Missouri Public Transit Association

Today: Free Bus Rides for Dump the Pump Day

http://www.ozarksfirst.com/story/d/story/free-bus-rides-for-dump-the-pump-day/16697/HrVUgdGF7Ui8r2dCM2U7IA

06/19/2014 05:42 AM

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- You can save some gas by riding Springfield city buses for free today.

It's "Dump The Pump Day" which is part of Communities In Motion Week.

This week is being observed across the U.S. to promote how public transportation benefits the community.

Friday, CU transit drivers will be wearing red to honor our nations' veterans.

Communities in Motion Week Highlights Public Transportation

http://www.ozarksfirst.com/story/d/story/public-transportation-communities-in-motion-week/18164/dduGo8LIjECh0AdZs6ZR4Q

06/15/2014 12:53 PM

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- City Utilities Transit Services will be participating in Communities in Motion week starting June 15.

Communities in Motion week runs from June 15 through June 21 across the country, public transportation is seeing an increased number of riders.

In 2013, CU Transit Services provided 1.4 million rides and CU buses operated over 89,000 hours driving 1.3 million miles providing transportation services to our community. 

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Communities in Motion Week is observed in communities across the United States to emphasize how communities benefit from public transportation. 

Scheduled events during Communities in Motion Week include: 

• Tuesday, June 17: Community Blood Center Blood drive 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at 1505 Boonville. Attendees will receive a free cookbook with your donation of blood. 
• Wednesday, June 18: Passenger Appreciation Day - Free donuts and coffee courtesy of Krispy Kreme, from 6:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., or while supplies last, at Park Central Transfer Station. 
• Thursday. June 19: “Dump the Pump Day.” Ride the Bus for free. 
• Friday, June 20: Salute our Heroes - CU Transit drivers will be wearing red to honor our Nations’ Veterans. Join in by wearing red too! 

To plan a ride or for more information about Transit Services, call 831-8782 or visit the Transit section of the City Utilities website.

10-Year Project List Captures Transportation Needs Throughout Missouri

MoDOT News Release 

June 11, 2014 04:14 PM

JEFFERSON CITY - After years of work by local planning agencies and transportation partners, Missourians are now asked to weigh in on a list of transportation projects and improvements that could improve safety, create jobs, and boost Missouri's economy.

Starting on June 13, the complete draft list of projects and priorities as outlined in the Constitutional Amendment 7 legislation will be released by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. The list, a schedule of open house meetings, and an online comment form will be available atwww.modot.org/movingforward. 

At their meeting on June 11, the commission heard MoDOT's progress report on the creation of the list and decided to expand the public comment period.

"There will be hundreds of projects on this list, affecting every type of transportation - from roads and bridges to transit, ports, airports, and bike-ped facilities," said Commission Chair Stephen Miller. "We want to make certain Missourians have the opportunity to let us know if they believe these are the projects that would have the biggest impact for their communities and the state."

MoDOT is also holding open house public meetings in every region of the state so Missourians can talk face-to-face with the department and the regional planning partners who helped create the list. 

The public comment period now extends through 5 p.m. on July 3, and the Commission will review all public comment and approve the list on July 9. 

On August 5, Missouri voters will decide on Amendment 7, a ballot measure to temporarily raise Missouri's sales tax by ¾ of a cent. All proceeds from the tax would go toward much-needed transportation improvements across the state. The amendment's provisions include the creation of a project list prior to the election so Missourians can see what their tax dollars would fund.

For more information, visit www.modot.org/movingforward or contact MoDOT's customer service center at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

Transportation tax draws opposition group

http://www.newstribune.com/news/2014/jun/11/transportation-tax-draws-opposition-group/

DAVID A. LIEB, Associated Press

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Opponents launched a campaign Tuesday against Missouri’s proposed transportation sales tax by raising concerns about the way the August ballot measure would raise and spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

The new opposition group, Missourians for Better Transportation Solutions, said the proposed three-quarters cent sales tax would mark a “radical departure from the way roads have been traditionally financed” and could affect lower-income residents more than some of the heaviest users of state highways.

“Using the sales tax to fund roads is really a bad idea,” said Thomas R. Shrout Jr., a St. Louis consultant who is treasurer of the opposition group.

Missouri roads historically have been funded by user fees, such as state and federal motor fuel taxes and state sales taxes charged on vehicle purchases. If approved by voters, proposed Constitutional Amendment 7 would mark the first time that general sales tax revenues have been earmarked for highways.

The proposal is estimated by lawmakers, who referred it to the ballot, to raise $534 million annually for the next 10 years. It’s projected by Gov. Jay Nixon, who announced his opposition to the measure last week, to raise about $575 million in its first full year and $6.1 billion over the next decade. Either way, the tax increase would be the largest in state history.

Shrout said the sales tax would impose a burden on people living on fixed incomes, such as retirees, while requiring virtually nothing from truck operators who carry their cargo through Missouri. He said either a fuel tax increase or toll roads would be fairer.

Without new revenues, the Missouri Department of Transportation has said it soon won’t have enough money to adequately maintain roads and bridges. Over the past five years, Missouri’s construction budget for roads and bridges has fallen from about $1.3 billion annually to $685 million this year. It is projected to dip to $325 million by the 2017 budget.

