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!