the wheel. They pull over at weigh stations so the Highway Patrol can check their paperwork and vehicle for violations.

Good Friend didn’t know about all of that. She asked about the mud flaps that say “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you.” They’re not kidding! The blind spots for trucks are HUGE. They’re located directly behind and in front of the truck and from the back bumper to almost the cab on the driver’s side and the front bumper on the passenger side.

I noticed that Mr. Terrific was leaving more space between our car and the trucks. “I guess in the end, it doesn’t matter whose fault a crash is…when it’s car versus commercial truck, it’s going to be bad news for the car.”

Smart guy, my Mr. Terrific.

Rarified ARRA

I apologize for the painful headline. Missouri joined only a handful of states this week, however, in an extremely important category.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the federal stimulus bill, required states to "obligate" 50 percent of discretionary transportation funds by June 30, 2009. MoDOT beat that goal by five weeks!

Meeting the requirement is important because states that don't could lose some of their stimulus money. Those funds could then be redistributed to states who have met the deadline ... like us here in the Show-Me State. That would mean more road, bridge and other transportation improvements throughout Missouri increasing safety and supporting jobs.

Speaking of jobs, that is what ARRA is all about. MoDOT started construction on the first stimulus project in the nation within minutes of President Obama signing the Recovery Act. We wanted to show that additional investment in transportation infrastructure would indeed mean jobs. To date MoDOT stimulus projects have supported 4,970 jobs here in Missouri.

For you policy wonks, here is the full news release and our ARRA Web site .

Get on the MoDOT Express Lane

Many of us just take our transportation system for granted, but when you think about it, transportation is one of the few things in life that affects all of us.

If you ever go anywhere or buy anything, then transportation affects you. Without a dependable transportation system, we couldn’t get to work, visit with friends and family or even get medical care when needed. Transportation is one of those things we rarely consider, but we rely on every day. So it makes sense that we should know what’s happening with transportation in Missouri – even if it’s just the basics.

How can you quickly and easily get basic – yet comprehensive – transportation information that you need to know? I think I can help you out. The MoDOT Express Lane is an electronic newsletter that I put together and send out twice a month directly to your e-mail account. This completely free electronic newsletter gives subscribers quick access to comprehensive, timely and easy-to-read transportation information, in a short, easy-to-read format. We cover topics like changing transportation laws, big projects in your area, statewide programs dealing with various issues like seat belt use, impaired driving and many others.

So, don't miss another issue! If you haven’t already, take a moment and get on the MoDOT Express Lane!

New Bridges Are Popping Up All Over

Since early spring, new bridges have been popping up all over Missouri as work has gotten underway on MoDOT's Safe & Sound bridge improvement program. As the Memorial Day weekend arrives, 23 new bridges have been completed and 26 more are under construction.

This bevy of activity is part of MoDOT's plan to improve or replace 802 of the state's worst bridges by Oct. 31, 2014. It started last fall when the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission directed MoDOT to launch the Safe & Sound program in two phases. The first was to take 248 bridges that could be rehabilitated and begin rolling them out for bids in innovative packages that grouped bridges by size, type or location. The second phase was to begin a design-build procurement to identify a team that could completely replace 554 bridges.

The bridge projects that have been completed so far are all part of that first phase, and they have been done 30 percent below budget.

In the coming months, though, even more bridge construction work is going to start as a result of actions taken yesterday by the Commission. They awarded a design-build contract to KTU Constructors to replace 554 bridges at a cost of $487 million. That price includes design, construction, project management and public outreach activities. It also protects MoDOT against inflation.

To pay for the program, MoDOT will sell bonds and repay them over 24 years within its budgeted amount of annual payments in the neighborhood of $50 million. KTU's price represents a savings in excess of $500 million over the life of the project compared to the prices that were quoted to MoDOT last fall when the department was seeking to launch this program with the contracting team providing private financing and 25-year maintenance.

