County Seeks Funds for I-70 Improvements

The future needs and challenges facing Missouri’s transportation system were the subject of a public forum Monday at the  in Town and Country. 

The 21-member Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Missouri Transportation Needs consists of of business leaders, contractors and special interest groups from across the state. Members are looking for public input on future transportation needs and solutions.

MoDOT, Metro and East-West Gateway all presented upcoming projects and transportation needs for the St. Louis area. Like most that addressed the committee Monday, the agencies cited better transportation, job creation, safety and the expansion of the area rail system for necessary funding of transportation projects.

MoDOT District Engineer Ed Hassinger said currently it takes $150 to $180 million each year to keep the existing roads and bridges funtioning and in good condition. MoDOT is currently facing a budget crisis.

"We will not have the money to do the existing safety needs we need to do without additional funding," Hassinger explained.

Gary Elmestad, representing St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, said Interstate 70 and Route 370 are transportation priorities in their area.

"We would like to see consideration for the upgrade of the I-70 corridor in St. Charles County," Elmestad said. He added that Route 370 continues to move forward. "We'll continue to be looking for additional resources for that project."

Elmestad said improvements are also planned for Route N.

Resident groups also addressed the Blue Ribbon Committee Monday, urging members to consider upgrading road conditions citing deadly crashes and other safety issues.

Peggy Brazil, Chrissy Holmes and Amy Russo, with Shoulders for Safety out of St. Charles County, said the organization was created in 2009 because "we were tired of burying our loved ones."

They are asking the commission to make improvements to Highway N in O'Fallon, MO, and to include those improvements in the statewide MoDOT Statewide Transportion Improvement Project.

"We have growing concerns with the safety of Highway N," Brazil told the commission. She said it's a four mile stretch from O'Fallon to Highway Z is a narrow two-lane road, with no shoulders, "S" curves and uneven pavement. 

Holmes said this road is a major corridor for residents and students of the rapidly growing Wentzville School District. She said that over the last 10 years, accidents there have increased by 480 percent.

"We think those numbers are higher," Holmes said. "The area surrounding Highway N has grown significantly since 2001. The infastructure on Highway N does not support that growth and need."

The Blue Ribbon Committee will take the information from Monday's testimony back to Governor Jay Nixon who will determine how to address the states transportation needs. It has not yet been determined how they'll be addressed or funded, and it is an issue that will likely eventually go before the Missouri Legislature.

However, many of Monday's speakers asked for someone to find a solution and take a leadership role with today's requests. They stated they did not feel the Missouri legislature could get this done affectively.

The Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee has scheduled additional public meetings around the state.