Click the video to get your Transportation News in a MoDOT Minute .
Two Missouri transportation projects win national awards
MoDOT received two major awards for excellence and innovation this week during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual meeting in St. Louis. 

The Infrastructure Improvements to Downtown St. Louis project -- a collaboration between the Illinois and Missouri departments of transportation that delivered major multimodal enhancements to both states -- received the Grand Prize in the 2019 America’s Transportation Awards competition. The $801 million project dramatically improved travel times and provided a new connection to the iconic St. Louis Arch. Read more.

MoDOT also received the Francis B. Francois award for its data-driven safety analysis tool within its Design-Build Program. The award was given for MoDOT’s use of modern software tools and practices to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes and optimize its investments in transportation infrastructure across the state. Read more.

MoDOT Director elected AASHTO President
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials board of directors elected MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna to serve as its 2019-2020 president. McKenna said he is thrilled and honored to be elected at a critical time for transportation investment and innovation in America. As president, he plans to emphasize the need for surface transportation reauthorization and to highlight transportation safety. Read more .
Statewide Buckle Up Phone Down Day
Gov. Mike Parson has declared Oct. 29 Buckle Up Phone Down Day, and various activities are planned throughout the state. If you haven’t taken the BUPD challenge, now is the perfect time to join the movement - Buckle Up Phone Down Challenge! 
Change your speed - change the ending
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph. Read more. Watch video.
Gov. Parson attends Rocheport Bridge kickoff
Last week, Gov. Mike Parson and Sen. Roy Blunt gathered with other officials to kick off the replacement of the I-70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport. All spoke to local media highlighting the cooperative effort that was needed to make the replacement of the bridge a reality. 
New initiative for rural transportation needs
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao announced the creation of a new initiative to support transportation needs in rural America - Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES). Read more.
This day in transportation history
Oct. 10, 1848 - The first railroad locomotive to operate in Chicago arrived there by schooner. Fifteen days after its waterborne arrival, the locomotive (aptly named the Pioneer) pulled the first train westbound out of Chicago. Photo from Wikipedia.

Take the challenge
When you get into any vehicle, buckle up your seat belt. If you are a driver, put the cell phone down. Join the 10,105 who have joined the movement so far.

Missouri Dept. of Transportation | (888) 275-6636
P.O. Box 270 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270