KTU Constructors is a group of contractors and engineering firms. Kiewit Western Company of Omaha, Neb. is the lead and is joined by Traylor Bros., Inc., of Evansville, Ind., United Contractors, Inc., of Great Falls, S.C., HNTB Corporation of Kansas City, and The LPA Group of Columbia, S.C.

They have commited to completing their work by the end of 2013 -- a full 10 months earlier that required by MoDOT, and to average no more than 45 days closure for each bridge site. That is building at light speed! The normal MoDOT bridge project takes about 90 days.

In the coming weeks, KTU and MoDOT will finalize the design-build contract. KTU has indicated that it will open regional offices around the state to coordinate the complicated logistics associated with the project, and will be seeking Missouri subcontractors and materials suppliers to support their effort.

Besides replacing many of Missouri's worst bridges, Safe & Sound will put people to work. Using the same formula as used by the U.S. government for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects, Safe & Sound will support more than 5,300 jobs either directly or indirectly.

To speed construction and to control costs, most of these bridges will be closed for construction. To help motorists, MoDOT has launched an interactive map on its Web site that uses a series of color-coded icons to identify each bridge. Clicking on an icon allows the user to view detour and construction information. At least one of these bridges is located in every one of Missouri's 114 counties.

KTU officials yesterday indicated that once they are up and running, they will be delivering a completed bridge about every two days! That's amazing. They suggested that members of MoDOT's Safe & Sound team may want to purchase new running shoes because they'll be sprinting to keep up with them.

Since MoDOT director Pete Rahn first announced this program in 2006, other states have been watching with interest because a project like this has never been tackled before. Now it's become a reality. Don't be surprised if this type of system-wide bridge improvement project isn't copied by others, because every state struggles with how to manage its inventory of deteriorating bridges.

Use Your Head

One of the reasons I'm proud to work at MoDOT is that I've seen first-hand the passion employees at all levels have for safety. Through work with the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, I've been privileged to witness this in multiple Missouri organizations, and it's staggering to realize how many individuals are truly dedicated to making sure you and your loved ones arrive home safely each night.

That passion could not be hidden at a news conference yesterday where our director released survey results showing Missourians support a mandatory helmet law by more than a 9-to-1 ratio. He urged Gov. Nixon to veto a recently passed bill from the Missouri legislature amending the state's all-rider helmet law, a law that has saved lives for longer than my own lifetime.

Director Rahn was joined by a trauma surgeon, a motorcycle crash survivor and a doctor who lost his father to a motorcycle crash. The video below shares their comments. I hope you'll take a moment and consider the consequences of repealing Missouri's current helmet law. No matter the outcome, maintain your own passion for safety -- buckle up in your car and wear your helmet if you ride.

What do you want to see on MoDOT.org?

Hello! Matt Hiebert, MoDOT’s Web Manager here. I’m posting this because I want to get your input on some things. MoDOT’s Web site has more than 6,000 pages. It’s packed with information on projects, road conditions, job openings, MoDOT news, and business guidelines. But we want to know what else you’d like to see. When you visit MoDOT’s Web site at www.modot.org what info do you want available? Blogs dedicated to projects? More detailed contact info? More contests like Name the Train? We want to make sure you’re finding what you need when you need it. Let me know what you think about our current content and what else you want to see. Talk to me, folks!

Look Out! Top Ten Work Zones in Missouri

Just like Late Night With David Letterman, MoDOT has come up with a top 10 list of its own: the top 10 work zones most likely to cause traffic delays this travel season.

The list is ranked in order of impact based on traffic volume, amount of work and level of delay. A clickable map showing the top 10 work zones, along with a printable version of the map and project information, can be found at www.modot.org/.

Drive Smart and Slow Down in Work Zones!

High-Speed Rail

There was some good media coverage last week out of St. Louis about the Illinois DOT reaching an agreement with Union Pacific on implementing high-speed rail between Chicago - St. Louis. This is good for Missouri's St. Louis - Kansas City service because as their service gets faster and more reliable, it will mean better connections for Missouri riders and more pressure to improve our service. One thing to keep in mind is that the St. Louis - Chicago line has less freight train volume (5-10 trains / day) than our St. Louis - Kansas City line (50-60 trains / day). MoDOT has been a planning partner with Illinois DOT and seven other Mid-western states since 1996 on the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, which provides a template for all improvements being discussed. Illinois's news is good, we wish them well, and will be hopefully following closely behind!

