MoDOT announces cutbacks starting in 2017
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MoDOT announces cutbacks starting in 2017

Date: January 14, 2015
By: Matt Kalish
State Capitol Bureau

Intro:
MoDOT won't do any major construction projects on thousands of highways under a new plan.
RunTime: 0:46
OutCue: SOC

Wrap: Voters rejected a proposed tax increase to pay for infrastructure improvements in 2014 and now, MoDot is proposing major changes to how they maintain the state's 34 thousand miles of highways.

MoDOT proposed a new plan focusing it's shrinking budget on the state's most heavily traveled roads.

Chairman of the state highway commission Stephen Miller explained what would happen to the more than 75-percent of roads that aren't covered.

Actuality: MILLER1.WAV
Run Time: 00:11
Description: What that means is we will not be able to continue to maintain the same level of service on roads that are primarily serving local traffic

Miller also said pot holes will still be filled, and snow will be plowed on all state highways.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Kalish, NewsRadio 11-20, KMOX.

Intro:
Transportation officials won't be doing major construction on thousands of Missouri highways starting in 2017.
RunTime: 0:48
OutCue: SOC

Wrap: MoDOT says they want less construction on Missouri highways to only cover what they're calling primary roads

The proposed plan would focus major construction on less than a quarter of all state highways.

The plan already has drawn opposition from chairman of the House Transportation committee Glen Kolkmeyer.

Actuality: KOLKY1.WAV
Run Time: 00:15
Description: It's devastating. One of the things that bothers me is there are a lot of well traveled routes that are not on the primary plan. It's devastating to see what's not on the primary routes.

In the St. Louis area, Lindbergh Bolevward and Route 94 are just some of the roads not considered primary highways.

Those roads however will still have their pot holes filled and snow plowed.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Matt Kalish, NewsRadio 11-20, KMOX,

Intro:
MoDOT is cutting back on major construction projects due to lack of funding.
RunTime: 0:47
OutCue: SOC

Wrap: 25 thousand miles of state highways won't be getting major construction starting in 20-17 due to Mo-DOT's lack of funding.

MoDOT Director Dave Nichols told the state transportation commission at its meeting Wednesday his department is only going to focus on maintaining what they're calling primary highways.

Those roads, according to Nichols, carry 76-percent of traffic in the state.

Commission chairman Stephen Miller says while a majority of the state's population is centered on urban areas, the whole state will suffer.

Actuality: MILLER2.WAV
Run Time: 00:08
Description: We're attempting to spread - I call it the pain but really spread the fiscal responsibility across the state as best as we can.

Other state highways not covered in the plan will still see pot holes filled and snow plowed.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Matt Kalish