The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission recently approved the state's 2020-2024 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
The program is the Missouri DOT’s (MoDOT) list of 1,872 highway and bridge projects that are planned by state and regional agencies. It focuses on taking care of the state’s existing transportation system by annually investing in 1,014 lane-miles of interstate pavements, 1,346 miles of major route pavements, 2,652 miles of minor route pavements, and 213 bridges.
The STIP details an annual construction program that averages $924 million per year for the five-year period. However, according to MoDOT, it is insufficient to meet the state’s unfunded high-priority transportation needs that are estimated in the department’s “Citizen’s Guide to Transportation Funding” at an additional $825 million per year.
The 2020-2024 program includes funding for the “Focus on Bridges” program that was initiated by Gov. Mike Parson and funded by the Missouri General Assembly approved budget with a one-time $50 million injection of general revenues for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 45 bridges. The money that was previously dedicated to those bridge projects will be freed up for additional improvements to the state system of roads and bridges.
This STIP was developed assuming federal funding levels consistent with the FAST Act, which expires in September 2020. A forecast assuming a reduced level of federal funding, consistent with Highway Trust Fund revenues, was also prepared. MoDOT and planning partners worked together to identify specific projects that would be delayed, should federal funding be reduced.
The draft STIP also includes detailed project information for non-highway modes of transportation and a section detailing planned operations and maintenance activities for the next three years.
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SOURCE: Missouri DOT