Brian Weiler, MoDOT Multimodal Director

Great Partners!

I had the opportunity to participate this week in the second annual MoDOT Day at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson City. Several divisions of MoDOT set up presentations and activities for the eighth graders as part of Partners in Education so they could learn about transportation careers and opportunities in a hands-on, interactive way.

Our community relations group set up a camera and teleprompter to let students record a video that could be used for media or the web. Many had never been in front of a camera like that before and it was great to watch them try out a broadcasting career.

Students also had the chance to sift through dirt in a mini-archeological dig, put together truss bridges, run a quick-click relay race and see just how large those stoplights really are.

Looking forward to next year!

Get Your Buckle On

Buckling up is a habit for me. Even if it weren’t, my car would make sure it was with its constant beeping. In the next few weeks, I will have another reminder – red and blue flashing lights.

Law enforcement officers will be cracking down on unbelted drivers May 18-31 for an aggressive national “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

$10 will buy you two Subway footlongs or one Missouri seat belt ticket. I'd prefer my $5 footlongs (cold cut combo, anyone?).

Wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to reduce injuries and fatalities in a crash because it provides protection from being ejected and keeps motorists from smashing into windshields, dashboards and other passengers. Don’t believe me? Watch this video.

This video has left a permanent imprint on my mind. I make sure everyone else in the car is wearing his or her seat belt. Sometimes this can make for an awkward conversation, but it doesn't have to be. Reminding a friend or family member to buckle up has never been easier.

Follow us on Twitter for updates on Click It or Ticket events, weekly citations and unbuckled fatalities. Buckle up and Arrive Alive!

How much litter could a litter picker pick if a litter picker could pick litter?

As a kid I was always taught to clean up my trash, or hold onto it until I could throw it away. Unfortunately, not everyone waits until they have a trash can handy, and litter can end up along Missouri highways.
The great news is that so many volunteers across the state Adopt-A-Highway in order to keep Missouri roadsides clean. More than 4,000 groups in the state take care of more than 5,700 miles.

Now the St. Louis area is using a cool tool this summer to clean up roadsides safely and efficiently. The Litter Picker can remove retreads, papers, cans, cardboard, cups, wood, road kill and litter. It can hold 50 bags of trash at one time and can cover up to eight acres per hour. The model of the Litter Picker that MoDOT has can be completely operated by one person from a towing tractor.

I wish I could get a smaller version to help pick up all the stray toys at my house.

Get Your Kicks at the I-44 Conway Welcome Center

If you get the urge while motoring west – or east for that matter on Interstate 44, roll into the new Conway Welcome Centers near mile marker 111. The Route 66 themed facilities feature amenities that both casual and commercial travelers enjoy.

I attended the official ribbon cutting for the sites Monday, May 4. Along with hundreds of Route 66 fans, historic car owners and surprised travelers, I boogied to music performed by Conway, Mo., high school students.

After checking out the restroom facilities, I hit the playground, pet areas, and the vending area. Machines offer sandwiches, drinks and snacks – a much better selection than I expected. The picnic shelters seemed the best place to chow down and I had my choice of mini-pavilions built to resemble diners, garages, filling stations and other businesses seen along the “Mother Road”.

Even the parking areas are cool. Dozens of passenger vehicles can park in the car area and drivers of up to 75 large commercial and recreational vehicles can take a break in the large, well-lit “back 40”. My commercial driver friends say that compared to the former rest area at this location, that’s at least three times the number of spaces for them to rest from the road. That’s important. I want everyone driving near me to be well rested and up to the task.

First-day visitors raved about the Route 66 map floor inlay, historical displays and friendly tourist-information aides. While children christened the playground with their antics I heard their elders reminisce about trips taken in years gone by.

