MoDOT Funding Shortfall Threatens Highway System

Last week I met with Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) officials to discuss the conditions of roads in the 100th district as well as the future of Missouri’s transportation funding.

Missouri, thanks to its central location and plentiful resources, is a transportation hub that helps connect our country. Our highway system is the seventh largest in the nation, yet we rank 46th in revenue spent per mile. Missourians may lose out on critical transportation repairs and improvements if MoDOT’s budget shortfalls continue to constrict its operations. MoDOT expects its annual construction budget to fall to $325 million in 2017, down from $1.3 billion in 2009. With this small of a budget, MoDOT will only be able to maintain the condition of 8,000 of the 34,000 miles of roads in our state. Other roads and bridges will receive only limited routine maintenance.

While every state department has room for improvement, I commend MoDOT for taking the initiative to decrease expenses by about $500 million over the last 5 years. MoDOT’s administrative costs per state-owned mile are the second lowest in the nation.

Under MoDOT’s anticipated construction budget, the conditions of many roads and bridges will deteriorate, and roads in need of expansion or replacement, such as I-70, will remain stagnant. A weakened transportation network will jeopardize safety, exacerbate congestion, and threaten Missouri’s appeal to businesses that rely on strong infrastructure.

Transportation issues matter to us all. When we put our kids on the school bus, buy food or goods shipped from another area, commute to work, or visit loved ones, we are relying on Missouri’s road system. Given the scope of Missouri’s transportation needs, I expect a variety of funding proposals to be discussed during the next legislative session, which will convene in January.