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MoDOT Releases State Freight Plan
Freight moved by trucks, barges, planes and trains is an essential part of the Missouri economy with the state's freight system supporting the movement of more than one billion tons of freight valued at over $1.2 trillion per year.
MoDOT, together with key freight partners developed the Missouri State Freight Plan to provide a vision and plan for taking care of its existing freight system and make the best and most strategic investments possible when funds are available. The plan was released at the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission's Feb. 4 meeting.
"The Missouri State Freight Plan is designed to guide our partners statewide in their development plans, but for now, the plan is all we can provide," said MoDOT Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger. "MoDOT's construction budget is dropping to levels that won't even allow us to maintain the highway system we have, so there's virtually no opportunity to make an investment in freight at a statewide level." Read More.
To view the Missouri State Freight Plan, visit mofreightplan.org.
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MoDOT Performance Management Tool Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary
MoDOT is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its performance management tool, Tracker, this year. Tracker allows MoDOT to measure how well products and services are delivered to its customers and has made the department a national leader in the area of performance management.
 MoDOT's mission and values provide the basis for the department's performance as Missouri's state transportation agency. From those values, MoDOT established its tangible results, which are the broad categories of what Missourians expect the department to accomplish: Keeping customers and employees safe, keeping roads and bridges in good condition, providing outstanding customer service, delivering transportation solutions of great value, operating a reliable and convenient transportation system, using resources wisely, and advancing economic development. Each performance measure listed in Tracker is linked to one of these tangible results.
"As we move forward with a $325 million budget, Tracker will be more important than ever," said MoDOT Director Dave Nichols. "Although Tracker has helped us note progress in both the condition of our transportation system and overall customer satisfaction for the past 10 years, meeting our customer's expectations will be a challenge as our funding drops." Read More.
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Tough Choices -
Did You Know?
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Big Impacts
It will take all of the $325 million in construction funding to keep primary roads and bridges in their current condition.
We will only be able to do limited routine maintenance on supplementary roads and bridges, which means their condition will deteriorate.
Roads will become a patchwork of repairs, resulting in a rough ride for motorists.
Heavy loads on Missouri bridges will be limited, and some bridges could be closed indefinitely.
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Industry Innovations
2015 Exhibit
Do you have an innovative tool, material or piece of equipment that could improve MoDOT operations?
If your answer is yes, then this is your opportunity to showcase
your innovation for transportation employees across the state. Learn More.
Industry Innovations Exhibit
April 29, 2015
University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
Springfield, MO
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 MoDOT Director to Retire in May This spring, MoDOT will see a change in leadership when MoDOT Director Dave Nichols retires on May 1.
Nichols announced his plans for retirement on Feb. 5, and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will now begin the process to replace him.
"The commission is grateful for Dave's long career of dedicated, results-oriented service to MoDOT," said Commission Chair Stephen Miller. "He exemplifies exactly what it means to be a public servant, having spent the last 30 years of his life doing great work for the citizens of Missouri."
Throughout his career, Nichols watched the department evolve into a nationally-respected leader among state transportation departments.
"MoDOT is filled with talented and dedicated employees, and it has been a great privilege to work with them," said Nichols. "I have watched this team rise to whatever challenge they've faced time and time again, and I know they will continue to lead and innovate."
Nichols became director of MoDOT in April 2013, after having served as chief engineer for two years. In his 30-year span at the department, he has held a variety of leadership roles, including the department's first director of program delivery, a position he held for 11 years. He also served as district engineer for the department's Northwest District, headquartered in St. Joseph, and worked in MoDOT's Kansas City District. |
New Commissioner Michael B. Pace
Michael B. Pace of West Plains, Mo. was appointed to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in January by Governor Nixon. His term will expire on March 1, 2019. He brings experience from a distinguished military career and civil career with the Missouri State Highway Patrol to the position.
 Pace is a retired brigadier general in the Army National Guard who began his military career as an enlisted engineer. He served in aviation positions for almost 30 years, attaining the master aviator badge. He held multiple brigade and state-level staff positions and was highly decorated.
While serving in the military, Pace also served nearly 33 years in the Missouri State Highway Patrol, achieving the rank of major. During his tenure, he served in increasing levels of responsibility and retired as director of the criminal investigation bureau in Jefferson City, Missouri.
He currently serves on the board of directors for the MASTERS (Missouri State Troopers Emergency Relief Society), Whetstone Boys Ranch Board and serves on the Missouri State University- West Plains Chancellor's Advisory Board. He is also a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1828.
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Make Sure Your Child is Safe
Appropriate car seats are very important for kids' safety. Missouri law requires all children under age eight be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat, unless they are at least 80 pounds or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
It's very important to make sure your child is in the correct safety seat to accommodate their growing bodies. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study revealed that nearly 75 percent of parents don't know how to use child safety restraints properly. Learn more - Child Passenger Safety.
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Engineers Name Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge Project Best in Missouri and Illinois
The project to construct the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge and relocate Interstate 70 was named as the top construction project for 2014 in both Missouri and Illinois.
The American Council of Engineering Companies in Missouri and Illinois selected the project as the recipient of the Constructor Award - the project of the year. The project now goes forward to national competition. That award will be announced during the ACEC national meeting in April.
The project was selected for its many benefits to the St. Louis metropolitan region. First, it reduced congestion on the Poplar Street Bridge, based on initial counts the overall traffic was reduced by about 19 percent for the first few months of use, with nearly 33 percent of the truck traffic moving to the new bridge. Secondly, it reduced congestion - anecdotally, the department has heard of commutes of 10 minutes less, on average. Thirdly, it provided needed interstate redundancy through the heart of the United States, both for Homeland Security and for commuters. The PSB was identified as a potential target since it carried three interstates into St. Louis City. With the new Stan Musial Veterans Memorial bridge, interstate commerce is improved with the new option, and commuters have options if there is a crash on either on or near either the PSB or the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial bridge.
The Construction Award is given to the project in each state based on design excellence, the degree to which the clients' needs are met, as well as benefit to the public welfare and to the private practice of engineering.
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Missouri Dept. of Transportation | (888) 275-6636
P.O. Box 270 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270
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