Next time you’re traveling on I-44 down from St. Louie or Joplin, Missouri, stop into a modern tribute to a legendary era. It’s so, so pretty!

New State Transportation Program Presents Uncertain Future

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's proposed five-year transportation improvement program includes good news - many new projects will be built next year, and bad news - ahead is little money for more than taking care of the existing system.

Significant highway and bridge improvements in the first year of the program can be attributed to funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program. Funding for the new Mississippi River Bridge in St. Louis is also included.

However, by 2011, transportation funding drops by more than half and will continue to fall to only one-third of the 2010 amount in subsequent years. At this point, the Missouri Department of Transportation will struggle to keep existing highways in good shape and will have few dollars to build new roads, bridges or other transportation facilities.

"Stimulus money has helped delay falling off the funding cliff by about 12 to 18 months, but we will still fall off that cliff, and the consequences will be a transportation system that is getting worse instead of better," MoDOT Director Pete Rahn said. "Missourians must have a conversation about the future of transportation in our state."

The draft 2010-2014 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program lists all transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2014). It totals $6.5 billion, with approximately $4.91 billion going to 658 highway and bridge projects, about $960 million to other transportation modes and approximately $660 million to local transportation programs.

"We use a transparent and extensive public involvement process to develop this program, and we have worked with our planning partners from communities around the state to identify and prioritize these new projects," Rahn said.

The proposed program is available for public review beginning May 6. Citizens interested in seeing the program or offering comments can contact MoDOT's customer service centers at 1-888 ASK MODOT (275-6636). The program is also available on MoDOT's Web site - http://www.modot.org/ - and at MoDOT's district offices around the state. The formal public comment period ends June 5.

Following the public review, the comments will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. The commission will review the comments and the final transportation program before considering it for approval July 8.

The draft 2010-2014 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program includes transportation improvements identified by metropolitan planning organizations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin and St. Joseph. The STIP projects located in these areas are subject to discussion and approval by the appropriate metropolitan planning organization.

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On Track for Improved Service

Even with the rain, Monday's ground breaking for the new California rail siding was a great event! So many passenger rail advocates worked hard to make this project a reality, and it will hopefully lead to more and larger improvements along the St. Louis to Kansas City corridor. We have heard loud and clear that people want better on-time performance, newer train equipment with more amenities (wireless access, food options, etc.) and more schedule options.

Comments below reflect the power of partnerships for improved rail service in Missouri.

John Bueschel, Amtrak District Manager of Stations - Midwest

Shane Keller, Union Pacific Assistant Vice President Operations - Northern Region

Being Green

With temperatures reaching nearly 90 degrees, more than 1,200 fifth graders attended Earth Day 2009 in Jefferson City on April 24. Visitors to MoDOT’s tent received a white pine tree seedling, learned about the No MOre Trash program, signed a No MOre Trash litter pledge and played a ring toss game requiring each player to answer a litter-prevention question.

In case you missed the ring toss ...
How long does it take a plastic milk container to decompose? (one million years!)
What is the maximum fine for littering along Missouri highways? ($1,000 and/or one year in jail)

Learn more about how MoDOT is Being Green.

MoDOT Delivers First of 802 Better Bridges

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Department of Transportation marked a milestone today in its mission to fix 802 of the state's worst bridges in five years by reopening the first bridge repaired under the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program.

This afternoon, MoDOT, Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and county officials celebrated the rehabilitation of the bridge over Hominy Creek on Route AA north of Route 32 near the city of Halfway in Polk County. The bridge, which had been closed for repairs since Feb. 23, was reopened with a parade of vehicles representing critical services the bridge carries, such as emergency responders and school buses.

Two other Safe & Sound projects are also finishing up this week - one on Route 17 over Eleven Point River in Howell County and the other on Route F over Wolf Creek in St. Francois County. Missourians can track MoDOT's progress through an interactive map at www.modot.org/safeandsound.

