U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) chairs the powerful U.S. House Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill. He joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning. Congressman Graves tells listeners he supports bipartisan legislation to prevent automakers from eliminating AM broadcast radio in new cars, saying 90 percent of Americans are covered by an AM radio station or stations. He also says AM radio is critical in rural Missouri for emergency alerts, weather information and news. Congressman Graves also says crossings will be a key part of the final National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the deadly 2022 train collision and derailment in north-central Missouri’s Mendon in his district, and he also weighed in on the controversy surrounding embattled U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-New York). Congressman Santos is charged in a 13-count federal indictment. Congressman Graves describes Congressman Santos as a “professional con man”:
MSHP: Three deadly crashes at busy Boone County interchange since 2017
Missouri state troopers say there have been three fatal traffic crashes at the Highway 63 and 124 interchange in northern Boone County in the past six years. One of them happened in late April.
939 the Eagle News obtained the crash information in a records request from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Several listeners have described that interchange as dangerous, with line-of-sight, speed and other issues. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio), who chairs the House Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill, tells 939 the Eagle that while it’s more of a state than federal issue, he’s concerned about 63 and 124, which is just south of his district.
“I know that the state is looking into and I think the University of Missouri is doing some studies as well, how to make intersections like that (63 and 124) safer, so that people don’t have to worry or get into terrible accidents like what we just recently saw,” Congressman Graves says.
Missouri state troopers say 79-year-old Joan Broxton was killed in the April 25 collision. The Patrol’s crash report says Ms. Broxton tried to enter a median J-turn and traveled into the path of a second vehicle, which struck Broxton’s driver side.
Congressman Graves hopes Mizzou can come up with solutions. His district includes Moberly, Mexico and Higbee.
“Hopefully they’re going to be alleviate the problem in that specific one (intersection) and then others around the state once they figure out what a good solution is,” says Graves.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says there have been three fatal crashes at 63 and 124 since 2017: one in 2017, one in 2021 and the April incident which killed Ms. Broxton.
(AUDIO): Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) discusses state budget, gaming and I-70 funding on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) is optimistic about a Senate proposal to six-lane I-70 across Missouri being included in the final budget. The budget must be approved by Friday, under the state Constitution. Senator Rowden tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that six-laning I-70 is a generational thing and is much needed. He also confirms that U.S. House Transportation Committee chairman Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) will try to obtain some federal money for the I-70 project in Missouri. Rowden notes I-70 is a main artery for truckers and other motorists heading across the country. Senator Rowden also tells listeners that sports wagering is unlikely to pass this session:
(AUDIO): Missouri Congressman Graves expects NTSB report on deadly Amtrak derailment to highlight crossing markings
A northern Missouri congressman who chairs the U.S. House Transportation Committee says a federal agency is working on its final report on last June’s deadly collision between an Amtrak passenger train and a dump truck near Mendon.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a two-page preliminary report in July, which notes the train was authorized to go 90 miles per hour in that stretch. NTSB says the Amtrak train was traveling 89 miles per hour when the emergency brakes were activated. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) tells 939 the Eagle that he expects the final NTSB report to mention the marking of crossings.
“What’s interesting about it is and we had a crossing marking problem and we’ve had that in various places across the country for that matter when it comes to marking some of those crossings. And there’s money out there to be able to do that but it’s kind of a limited number that are done each year. Well the good news with that is it’s sped up that process considerably and getting more and more of those marked every year,” Congressman Graves says.
The NTSB’s preliminary report says the June 2022 collision caused $4-million in damage. The crash killed three train passengers and dump truck driver Billy Barton II. About 150 others suffered injuries.
“That’s one of the good things that will come out of this very unfortunate accident is to see more of those crossings marked quicker,” says Graves.
Congressman Graves, whose district includes Moberly and Mexico, traveled to Jefferson City on Monday to meet with state senators regarding the I-70 rebuild project.
“We came down to visit with the (Missouri) Senate. I know they’re working on the I-70 proposal along with the (Missouri) House and we just wanted to visit a little bit about that and some of the priorities that I am hoping to get done for the state of Missouri. So it’s always good to come back to the Capitol,” Graves says.
Congressman Graves tells 939 the Eagle that he will support whatever I-70 bill is ultimately approved by state lawmakers. He confirms that he’s trying to find additional federal funding for the massive project.
(AUDIO): Missouri Senate President predicts Senate passage of $2.8 billion I-70 plan
Missouri’s Senate President predicts his chamber will approve legislation from State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) to six-lane I-70 across Missouri. That would include through the Columbia area.
Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” the money is there to approve the $2.8-billion plan, adding that it’s the right thing to do.
“The moment that we’re in relative to having such a big surplus and having Jason Smith as chair of Ways and Means in DC and Congressman (Sam) Graves as chair of Transportation in DC, this is the year. I mean if we’re going to do something, we have to do it this year,” Rowden says.
Congressmen Smith and Graves both represent parts of mid-Missouri on Capitol Hill. Rowden and Hough both note Missouri has a record budget surplus.
“If you think about now, you know ten years from now, having a six-lane I-70 all the way across mid-Missouri, in addition to the rebuild and proper build of the 70-63 interchange, that money is already accounted for and is already going to happen. If you do those two things, that’s the ballgame for mid-Missouri,” says Rowden.
Under Senator Hough’s measure, the state would pay $132-million a year for 15 years to pay off the expansion.