MoDOT
Launches Long-Range Planning Effort
Regional
Working Groups convene to begin crafting transportation vision
JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -
More than 100 Missouri citizens from across the state assembled
in Jefferson City recently for the launch of the Missouri Advance
Planning (MAP) initiative, a statewide effort to update Missouri's
long-range transportation plan. Members of the six newly formed
Regional Working Groups were briefed by Missouri Department of
Transportation Director Pete Rahn, Missouri Department of Economic
Development Director Greg Steinhoff and members of the MAP project
team.
"Since the approval of
Amendment 3 last November, MoDOT has been working to improve our
transportation system. sooner, rather than later," said MoDOT
Director Pete Rahn. "MoDOT's Smoother, Safer, Sooner
initiative is improving a substantial portion of the state's roads,
while accelerating several needed major projects. It's a major
step forward, but it's no substitute for a sound, broadly supported
long-term plan for Missouri's transportation needs.
"Help us shape the future
of transportation in Missouri," Rahn told the participants.
"Tell us if we're headed in the right direction to ensure our
transportation infrastructure supports the needs and quality of
life Missourians expect and deserve. We have significant unmet
transportation needs, so the challenge I give to you is to think
big - what does Missouri need to be prosperous?"
The launch of MAP is the
beginning of a statewide dialogue on what the state's transportation
system could and should do for its citizens and how best to fulfill
these expectations. Over the next nine months, Regional Working
Groups will begin defining a vision for Missouri's transportation
system.
MAP Launch
"The MAP process is intended
to produce a vision for Missouri's transportation system and the
building blocks for a shared action plan," said MAP Project Manager
Eric Curtit. "To make sure we develop a plan that meets the
future needs of Missourians, we developed public outreach approaches,
including the use of Regional Working Groups, to capture the unique
perspectives of people all across the state."
In addition to the Regional
Working Groups, MoDOT has solicited perspectives through a statewide
telephone survey of Missourians and interviews with business,
civic and government leaders across the state.
Regional Working Groups,
comprised of 15-20 local individuals, have been formed in six
regions of the state: the Northwest, Northeast/St. Louis area,
West Central/Kansas City, Central, Southwest and Southeast.
Group members reflect Missouri's diverse interests and include
farmers, economic development experts, environmentalists, businessmen,
educators, tourism experts and community leaders, among others.
Additional information
from the customer surveys and the stakeholder interviews, including
opportunities to provide comments to the MAP project team, is
available on the MAP initiative Web site, www.mapourfuture.org
. Regional Working Groups' membership lists and a MAP fact
sheet are also available on the Web site.
Editor's note:
Recorded comments on this topic from Eric Curtit, long-range
transportation planning coordinator, are available by calling
MoDOT's sound bite service at 1-866-847-7173 or visiting www.modot.org/newsroom.