"We made a commitment to Missourians that we would improve hundreds of the state's worst bridges, and we are delivering on that promise," said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn. "MoDOT is addressing more bridges than we ever have before thanks to the Safe & Sound initiative, as well as the normal bridge work scheduled in our five-year construction program, ongoing corridor work and now upcoming recovery act projects."

The 142-foot, two-lane bridge over Hominy Creek was built in 1966. Under the Safe & Sound program, Burk Bridge Co. of Brookline, Mo, replaced the deck in just 60 days for a low-bid amount of $225,919.

Immediately after the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved the Safe & Sound program on Sept. 18, 2008, MoDOT went to work and was able to get the first bridges under construction within five months.

"Once we commit to a project, it's full steam ahead," Rahn said. "We went to work immediately to get 100 of these projects designed, placed out for bid, awarded and under construction in record time because Missourians simply deserve better bridges. Thanks to the cooperation of our consultant and contractor partners, dozens of these bridges are now under construction and will be fixed by the end of the year."

There are 248 rehabilitation projects being delivered through MoDOT's normal bidding process, with 109 under contract by June. Work on the remaining 139 bridges will be spread out over the next four years. Additionally, the Commission expects to select a team in May to award a single design-build contract for a package of 554 bridge replacements. Some of those bridges will be under construction this year, too. Most bridges will be closed to speed construction and reduce cost.

"I want to thank Missourians for their patience as we fix hundreds of bridges across the state," Rahn said. "There is no way around it, bridge closings are an inconvenience at best. However, there's no other way we can cost-effectively fix such a large number of bridges so quickly."

There are 10,249 bridges on Missouri's state highway system, the seventh largest total in the nation. Approximately 1,200 of them are in poor or serious condition. The Safe & Sound initiative will address many of these bridges. All 802 bridges will be complete by Oct. 31, 2014. The total cost of the program is estimated at $700 million.

MoDOT, Other Agencies Focus on Improving Rail Safety

April 12 – 18 is Rail Safety Week

JEFFERSON CITY - To draw attention to steps that can help eliminate senseless deaths and injuries at highway-rail crossings and on railroad tracks, April 12 - 18 will be celebrated as Rail Safety Week in Missouri. During this week, the Missouri Department of Transportation will join forces with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Operation Lifesaver, railroad personnel and local law enforcement agencies to raise public awareness about railroad safety.

Positive enforcement events during Rail Safety Week will take place in Independence, Jefferson City and Kirkwood at the following times and locations:

Independence - 10:30 a.m. to noon Monday, April 13
· Union Pacific line at crossings off Noland Road at Osage St. and 35th St.
· Kansas City Southern line at McCoy Ave.
Jefferson City - 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 15
· Union Pacific line at Militia Dr.
Kirkwood - 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 17
· Union Pacific line at Taylor Ave. and Leffingwell Ave. (10:30 a.m. - Noon)
· BNSF line at the Holmes Ave. crossing (1 - 2 p.m.)

Highway-rail crossing collisions were down significantly in Missouri in 2008, but it was still another deadly year, according to MoDOT. In 2008, the number of collisions at rail crossings dropped to 33 compared to 46 in 2007. Unfortunately, there were seven fatalities at railroad crossings last year - the same number of lives lost in 2007. Furthermore in 2008, at areas other than at crossings, 10 people were hit and killed and 7 were injured while walking illegally on railroad tracks or railroad property.

"Any rail-related injury or fatality is one too many, so we are combining various engineering, education and enforcement efforts to improve rail safety in Missouri," said Rod Massman, MODOT's railroad administrator. "While accidents at crossings for the most part are decreasing, railroad incidents in which people are struck while walking on the tracks are unfortunately on the rise.

Four people have already been killed while walking on the rails in 2009. We are very concerned with this trend, so we are working even harder to warn Missourians to stay off railroad tracks and, as always, use caution when driving over railroad crossings."

