Aug. 18, 2016
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MoDOT Offers Transportation Dollar$ calculator 
What's your number?

The Transportation Dollars calculator was featured at this year's Missouri State Fair. The calculator shows how transportation funding works in our state, and how much each individual contributes to the operation of our highways and bridges.

The online calculator shows citizens how much they're actually investing in Missouri's transportation system by calculating their annual mileage and miles per gallon of their vehicles. It's simple, you just enter your annual mileage and mpg, and the calculator does the rest.

"I think most people will be surprised at how little they're currently investing in the transportation system," said MoDOT Director Patrick K. McKenna.

The calculator launched last winter but has been revamped to tie in with other communications pieces and deliver the information in a simple infographic format.

Users can see the portion of funding that passes to state agencies, cities and counties. They can also see what actually goes to maintenance and improvements on Missouri's transportation system.

They can even calculate the actual impact a fuel tax increase would have on their monthly budget. For most people, that amount is less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

"We want them to know that a few additional pennies each month could generate millions for Missouri's transportation system," McKenna said.

The calculator is located at: www.modot.org/transportationdollars.
Did You Know?
Six out of 10 people killed in 2014 Missouri traffic crashes were not wearing a seat belt.

Missouri's overall safety belt usage rate is 80 percent, compared to 87 percent nationwide. This includes safety belt use on drivers and front seat passengers of passenger cars, SUVs, vans and pickup trucks.
 

Top contributors to fatalities are:

  -Inattention
  -Speeding
  -Impaired driving
  -Unbelted  drivers
   occupants
Social Media
Safer Roadways
You're not the only person on the road
Missouri law enforcement reminds motorists to 
drive sober  or get pulled over.

One decision can change everything. Each day, lives are drastically changed or lost in preventable traffic crashes caused by someone's choice to drive while impaired. Drivers continue to choose to break the law by driving impaired, putting thousands of travelers at risk every day.

Holiday weekends bring a surge in impaired driving, so this year's Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility operation will run Aug. 19 through the Labor Day holiday on Sept. 5.

Driving impaired isn't just about alcohol. A person could also be arrested for driving under the influence of illegal drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, other controlled substances or even prescription medication. 
 
Statewide, law enforcement made 389 DWI arrests, 26 DUI drug arrests and 13 drug influence arrests during this campaign in August and September of 2015. Many substance-impaired drivers are under the age of 21. From 2013-2015, there were 53 fatal crashes and 144 serious injury crashes involving a substance-impaired driver under the age of 21 in Missouri. There were 64 people killed and 202 seriously injured in these crashes.

Read more, including some of the consequences if you drive impaired here - Drive Sober.
Missouri high schools challenged to drive safe and buckle up
Safe driving campaign educates to save teen lives

Calling all Missouri high schools to compete in the 2016 "It Only Takes One" campaign for an opportunity to win prizes for your school while educating young drivers about safe driving habits and safety belt use.

Sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, ACT Missouri, Midwest Trauma Society and Missouri College of Emergency Physicians, the statewide competition will run from October 1 to the end of the school year.

It's important that young drivers realize it only takes ONE text, ONE drink, ONE call, ONE reach, ONE distraction to cause ONE fatal moment but that ONE clicked seat belt could be the difference between life or death in a car crash.

"Seven out of ten young drivers and passengers (15-19) killed in 2015 Missouri vehicle traffic crashes weren't buckled up," said Bill Whitfield, executive committee chair for the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. "Through education, competition and fun, the 'It Only Takes One' campaign can make a difference with young Missourians and save lives." Read more.
Project Updates
Lamine River Bridges project nears completion ahead of schedule
Traffic returned to two lanes in each direction 

The project to rehabilitate the bridges that carry Interstate 70 over the Lamine River west of Boonville is nearing completion two weeks ahead of schedule. Traffic returned to two lanes in each direction Aug. 17.

Work on the eastbound bridge began July 12 and was completed on Aug. 2, at which time work to repair the westbound bridge began. The repair work reduced I-70 traffic to one lane in each direction for six weeks.

Some additional work on the bridges remains and will require occasional overnight lane closures until the entire project is complete in November. Read more.

More information on the project can be found at www.modot.org/central/I70LamineBridge.htm.
 
Renovated Marshall airport terminal celebrated

Local and state elected officials and MoDOT's Aviation Project Manager Tamara Pitts (second from right) cut the ribbon to celebrate the reopening of the Marshall Memorial Municipal on July 22. The terminal's extensive renovations included a new roof, heating, electrical and plumbing systems as well as a new layout with new meeting rooms. The project was financed through federal and state aviation funds.

"The project allowed us to keep the structure, since it was in great condition," said Pitts during the ceremony. "Airports, such as Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport, are huge economic drivers for the state."
New bridge project begins

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, City of Washington and MoDOT officials broke ground on the new Route 47 Missouri River Bridge in Washington, Mo. last week. 

Construction of the new bridge, which will be built just upstream from the current bridge, will begin in the next several weeks. It will have two 12-foot lanes and 10-foot shoulders as well as a 10-foot protected bike/pedestrian path. The new bridge is expected to open in late 2018. The old bridge will be demolished in early 2019.   

For more information on the project, go to Route 47 Bridge.
Have You Seen This?
Missouri River Runner expands use-by date for Ten-ride tickets -  One ticket for 10 rides in six month period

The Amtrak Missouri River Runner service is adding a more flexible ticketing option for repeat customers. Starting Aug.15, 2016, a Ten-ride ticket for Missouri River Runner trains will be valid for 180 days - triple the amount of time it was previously useable.

A multi-ride ticket allows a person to take up to 10 trips on Amtrak using one ticket within a set amount of time. Previously, Ten-ride ticket was only valid for 60 days on Missouri's sponsored train, the Missouri River Runner.

"Missouri River Runner customers asked for greater flexibility to meet their traveling needs, and Amtrak has made it happen," said Michelle Teel, MoDOT Multimodal Operations Director. "Offering a multi-ride ticket with a longer expiration date provides a more convenient option for business and leisure travelers as well as for college students who will be returning to classes soon."

The Missouri River Runner includes stops at St. Louis, Kirkwood, Washington, Hermann, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Warrensburg, Lee's Summit, Independence and Kansas City.

Multi-Ride tickets may be purchased online at Amtrak.com or by phone at 1-800-USA-Rail (1-800-872-7245). Tickets are refundable and exchangeable prior to first use, but they are not transferable.
Stay Safe in Work Zones
Missouri Dept. of Transportation | (888) 275-6636
P.O. Box 270 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270