By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri’s transportation agency is going ‘on the road’ to fill Missourians in on its “bolder” five year plan.

Dexter will host one of 80 briefings hosted by the Missouri Department of Transportation recently announced plan to reduce staff, facilities and equipment. The local briefing will be held a 4p.m., Tuesday, May 17 at the Dexter High School Auditorium.

The briefing is designed to explain the Missouri Department of Transportation's plan to reduce staff, facilities and equipment. The right-sizing actions will save $512 million that will be used for vital road and bridge projects.

The “Bolder Five-Year Direction”, was presented by MoDOT Director Kevin Keith to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission last week. It includes reducing the department's staff by 1,200, closing 135 facilities (including district offices in Joplin, Macon and Willow Springs) and selling more than 740 pieces of equipment.

The briefings will be held throughout Missouri this month, leading up to June 8 when MHTC commissioners are expected to take final action on the plan.

The new MoDOT plan has received critism from U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, who says the plan could shortchange reidents in southern Missouri.

“I’m highly concerned about any plan to reduce the attention given to our rural state roads and highways, and I am dead set against the proposal on the table to do just that with MoDoT. Eliminating MoDoT District 9 means other regions must absorb nearly 10,000 square miles of our state containing 3,744 road miles,” Emerson said Wednesday morning.

Emerson said that between Sikeston and Springfield, Jefferson City to the Arkansas state line would all be under the jurisdiction of one office. MoDOT’s District 9 already covers an area that is larger than nine U.S. states.

“I think it is irresponsible to look the other way on our state’s rural transportation priorities, and it is foolish to expect MoDoT to have good information about roads located some 200 miles from the nearest office,” she commented.

People who are unable to attend a community briefing may participate in the discussion through an online community briefing at http://www.modot.org/ The online meeting will run through June 3.

Interested individuals can also comment through the online comment form located at http://www.modot.org/, send an e-mail to MHTC@modot.mo.gov, call 1-888-ASK MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or write to MoDOT, Central Office, 105 W. Capitol Ave., P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270.

All comments from the public received during this month-long process will be shared with MoDOT leadership and commission members prior to June 8.

Photo Above: MoDOT Director Kevin Keith.