Volunteers and staff from the partnering agencies will share rail safety information and remind drivers to buckle up at the crossings listed above. However, all Missourians should remember the following safety tips at rail crossings and on railroad property:

· Cross tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings only.
· Never drive or walk around lowered gates - it's illegal and deadly.
· Never race a train to the crossing. It is closer and moving faster than you think.
· If your vehicle stalls on or too near the tracks, get out and move quickly away from the tracks in the direction the train is coming from.
· If you are at a multiple track crossing, watch out for a second train from either direction.
· Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly - it can take a freight train moving at 55 miles per hour a mile or more to stop.
· Do not walk on or over railroad property - this is trespassing!
· Do not hunt, fish or bungee jump from railroad bridges or trestles.
· Do not attempt to hop aboard railroad equipment at any time.

"On average, somewhere in the United States, a vehicle or pedestrian is struck by a train every two hours," said Rick Mooney, Missouri Operation Lifesaver director. "Operation Lifesaver has adopted a new slogan with a clear message intended to help eliminate rail tragedies: ‘Stay Off; Stay Away; and Stay Alive.'"

Counties with the highest number of incidents for the past four years have also been targeted for various education and enforcement actions this year.

So far, events are being planned starting in May and throughout the rest of 2009 for the city of St. Louis and the counties of Audrain, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Monroe, St. Louis and Stoddard.
Groups interested in scheduling a free rail safety presentation can sign up online at www.showmeol.org/forms/presentation.htm.

For additional information, go to www.modot.org/othertransportation/rail/index.htm.

"Don't Barrel Through Work Zones" and Save Lives

MoDOT Fallen Heroes Honored During Work Zone Awareness Week

JEFFERSON CITY - In work zone crashes everyone loses. Motorists are the ones most likely to be killed or injured in a work zone crash, and too often highway workers are hurt or killed as well. Work Zone Awareness Week is April 6-10, and the Missouri Department of Transportation is reminding drivers: don't barrel through work zones.

In 2008, 12 people were killed in work zones, an increase from 2007 when five people were killed. However, fewer people were injured with approximately 600 serious injuries in work zones in 2008, compared to 792 in 2007. Three MoDOT employees lost their lives on the job during 2008. Speed, inattention and tailgating are cited as the cause of most crashes in areas where roadwork is under way.

"We need drivers to pay attention to highway construction and drive with caution to prevent senseless deaths and injuries," said Pete Rahn, MoDOT director. "We're also asking the public to rate work zones they've driven through. That first-hand information will help us make adjustments and increase safety for motorists and our work crews."

To fill out a Work Zone Customer Survey and help improve MoDOT work zones, visit www.modot.org/workzones/comments.htm.

MoDOT is also working to draw attention to work zone safety and honor its 128 fallen workers through Operation Orange, an initiative to turn significant state landmarks orange during the week.

In addition to MoDOT buildings statewide, other facilities that will be orange include: the Six Flags marquee, Busch Stadium home of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Boone County Courthouse, the Shelter Insurance Gardens in Columbia, Hammonds Field home of the Springfield Cardinals, the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge and the Branson Landing. More information about Operation Orange can be found at www.modot.org/operationorange.

At a ceremony this evening at MoDOT's headquarters in Jefferson City, a sign will be unveiled marking the location of a future memorial honoring the men and women who have lost their lives improving Missouri's highway infrastructure.

Additionally, MoDOT will remind motorists of the need to drive safely in work zones around the state with radio and internet banner ads, as well as safety advertisements on fuel pump tops at various gas stations and messages on the department's changeable message boards.

The 2009 construction season will be filled with roadwork as MoDOT continues its Better Roads, Brighter Future program to improve 5,600 miles of roadways by 2011. There will also be an increase in work on bridges this year, thanks to the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Plan.

Additional projects will also be under way due to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

For more information about construction projects statewide, look for work zone locations on MoDOT's interactive traveler information map at http://www.modot.org/ or call 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).

Commission Approves Final Recovery Act Project List

Transportation Improvements Expected to Directly or Indirectly Support 22,000 Jobs

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission gave approval today to the final list of transportation projects to be funded by economic recovery funds. The transportation improvements are expected to directly or indirectly support 22,000 jobs.

