Missouri’s 90-year-old Gasconade River bridge will remain closed due to a lack of funding to repair it or build a new one. Photo credit: James Baughn/bridgehunter.comThe Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has released for public review its draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for fiscal years 2016-2020.
The plan outlines state and regional transportation projects planned during the period of July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020.
Due to the scheduled drop in MoDOT’s construction budget, from $596 million in 2016 to $325 million in 2017 and following years, the plan only calls for 574 bridge and highway projects over the five-year period, a cut of 250 projects compared to the last STIP. At one point, the MoDOT STIP had more than $1 billion per year in road and bridge projects.
“This year, the draft STIP demonstrates the commitment MoDOT has made to projects that focus on primary routes and taking care of the existing highway system,” MoDOT Interim Director Roberta Broeker said. “As the construction budget gets smaller each year, projects in the STIP must reflect only the most essential transportation needs.”
Earlier this year, MoDOT announced its “325 System” plan that focuses on maintenance rather than new construction. The plan’s name comes from the $325 million figure that the department will have for transportation projects in 2017.
“Despite the progress of the last 10 years, 2017 will bring the funding shortfall MoDOT has predicted for years,” Broeker said. “The ramifications of that shortfall will extend to every region of the state and the impact will be significant in terms of safety and economic growth.”
The 2016-2020 STIP is available for public review here. The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will consider these comments before it considers the plan for review at its July 1 meeting.
