By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – MoDOT Director Pete Rahn delivered his fifth and final State of Transportation Address before the Missouri General Assembly today.
It was Rahn's final address because a law that mandates the speech sunsets this year. And it's not being renewed because lawmakers overall are happy with MoDOT's progress over the past five years.
Rahn did warn them, though; of the need to find new funding before the year 2010 arrives.
"At that time, Amendment 3 bond money will be used up...we go from the largest highway building program in Missouri history to one where we will struggle to maintain roads," Rahn said.
Rahn also told lawmakers that MoDOT is in the final stages of negotiations over the cost of the project to repair or replace more than 800 aging bridges in Missouri.
Early in his speech, Rahn pointed out dramatic improvement in the number of traffic fatalities in Missouri.
"In 2006, there were 868 fewer deaths on America's roadways...Missouri accounted for 161 of those lives saved...a state that makes up less than 2% of the nation's population accounted for 19% of the lives saved," Rahn said.
But he added that more lives could have been saved if Missouri had a primary enforcement seat belt law.
Rahn also praised the work being done on the I-64 project in St. Louis, calling it a success at this point.