“This final list of economic stimulus projects is all about putting Missourians to work fast,” Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn said. “The process for choosing these projects was very complex, and it took a great deal of effort to meet all of the legislative and federal provisions, plus the MHTC funding distribution policies.

The end result is a fair distribution of projects throughout the state that will support jobs and boost our economy.”

The project package totals $577 million, slightly more than the $525 million MoDOT has left to spend. That’s because the department built in additional money to ensure it will qualify for redistribution of funds from other states if they become available. The list of projects and a map showing their location can be found at www.modot.org.

“Our project bids have been coming in 10 percent to 15 percent under budget,” Rahn said. “We built an extra 10 percent into the project list to make sure we could go after funds that other states don’t spend. Even if those funds don’t become available, we’re committed to delivering every project on the list.”

MoDOT first had to meet the requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act when selecting the projects. The act says 50 percent of the stimulus funds must be obligated by June 30, and all money must be obligated by March 2, 2010.

The projects also had to meet all federal regulations, including environmental clearances, contracting requirements and air quality rules. In addition, they had to be included in a long-range, regional and statewide transportation improvement program.

Once those requirements were met, ARRA said consideration should be given to projects that could be completed within three years. It also said consideration should be given to projects that would maximize job creation and economic benefit. Additionally, it said that improvements located in economically distressed areas should be considered.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission’s funding formula also dictated which projects were selected. Under the formula, a certain amount of money must go to taking care of the state’s existing highway system and the rest to major projects.

The agency held public briefings around the state on March 10 to share project information with citizens.

“We’ve worked very hard to make the process of selecting these projects open and transparent,” Rahn said. “In this case, we had additional challenges we don’t typically have when identifying project priorities. In the end, we came up with a balanced project list that will put people to work and make our transportation system better and safer.”

The next step will be for MoDOT to put the projects out for bid. The department already has 37 economic stimulus projects totaling about $91 million under way.

Commission Awards 32 Economic Recovery Projects

Final List Still to be Determined

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Transportation is continuing its push to jumpstart the economy and provide work for Missourians through transportation projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission today approved 32 road resurfacing projects throughout the state that are funded by the federal economic stimulus package. The projects total $38,992,000 and will support an estimated 1,000 jobs.

Most of the work involves laying asphalt to make road surfaces smoother and safer. More than $14 million will be used to resurface sections of Interstate 70 in Lafayette and Cooper counties.

MoDOT is analyzing the provisions of the economic recovery legislation to determine how it will spend the rest of the stimulus money not already obligated. Fifty percent of the funds must be obligated no later than June 17, and the projects must be completed within three years.

In addition, the Federal Highway Administration has said priority should be given to projects that maximize job creation and economic benefit and are located in economically distressed areas. The guidelines can be found at www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/guidance.htm.

“The $637 million Missouri received in economic stimulus funds is welcome, but won’t come close to meeting the $31 billion we have in transportation needs over the next 20 years,” MoDOT Director Pete Rahn said. “Still, it’s a step in the right direction.”

The 32 projects awarded today join four projects the Missouri Department of Transportation started Feb. 17 within minutes of President Barack Obama signing the federal economic recovery bill. Missouri was the first state in the nation to have work under way with economic stimulus funds.

“We’re aggressive in getting these stimulus projects going for two major reasons: we want to put Missourians to work fast, and we want to show that investing in transportation infrastructure provides immediate economic relief,” Rahn said. “These are projects we could have ready to go quickly to create or maintain jobs. They will make our highway system better and safer and save lives.”

Under the act, Missouri will receive approximately $637 million for road and bridge projects and an estimated $150 million to address air, rail, transit, waterway and pedestrian projects throughout the state. That amount of work will support an estimated 14,000 jobs and have an estimated $2.4 billion impact on the state’s economy.

More information on the second round of economic stimulus projects awarded today can be found at www.modot.org/readytogo.

