MoDOT seeking input from public on priorities

As part of its new transportation priorities initiative, the Missouri Department of Transportation on Tuesday will hold a listening session at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau.

The new initiative, called On the Move, is a statewide effort by MoDOT to engage the public in how the state's transportation system works, the levels of funding the agency receives and the long-term vision for transportation in the state.

"We need more citizen input in what we do," said Mark Shelton, district engineer for MoDOT's Southeast district. "It's our responsibility to lay out a vision of the way we're doing things. In order to do that, we have to engage the public."

According to Shelton, the main idea behind On the Move is to reach out to people from whom MoDOT doesn't usually hear.

"We hear a lot from contractors and building suppliers," he said, "but we also need to hear from businessowners and homeowners about how our transportation system affects them. With their input, we feel we can lay out a more perfect vision of transportation priorities in the state."

Listening sessions will be held in locations across the state through April, and Shelton believes receiving information from different sections of the state will help MoDOT's transportation priorities.

"What we're looking for is information," he said. "Southeast Missouri has different priorities than the Kansas City area, but we hope common transportation issues will arise where the listening sessions will be held. The common issues will certainly get MoDOT's attention."

The listening session at the Osage Centre will consist of participants sitting at different tables where they can discuss transportation issues with MoDOT officials.

"We hope to discuss issues like funding levels so that they'll have a better understanding of what we're capable of doing," Shelton said.

Kathy Mangels, vice president for finance and administration at Southeast Missouri State University, will present the opening remarks at Tuesday's session.

"MoDOT has been a great partner with Southeast," Mangels said. "They've played an important role in the development of our transportation interior."

Mangels said MoDOT provides one-third of the funding for the university's shuttle system, which, during the 2011-2012 academic year, provided more than 500,000 student trips around campus. She also said MoDOT is helping to fund the university's new transportation nexus, a state-of-the-art staging area for the shuttles and passengers, which will be completed by the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic year.

"We're pleased to be involved with the listening session with MoDOT," she said. "We've been able to do so much on campus with their help."

Registration for the On the Move listening session at the Osage Centre begins at 4:30 p.m. The program will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is open to the public, and because of limited seating attendees are asked to reserve a seat by noon today by emailing onthemove@modot.com or visiting www.missourionthemove.org.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.