News – Wednesday, May 28th 2025

The draft FY 2026-2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission the beginning of May, kicking off a public review and comment period. The draft STIP makes available $13.2 billion of federal and state revenues for all modes of transportation over the next five years. Of the $13.2 billion, the draft STIP details $9.5 billion in road and bridge construction contractor awards, averaging approximately $1.9 billion per year. It also contains programming details for the remaining $1.7 billion of General Revenue for the Improve I-70 program, which in full includes $2.8 billion for the costs to plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate and repair three lanes in each direction on nearly 200 miles of the corridor. This year’s STIP also makes available $577.5 million for I-44 as part of the Forward 44 effort to study and bring improvements to the corridor. Other General Assembly funded projects account for another $118 million programmed into this year’s STIP. In the past 10 years, MoDOT and its construction partners have completed 4,099 projects worth $10.1 billion, and delivered them $385 million below budget and 93% on time. The draft FY 2026-2030 STIP lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2026-2030 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2030) and reflects the transportation needs of communities across the state. The proposed program is available for public review. Those interested in seeing the program or offering comments can contact MoDOT by email at STIPcomments@modot.mo.gov, by calling customer service at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636), or by mail to Transportation Planning, Program Comments, P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102. The program is also available on MoDOT’s website: modot.org/DRAFTSTIP. The formal comment period ends June 6, 2025. A summary of the comments will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission following the public review period. After reviewing the summary and the final transportation program, it will be considered for approval at the July 9 MHTC meeting.

The Missouri House passed an Invasive Plant Bill May 15th, just one day before the session adjourned. Senate Bill 105 now awaits the Governor’s signature and that will end the sale of six plants in Missouri, helping to reduce the negative impacts of invasive plants in the state. The Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP) thanks Representative Sassmann and Senator Bernskoetter for their leadership; the many citizens who contacted their Missouri representatives and senators in support of the bills; the numerous groups, including the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association; Missouri Municipal League; Missouri Stream Teams United; and the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM), who advocated for the legislation alongside MoIP and the Missouri Prairie Foundation; Missouri legislators who supported the bill; and Kyna Iman, CFM lobbyist, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to build support for the bills in the Missouri Capitol. Missouri Governor Kehoe has until July 14, 2025 to sign the bill into law. The law will halt the sale in Missouri of six invasive plants: sericea lespedeza, burning bush (cultivar ‘Compactus’), Callery pear, Japanese honeysuckle, perilla mint, and wintercreeper (variety Coloratus). The implementation date for the legislation is August 28, 2025.

Agingbest wants to see every person live the best life possible. To help our community do this they are asking for volunteers. There are many volunteer opportunities here are a few: meal delivery to homebound clients, lawn care, technology education assistance, pet care assistance, and many more. Call 800-369-5211 to volunteer in one of the 19 counties in Central Missouri.