MD PoliBlog

Rahn shares his view of MoDOTs future

Rahn shares his view of MoDOT's future: By Elisa Crouch and Ken Leiser JEFFERSON CITY — Pete Rahn was asked very early on what his plan was to restore the Missouri Department of Transportations ...
See all stories on this topic"

(Via Google Alerts - "Missouri Department of Transportation".)

MoDOT estimates of long-term needs not reliable, audit says

MoDOT estimates of long-term needs not reliable, audit says: The Missouri Department of Transportation came under criticism Friday when an audit questioned whether the agency reliably reported its ...
See all stories on this topic "

(Via Google Alerts - "Missouri Department of Transportation".)

Region $10.8 billion short of meeting transportation needs

Region $10.8 billion short of meeting transportation needs:

 The Kansas City area has $21.5 billion in transportaton needs during the next 30 years and is about $10 billion short of picking up the tab.

The numbers were assembled by regional planners at the Mid-America Regional Council, which is putting together new 30-year transportation plan through 2040.

 The plan is more than just an academic exercise. Its part of a federal planning requirement that lays the groundwork for what might eventually get funded as federal dollars come into the region.

Planners estimated that the regions top transportation priority -- maintenance and upkeep of what we have -- will cost $12.6 billion  over the next 30 years.

In terms of projects -- your I-70s, your K-10s,   your bus rapid transit lines and your bike trails -- the regions needs total $19.2 billion, including 170 projects in Kansas and 226 in Missouri.

read more

(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

Hartzler Keeps Pace With Stouffer . . . With A Loan

Boosted by $105,000 personal loan, former State Representative Vicky Hartzler reported a higher total than State Sen. Bill Stouffer during their first head-to-head fundraising quarter in the 4th District GOP primary contest.

Hartzler reported raising $221,969 compared to Stouffer's $203,335.

But Stouffer raised more money from individual contributors and put together a respectable first full quarter of fundraising.

Hartzler loaned herself $5,000 on July 17th and $100,000 on September 29th.

That lead to Hartzler being able to report more cash on hand to spend. She has $210,692, while Stouffer holds $200,109. Hartzler spent $13,676; Stouffer spent only $3,326.
***
Stouffer's campaign pointed out that he's only been raising money for six full weeks, 'roughly half of the available time in the 3rd financial quarter.' 'Senator Stouffer raised more money in six weeks than the combined first quarter results of all of Ike Skelton's 17 past opponents covering a period of over 33 years and more money in six weeks than all of Skelton's opponents raised for their campaigns combined in the last 13 years,' said spokesman Christian Morgan in a statement.

Hartzler's campaign said they've been fundraising for five weeks and received contributions from 311 people.

NAMING NAMES:

STOUFFER DONORS: Doug Albrecht ($1000), Peter Herschend of Branson ($250), Gordon Kinne of Springfield's Med-Pay ($1000)
HARTZLER DONORS: Jerry Hall of Jack Henry ($4800), Peter Herschend of Branson ($1000), Sen. Delbert Scott ($100)

"

(Via KY3 Political Notebook.)

KC lawyer named to Highway Commission

KC lawyer named to Highway Commission: Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday tapped a Kansas City lawyer to served on the state highway commission.

Stephen R. Miller, 51, a Republican, has a background in law related to heavy construction and transportation. He replaces Mike Kehoe, a Jefferson City car dealer who resigned from the commission last month.

In a statement announcing the appointment, Nixon cited Millers support from business and trade organizations and legal work on construction labor and employment.

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce also applauded the appointment.

‘Not only does Steve Miller have a solid background in and understanding of transportation,’ said Chamber President Pete Levi, ‘he will also provide a strong voice for our region as the Missouri Highway Commission determines how stimulus dollars will be spent.'

read more

(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

More interchange controversies in our future?

More interchange controversies in our future?:

The small firestorm over closing the Manchester Trafficway interchange on I-70 could just be the first of many if Kansas City wants to clean up congestion on one of the areas busiest highways.

That was a very subtle prediction from MoDOT District Engineer Beth Wright when she met with the Kansas City Councils transportation committee yesterday to discuss closing Manchester.

The reality is KC is saddled with an outdated interstate thats no longer capable of handling a large volumes of traffic.

And a major reason its congested is because the interchanges were built too close together without  enough room for entering and exiting the interstate at various spots between the downtwon freeway loop and Interstate 435.

No place could possibly be worse than the downtown loop, which has 12 interchanges within about 3.5 miles.  From 2003 to 2007, there have been 2,032 crashes in the loop, five of them fatal.

read more

(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

Cities lose in stimulus highway spending

Cities lose in stimulus highway spending:

It isn't just Missouri, and it isnt just Kansas City.

The New York Times says highway stimulus money, passed out by the states, is going disproportionately to rural areas.

(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

Kehoe resigns as Highway Commission chairman

Kehoe resigns as Highway Commission chairman:

JEFFERSON CITY | The chairman of Missouris Highways and Transportation Commission resigned his post on Wednesday, nearly two years before his term was scheduled to end.

Mike Kehoe, a prominent Republican and car dealership owner here, said in a statement that it was 'time for a new chapter' in his life.

Its been rumored that he will run for state Senate, in the district that includes Jefferson City and will be open next year when incumbent Sen. Carl Vogel, a Republican, is termed out.

Kehoe had served on the commission since 2005. The commission oversees MoDOT, one of the most independent and powerful agencies in state government.

Commission Vice Chairman David Gach will succeed Kehoe as chairman.

(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

STL developer McKee swings a big block

When Paul McKee pitched revamping a roadway that could serve as the entrance for his massive north city redevelopment proposal, the state's transportation czar did more than just listen. "Here's the pen," McKee recalled the transportation chief saying. "You tell me how the street should look." Whether it's paving the way to a new project or getting face time with the public officials whose approval he needs — access has never been a problem for McKee. But as the developer, based in St. Charles County, pushes his plan to transform a large swath of north St. Louis devastated by disinvestment, he must overcome suspicion in the neighborhoods he's proposing to reinvent. McKee is pledging transparency as he seeks public funding for the idea that drove his purchases: NorthSide, a $5.4 billion formula for the city's rebirth, spread out over 1,800 acres.

Major transportation bill goes to governor

Major transportation bill goes to governor: "The major transportation bill of the legislative session has made it to the Governor's Desk. The Missouri Senate finished work on the House-passed bill this morning.... The bill makes about fifty changes in state transportation law. Among the..."

(Via Missouri News.)