Powerful U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio), who chairs the U.S. House Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill, is trying to obtain federal funding to try to replace Jefferson City’s aging tri-level. He’s told 939 the Eagle that he’s had conversations with Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s office about the project. State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) and Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” Both remain hopeful that that it can happen. The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says 86,000 vehicles a day come through the tri-level area, with three major highways converging in the same area. MoDOT says the tri-level bridges were built in 1964 and that the “flyover” bridges were built in 1991. They also previewed Missouri’s 2024 legislative session and Senator Bernskoetter corrected reports that he was involved in a recent crash. Senator Bernskoetter notes it was a different Mike Bernskoetter, and he’s critical of a Facebook group that he says is not affiliated with the Cole County Republican Club:
Powerful Missouri congressman Graves and COU’s new terminal taking center stage at Columbia transportation summit
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.
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): Efforts underway to try to obtain federal funding for Jefferson City tri-level project
A powerful northern Missouri congressman who chairs the U.S. House Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill is trying to obtain federal funding to help replace Jefferson City’s aging tri-level.
U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) tells 939 the Eagle that he’s had conversations with Governor Mike Parson’s office about the project.
“Maybe some intrastate highway dollars that are out there. And that’s dollars specific to goods and services that pass from one state to the next on our federal highway system,” Congressman Graves says.
The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says rebuilding the tri-level will cost about $40-million, adding that the nearby Rex Whitton Expressway would also have to be rebuilt. That’s an additional $53-million. MoDOT central district engineer Michelle Watkins told “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” last week that MoDOT currently doesn’t have the funding for the two projects.
“It’s possible we might be able to make that work there too. But anyway we’re talking to the governor’s office about what the potential opportunities are,” Graves says, referring to intrastate highway dollars.
MoDOT says 86,000 vehicles a day come through the tri-level area, with three major highways converging in the same area. MoDOT says the tri-level bridges were built in 1964 and that the “flyover” bridges were built in 1991.
(LISTEN): Moberly’s city manager is both excited and sad to leave the Magic City
It’s a bittersweet time for outgoing Moberly city manager Brian Crane, who will be leaving the Magic City next month to become city administrator in his hometown of Jefferson City.
The Helias graduate choked-up, when speaking to 939 the Eagle on Friday afternoon at the Moberly fire station.
“Leaving Moberly that’s been so good to us and my family has just been really hard. And it’s something that we’re going to always remember. And, you know, Jeff City is my hometown but my little boys, Moberly, this is their hometown. And it’s going to be tough for them, but Jefferson City is a great community, Moberly is a great community. And we have just been really blessed to be in both,” Crane says.
Mr. Crane will begin his new job in late September. Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater says the city conducted a nationwide search for a permanent city administrator. 39 people applied for the position.
Moberly’s city manager also has high praise for northern Missouri U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio), who represents Randolph County on Capitol Hill. Mr. Crane briefed Congressman Graves and audience members, during a Friday meeting with city and county officials, first responders and residents.
“So open. His staff has been so open. And it’s just great to have the ability to tell them what our needs are, what we’re working on and what’s going to be best for our community in the future and have the collaboration of working with the representative. That’s so important not only to our (Missouri’s sixth congressional) district but to our nation,” says Crane.
Mr. Crane tells 939 the Eagle that he would like to see some federal dollars for Moberly’s aging General Omar Bradley airport, which was built in the 1940s. He says while the city has made a number of airport improvements, there are still millions of dollars in improvements that need to be done:
“Luckily we’ve had a lot of success getting grants and leveraging local funds to really try to do some great things out there. Extend the runway, upgrade the lighting, bring sewer to the building. Just some really good things for our community,” says Crane.
In 1940, Moberly resident Marion Hulen went before Mayor Tom Tydings and the council, requesting support for the airport. Congressman Graves tells 939 the Eagle he hopes to obtain some federal funding for the Moberly airport’s needs.
(LISTEN): Missouri Congressman Graves focusing on transportation, railroad crossings and federal employees
A northern Missouri congressman whose district includes Moberly and Mexico predicts the massive I-70 expansion construction project will increase traffic on Highway 36.
Many truckers use 36, which runs across north Missouri from Hannibal all the way to St. Joseph. Powerful U.S. House Transportation Committee chair Sam Graves (R-Tarkio), says he’s like have some federal funding to help his district prepare.
“When we start expanding I-70, that’s going to route a lot of traffic up across (Highway) 36 and it could come right on up through the Moberly area as well. So we want to be ready for that when that time comes”
The budget recently signed by Missouri’s governor provides $2.8 billion to rebuild I-70 and expand it to six lanes. Congressman Graves has been a supporter of the I-70 project.
The approximately $50-billion budget signed by the Governor Mike Parson (R) also contains $60-million for railroad crossing safety improvements. That’s been a top priority for Congressman Graves, who says a grade crossing design near Mendon contributed to last summer’s horrific deadly collision between an Amtrak train and a dump truck.
“The angle was, as it turns out, was too great for that particular crossing. And then the grade was much higher than what’s recommended when it comes. We know the truck driver didn’t stop when he got to the top (of the hill). But I understand that too in a truck, it’s really hard to stop and then try to get it started back up again if you’re loaded,” says Graves.
The 2022 collision killed three Amtrak passengers and dump truck driver Billy Barton II. 146 passengers and crew were also injured. The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) 16-page report says the steepness of the road grade at the Mendon crossing was 13 times the maximum slope recommended by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
Congressman Graves also says it’s time for federal employees to return to work in-person. The issue came up during Friday afternoon’s meeting between Congressman Graves, city manager Brian Crane, community leaders, first responders and residents. He tells Moberly-area residents that only eight to 19 percent of federal employees in some agencies are working in federal buildings. Congressman Graves tells 939 the Eagle that it’s time to sell those buildings, if that continues.
“If you’re not going to show up for work, then we’ll sell the building. And of course they don’t like that at all. But that’s the hammer that I’m using to try to get them to come back to work. It’s just ridiculous that we can’t get federal employees to come back to work in these agencies. And it’s creating a problem whether you’re trying to get your passport done or you’re working on a project or something like that and you can’t get anybody to return your call because they’re not at work. It’s a huge problem,” Congressman Graves says.
He says the American people are tired of backlogs and unanswered phone calls. He also says unions oppose the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) plan to have FAA employees in the office at least three days a week, starting in October.
Another topic that came up from an audience member was a proposed animal waste lagoon in Cairo, which is a small town north of Moberly. Congressman Graves tells 939 the Eagle that the proposed lagoon is a state issue, not a federal one.
“The last thing you want, I’m always very careful with (the) federal government coming in on things like that. Because when the federal government … when they come in or rule or you give them jurisdiction, it’s like taking an axe to do an operation that you should be doing with a scalpel,” says Graves.
A group called “Citizens of Randolph County Against Pollution”, known as CRAP, is rallying against the proposal. Our news partner KMIZ reports more than 100 citizens showed up at a recent public meeting hosted by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) about the proposal.