The department plans to release a proposed list Friday of projects that would be funded by the sales tax revenues.

Shrout said he expects it will be tilted heavily toward roads and bridges, another concern for opponents who want more spent on public transportation.

Supporters have said a sales tax could generate more money than a fuel tax and has proved more popular in public opinion surveys.

“Amendment 7 is the only sustainable solution to fix our roads and bridges and create jobs,” said Bill McKenna, a former state transportation commissioner who is treasurer of the supporting group, Missourians for Safe Transportation and New Jobs.

Supporters had $343,000 in their campaign account as of the end of March and have continued to raise money. On Tuesday alone, the campaign committee reported receiving more than $120,000 of contributions.

McKenna said voters “can expect a full-fledged public education effort” from the coalition supporting the tax proposal.

Shrout said he doesn’t expect opponents to raise enough money to broadcast advertisements. He said they likely will rely on social media and public events.

Transportation sales tax comment period expanded

http://www.newstribune.com/news/2014/jun/12/transportation-sales-tax-comment-period-expanded/

Ethan Colbert/News Tribune

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Missourians will now have an additional 13 days to review and voice any concerns about the list of projects that has been prioritized by state Transportation officials for the upcoming Aug. 5 ballot.

Voters will decide the fate of a ballot measure that would temporarily raise Missouri’s sales tax by ¾ of a cent for 10 years. Revenues from the sales tax increase would fund transportation improvements across the state.

MoDOT officials will announce the prioritized project list Friday at noon.

At the urging of the Missouri Highways and Transportation commissioners, the public comment forum will open Friday and rin through July 3. Originally, a mere seven days was planned for gathering public comments and concerns.

During a Wednesday conference call meeting involving four commissioners andvarious MoDOT departments heads, Commission Vice Chairman Joe Carmichael, Springfield, said the extra time was necessary for all Missourians to have a voice in the process. He believed the original weeklong time frame was inadequate.

“We have to ensure they have enough time to comment,” Carmichael said. “This extra time ensures that their wants and their needs are heard.”

MoDOT Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger said he believed Missourians and MoDOT officials would see this change as a positive step.

“This is going to be very positively received by our stakeholders, regional partners and MoDOT officials,” Hassinger said.

The commission will hold its regular June 25 meeting for updates regarding the public’s response and to review the list of projects.

Commissioners expect to finalize the projects list at a July 9 meeting in Jefferson City. The bill lawmakers passed placing the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot required MoDOT to approve and publicize specific projects to accompany the ballot measure.

Link:

www.modot.org/movingforward/

MoDOT sets public meeting on local priorities

http://www.newstribune.com/news/2014/jun/12/modot-sets-public-meeting-local-priorities/

By Jeff Haldiman

Thursday, June 12, 2014

MoDOT will have an open house meeting next week in Jefferson City to allow residents to take a look at the local priorities and share their thoughts and insights on a proposed statewide transportation sales tax.

No formal presentations will be made at the meeting, which will be held June 19 from 4-7 p.m. at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 428 E. Capitol Ave.

On Aug. 5, voters will decide on Constitutional Amendment 7, a ballot measure that transportation officials say would temporarily raise Missouri’s sales tax by ¾ of a cent, to pay for transportation improvements across the state.

The amendment’s provisions include the creation of a project list prior to the election so Missourians can see what their tax dollars would fund. That improvement list, and an online comment form, will be available to the public starting at noon Friday, at www.modot.org/movingforward.

At Wednesday’s Cole County Commission meeting, MoDOT Central District Engineer Dave Silvester told commissioners the project list is based on earlier comments they received from the public, saying they wanted MoDOT to take care of what they had already, increase safety and do projects that provide economic development.

Silvester said, while he didn’t have all the projects in this district that would be on the list, he believes shoulder work on Route B from Meta to Wardsville would be on the list, along with a making I-70 three lanes between Blue Springs, just east of Kansas City, and Wentzville, just west of St. Louis.

“We’re looking at 10-15 percent of the projects dealing with maintenance, and the rest are either new or expansion projects,” Silvester said.

Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle said: “I’m not in favor of raising taxes, but I think this is needed and I will support it.

“I do think you need to keep in mind the upkeep it will take when we build these new projects.”

Champions of Change

http://voicesforpublictransit.org/blog.aspx?id=6-4-2014

In May, White House Recognizes Change Agents for Public Transportation

On May 13, the White House honored 11 local leaders as “Champions of Change” for their commitment to ensuring that transportation helps communities and connects people to 21st-century opportunities. Three of the honorees focus specifically on improving public transportation.

“Transportation Drives Our Lives”

One honoree, Josh Baker, took it upon himself to bring public transportation to the City of Radford, Virginia. He worked with local, state, and federal officials, community leaders, and the local university to build support and launch the Radford Transit system.

As part of his White House honor, Baker penned a blog titled, “Transportation Drives Our Lives,” where he writes, “Rural areas provide transportation operators with an entirely unique set of challenges….We looked at the situation [in Radford], identified how it was unique and needed to go together, then sat down together to figure it out. Moments of frustration are inevitable and tension is sometimes present, but in the end the reward is priceless.”

