Missouri’s governor and MoDOT director McKenna to address transportation conference in Columbia

Several hundred transportation professionals and industry stakeholders will hear directly from Missouri’s governor this morning in Columbia about the future of transportation.

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s transportation future summit began Thursday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Governor Mike Parson will deliver the opening keynote this morning at 8:45. He’s expected to discuss Missouri’s massive $2.8 billion plan to rebuild and expand I-70 to six lanes across Missouri. The governor tells 939 the Eagle that the project will begin in Columbia, adding that motorists should be prepared for delays.

The $50-billion budget signed by Governor Parson also includes $60-million for historic railroad crossing safety improvements, which has been a top priority for U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio), who chairs the House Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill. Congressman Graves told 939 the Eagle last month that a grade crossing design near Mendon contributed to last summer’s horrific deadly collision between an Amtrak train and a dump truck.

Missouri Senate Transportation Committee chair Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) will address the group at 10:15. Chairman Fitzwater is expected to discuss the I-70 plan, as well as what to expect on infrastructure during the 2024 session. State Department of Transportation (MoDOT) director Patrick McKenna will also speak this morning. He’ll outline major infrastructure projects like the $240-million I-70 Rocheport bridge project, along with Highway 63 improvements.

Former Columbia Mayor Brian Treece says he can’t think if a larger generational investment than the Rocheport bridge project.