Editor’s note: Here is the list of economic stimulus projects awarded March 4.

County Route Project Description Cost
Carroll/
Saline 41 Resurfacing $1,569,000
Saline 240 Resurfacing $67,000
Saline 41 Resurfacing $575,000
Macon 156 Resurfacing $544,000
Schuyler /
Putnam 136 Resurfacing $977,000
Schuyler 202 Resurfacing $423,000
Macon D Resurfacing $89,000
Ralls J Resurfacing $412,000
Ralls EE Resurfacing $247,000
Ralls /
Monroe W Resurfacing $212,000
Marion W, 61 Resurfacing $177,000
Lafayette I-70 Resurfacing With Superpave And Bp-1 $6,861,000
Platte I-29 Ultrathin Bonded Wearing Surface Overlay
(Type C) and Optional Paving $11,799,000
Clinton A Resurfacing $577,000
Ray C Resurfacing $182,000
Clay 69 Resurfacing $260,000
Lafayette FF Resurfacing $438,000
Ray M Resurfacing $206,000
Cooper I-70 Coldmilling & Resurfacing With Superpave $7,612,000
Maries/
Pulaski 28 Resurfacing $829,000
Newton 86 1” Resurfacing With Bp-2, New 2’ Shoulders $846,000
Barry 86 1” Resurfacing With Bp-2, New 2’ Shoulders $950,000
Vernon K Resurfacing $125,000
Vernon W Resurfacing $136,000
Vernon BB Resurfacing $282,000
Jasper P Resurfacing $225,000
Jasper JJ Resurfacing $180,000
Barry /
Lawrence 39 Resurfacing $498,000
Stone/
Taney 265 Resurfacing $295,000
Ripley 142 Resurfacing $764,000
Butler M Resurfacing $358,000
Butler 142 Resurfacing $277,000
$38,992,000

Missouri Has First-In-Nation Economic Recovery Project

Construction Begins Immediately Upon President’s Signature

JEFFERSON CITY - In 1956, Missouri became the birthplace of the nation's interstate system by becoming the first state to award a contract under the Federal-Aid Highway Act. Today the Show Me State again made history by being the first state in the nation to award and begin construction on transportation projects funded by the federal economic recovery package signed by President Barack Obama.

The first economic recovery project in the nation is in Miller County on Route 17. Construction began within moments of the president's signature to replace the Osage River Bridge one mile east of Tuscumbia at a cost of $8.5 million. Other Missouri highway projects under construction starting today include:

Barry/Lawrence/Christian/Greene Counties, Route 60 - Construct alternating/intermittent passing lanes from east of Chapell Drive in Monett to Kansas Avenue in Republic. $8.7 million

Clinton County, Interstate 35 - Resurface northbound and southbound lanes from north of Shoal Creek to north of Route 116 near Lathrop. $14.6 million

Pemiscot/New Madrid Counties, Interstate 55 - Pavement rehabilitation on northbound and southbound lanes from I-155 to Scott County. $18.4 million

"Today the Show Me State again showed the nation we are leaders in transportation by having the first economic recovery act project in the country under construction," Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn said. "We promised we would be ready to go to make the best use of every dollar we receive through the economic recovery act to create jobs and make our highways safer. We delivered on that promise and then some."

Missouri will receive approximately $637 million for road and bridge projects and an estimated $150 million to address air, rail, transit, waterway and pedestrian projects throughout the state. That amount of work will create an estimated 14,000 jobs and have an estimated $2.4 billion impact on the state's economy.

"We're taking this aggressive approach to demonstrate that funding for transportation infrastructure can and will provide the direct and immediate economic jumpstart our nation and state need," Rahn said. "We will use every penny sent to our state to improve our roads and bridges and we will be ready to put additional money not used by other states to work in Missouri."

The benefits of this additional work would go beyond those building the projects to suppliers, retailers, restaurants, hotels and other businesses Rahn added.

A complete list of the projects MoDOT is ready to tackle can be found at www.modot.org/firstinnation.