Another honoree, Dan Burden, advises urban leaders on ways to design cities that put people first by emphasizing walking, bicycling, and public transportation. Finally Marilyn Golden has spent a quarter-century advocating for the transportation rights of people with disabilities. You can read about all of the honorees on the White House website.

Why the White House Focused on Public Transportation

The White House has honored many Champions of Change working on a range of issues, such as education, business development, and communications—and now transportation access has been recognized as an absolutely vital issue. According to the White House, “Transportation plays a critical role in connecting Americans and communities to economic opportunity through connectivity, job creation, and economic growth. Recognizing social mobility as a defining trait of America’s promise, access to reliable, safe, and affordable transportation is critical.”

We couldn’t agree more, and we take it one step further by emphasizing that public transportation is the best way to keep transportation affordable and accessible while meeting the needs of a rapidly growing and expanding population.

Now we need the White House—and Congress—to promote policies that will expand public transportation and make its benefits more widely available to communities all across our nation.

What the people honored by the White House Champions of Change award show is that regular citizens—people just like each of us—can be the driving force in moving public transportation forward in their communities.

Would you like to do more? At the Voices for Public Transit website, we provide in-depth information about how to build support in your community for public transportation. Check out the key sections “Make a Difference” and “Grow the Movement.”

- See more at: http://voicesforpublictransit.org/blog.aspx?id=6-4-2014#sthash.Y3F85AUc.dpuf

MoDOT Announces Public Comment Period for Community and Regional Priority Lists

Kansas City, Mo – The Missouri Department of Transportation today announced the public comment period for the list of regional and community transportation projects that will accompany the transportation measure on the August ballot. The official public comment period will begin at 12 p.m., June 13 and will close at 5 p.m., June 20.

This August, Missouri voters will be asked to decide on a ballot measure (Amendment 7) to temporarily raise the sales tax by ¾ of a cent with all proceeds going toward needed transportation improvements statewide. The public will have an opportunity to weigh in on their regional and community project lists through a series of forums this June. A final schedule of open house meetings and a project website where Missourians can provide feedback will be announced in the coming days.

 

“The development of these regional and community priority lists is a culmination of significant outreach and feedback from Missourians all across the state,” said Dave Nichols, Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation. “Through our annual Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, the Blue Ribbon Citizen’s Committee on Missouri’s Transportation Needs and last year’s On the Move long range planning effort, we have been listening to Missourians wants and needs for several years. The regional priority lists are truly a reflection of the feedback that has been received during that timeframe.”

 

Missourians will now be asked to provide final public comment on the regional priorities. MoDOT engineers and members of the local transportation planning commission will be available to solicit feedback on the potential projects and answer any questions members of the public may have about the projects. The final list of regional priorities and the public comments received will be submitted to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) for approval on Wednesday, June 25.

Columbia unveils new transit brand, bus routes

http://www.abc17news.com/news/columbia-unveils-new-transit-brand-bus-routes/26310500

Columbia leaders revealed the city's new public transportation system Tuesday afternoon at a ceremony on the MU campus.

COMO Connect was the result of an overhaul by the city and Columbia Transit to improve the city's public transportation system. 

COMO Connect replaces the Columbia Transit brand that has been in place for decades.

The new system will be running new routes, and you can track buses live on the city's website.

"It will also give you an estimated time of arrival if you just tap on a bus stop so it's a really great way to look at the system and decide what your trip is going to be. You don't even have to wait outside, you can just sit inside, drink that last cup of coffee, and go right out when the bus arrives," said Drew Brooks, Columbia Multi-Modal Manager.

According to the city's website, new routes will begin on August 4th. To see maps of the new routes and track buses, you can click here. 

 

 

NPRM on "Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning" published

The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on “Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning”, was published in today’s Federal Register.   

 

The NPRM proposes the following changes to statewide and nonmetropolitan and metropolitan transportation planning:

 

•     Performance-Based Planning and Programming - The MAP-21 transforms the Federal-aid highway program and the Federal transit program by requiring a transition to a performance-driven, outcome-based program that provides for a greater level of transparency and accountability, improved project decision making, and more efficient investment of Federal transportation funds.

• New Emphasis on Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning - MAP-21 places a new emphasis on the importance of nonmetropolitan transportation planning.  The MAP-21 requires the States to work more closely with nonmetropolitan areas.  It also gives States the opportunity to designate RTPOs to help address the planning needs of the nonmetropolitan area of the State.  Fosters further collaboration between individual State DOTs and MPOs by requiring them to coordinate with each other when establishing performance targets.
• Additions to the Metropolitan Planning Process - The MAP-21 made two changes specific to the metropolitan planning process—one change affects the policy board structure of large MPOs, and the second establishes a process for scenario planning.  Both of these changes would support the effective implementation of a performance-based planning process.
• Revisions to the integration of the planning and environmental  review process and a process for programmatic  mitigation plans.

 

FTA and FHWA will hold a webinar on Friday, June 13^th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET to  review the content of the NPRM.  A registration link to the webinar is provided here.