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(LISTEN): Missouri Chamber of Commerce touting I-70 expansion plan

September 26, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s largest business organization is praising the state’s $2.8 billion plan to rebuild and six-lane I-70 from Wentzville to Blue Springs. Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Dan Mehan tells 939 the Eagle that it’s historic.

“I-70 is the beltway for the country and it started in Missouri and it’s been far too long since we invested back in it,” Mehan says.

The I-70 project will start in Boone County. Chamber president Mehan says the project will have major economic benefits. He’s praising state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for supporting the bill, and praises GOP Governor Mike Parson for signing it.

“When the Legislature did that, they put a mark for Missouri for the rest of the country saying we will be the logistics and distribution center for not just the region but for the nation and for the continent,” says Mehan.

Numerous state lawmakers from across Missouri joined the governor at the August Columbia bill-signing ceremony. GOP State Reps. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville), Kent Haden (R-Mexico) and Tim Taylor (R-Speed) attended, along with House Assistant Minority Floor Leader Richard Brown (D-Kansas City) Democratic State Reps. Doug Mann, David Tyson Smith and Kathy Steinhoff (all D-Columbia).

Powerful Missouri congressman Graves and COU’s new terminal taking center stage at Columbia transportation summit

September 21, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A few hundred transportation professionals and industry stakeholders are in Columbia today and tomorrow for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s transportation future summit.

The two-day conference begins this afternoon at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Chamber president Dan Mehan will welcome the audience at 1:30, and powerful U.S. House Transportation Committee chairman Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) will then speak via video. He’s expected to discuss federal funding for transportation and Missouri’s $2.8 billion plan to rebuild and expand I-70 to six lanes across the state, from Wentzville to Blue Springs.

Six breakout sessions are also planned for this afternoon, including one on the future of railroad in Missouri.

UM System President Dr. Mun Choi speaks at the October 19, 2022 ribbon-cutting for Columbia Regional Airport’s $23-million new terminal (file photo courtesy of Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s Twitter page)

Another one involves the new terminals at Columbia Regional Airport (COU) and at Kansas City International Airport (KCI). COU airport manager Mike Parks will be addressing several hundred transportation professionals from across the state about Columbia Regional’s $23-milion new terminal, which is 52,000 square feet. Columbia voters approved a 2016 hotel tax, which is the new terminal’s main funding source.

There will also be a breakout session today about self-driving cars.

(LISTEN): Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

September 19, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee chair Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) says the “votes weren’t there” in the Senate last week to override any of the 14 budget bills overridden by the GOP-controlled Missouri House. That included restoration of $1.4 million for Columbia-based Missouri Task Force One and $2-million for Missouri National Guard reenlistment incentives. The Senate did not take up any of the overrides last week, and Chairman Hough tells listeners that it’s simple and involves math. Overriding a veto in the Senate requires at least 23 votes. He also praises the approximately $50-billion budget signed recently by Governor Parson, noting it contains $2.8 billion to rebuild and expand I-70 to six lanes from Wentzville to Blue Springs and another $300-million for a new mental health hospital in Kansas City. Chairman Hough also addressed the spending criticism he received last week on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” from one of his colleagues, State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring):

MoDOT to hold informational meeting this evening in Boonville on I-70 expansion plan

September 7, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Mid-Missourians have another opportunity this evening to learn more about Missouri’s $2.8 billion I-70 expansion plan.

The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will hold an open house style meeting from 5-7 pm at Boonville’s Hannah Cole school gymnasium, which is located on West Ashley road. MoDOT engineers will be on-hand to answer your questions.

Governor Mike Parson has signed bipartisan legislation into law providing the funding. The money will be used to plan, build, rebuild and expand I-70 to three lanes in each direction from Blue Springs to Wentzville. There will be no formal presentation today, so you can arrive anytime between 5-7.

MoDOT held a similar meeting at Columbia’s Battle high school on Wednesday. State transportation officials tell 939 the Eagle that they’re doing everything they can to avoid taking property for the project.