SEMPO Updates

News and Information from December 2020

A Message from the Executive Director

Well this past year has certainly been a year to remember, or not, depending on what keeps you moving forward in a positive direction. With all the clearly negative things the year brought there are still things to be proud of and celebrate. I had an athletic coach that would always remind me that there are more things you learn from your struggles than your successes. I never really liked hearing it but I think he was right.  So in honor of Coach Abrams, let's reflect on some of the things we accomplished and are worthy of celebrating. 1) Ushered in a new Executive Director (thank you all for being patient with me, Ryan Shrimplin is big shoes to fill) 2) Started the large task of the ADA Pedestrian Transportation Condition Assessment 3) Adopted the FY 2021 Unified Planning Work Program 4) Adapted to changing conditions and learned new technologies to meet virtually (Scott Perry, I think you nailed it more than anyone and set a bar that can't be reached) 5) Re-established functional classifications for SEMPO boundaries 6) Conducted a competitive selection process for a partner firm for our 2021 - 2045 MTP Update 7) Established a prioritization list for the MoDOT STIP 2022-2026 8) Supported Performance Targets for MoDOT, IDOT, and CTA 9) Approved five TIP Amendments 10) Initiated the process of a new website redesign.

With everything this year has brought I have been most impressed with everyone's willingness to stay engaged and help contribute to everything we accomplished, a lot of which isn't even on the above list. 

Finally, with a heavy heart, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the passing of someone so very dear to our organization. Larry Payne contributed so much to our communities and was a true leader of transportation initiatives. The very first time I met Larry, I knew he was someone I could learn a lot from, but also someone I needed to keep an eye on (in a fun way). We will have a moment of silence for Larry at our TPC and Board meeting as well as recognizing his contributions with a resolution of memoriam. 

May this new year be kind, productive, but not make us learn too much.

- Alex McElroy

Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update

We have made some excellent progress on the development of our update to our Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). Draft versions of Sections 1 - Introduction, 2 - Planning Process, 4 - Existing Conditions , and 5 - Factors Affecting Transportation were sent to Steering Committee Members for review and comment. Deadline for comments from the group is January 15. Drafts of Sections 3 - MTP Vision, Goals, & Objectives, 7 - Alternative Analysis, 9 - Performance Measures are currently in progress and  scheduled to be released mid-January for comment from the Steering Committee. Click the button below for the December Project Status Update. 

ADA Pedestrian Transportation System Condition Assessment

One major project in our FY 2021 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is coming to conclusion. The SEMPO Board will consider accepting the ADA Pedestrian Transportation System Condition Assessment at their January 20th meeting. The assessments reviewed over 10,000 individual data points analyzing ADA compliance with sidewalks, curb ramps, blended transitions, grade breaks, detectable warning surfaces, openings, protruding objects, bus stops and stations, railroad crossings, handrails, refuge islands, crosswalks, and push buttons. The condition assessments offer prioritization recommendations, opinions of probable costs, as well as identifying potential funding sources. Click the buttons below to review the Final Draft reports for Jackson and Cape Girardeau. The files are fairly large so it may take a moment to download.   

December MoDOT Planning Partners Meeting

During our December 22nd Planning Partners Meeting with MoDOT leadership and statewide MPOs, MoDOT Director, Patrick McKenna confirmed that state departments of transportation (DOTs) are getting $10 billion in long-awaited emergency aid from a $900 billion COVID-19 relief measure passed by Congress on December 21st as part of a final year-end legislative package.

The House of Representatives passed the legislative package that included the COVID-19 rescue bill by a vote of 359 to 53, with the Senate passing it by a vote of 92 to 6. President Trump signed the measure on December 27.

The AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, I know acronyms are better sometimes) Executive Director, Jim Tymon, was quoted as stating "Since the early response to the pandemic, state DOTs have faced severe losses in state transportation revenues as vehicle travel declined. This COVID relief bill enables state DOTs to stay on track and support the efficient movement of critical goods and services as they maintain their transportation systems."

The "light reading" 5,593-page bill that includes the $900 billion COVID relief measure also includes a $1.4 trillion fiscal year 2021 omnibus appropriations package.

It is believed that the relief money can be used by state DOTs to fund Surface Transportation Block Grant-eligible projects as well as for preventive maintenance, routine maintenance, operations, and personnel - including employee and contractor salaries - along with debt service payments, availability payments, and coverage for other revenue losses. The relief funds are available for obligation through September 30, 2024.

Welcome to the World of Driving

Do you have a young teen getting ready to join the driving community? Thankfully, I have a little while but the inevitability of it still scares the life out of me. I had the opportunity to attend a "First Impact - Preparing New Drivers for the Road" interactive webinar hosted by Health Educator and Director of the First Impact Parent Education Program, Deana Tucker Dothage. The program is offered by the ThinkFirst Missouri initiative, which is a safety program that educates parents about the Missouri's Graduated Driver License (GDL) law and provides tools to help monitor, coach and support your young driver. I took a lot from it, when I wasn't being overly horrified by the prospect of my kids on the road. But the seminar really did provide some great advice that I found down-to-earth and realistic as to what challenges that not only teens are presented with on roadways but also best ways to communicate with your child that, may or may not be, pretty much done listening to you at that point. Happy to share more information with anyone interested. The button below will take you to their site for more information. 

SEMPO Trivia

A new year could bring a new winner! Shipping containers are measured in units called TEU's. What are TEU's?

a. Transporting Everything Units
b. Twenty-feet Equivalent Units
c. One Ton Equivalent Units
d. Transportation Energy Usage
e. Ten-meter Equivalent Units

Be the first one to respond to my email (amcelroy@cityofcape.org) with the correct answer, and the next time we host a meeting in-person I'll bring the drink of your choice. And Mandi, I know you know, I'm bringing a drink of your choice as well.

20 Most Stunning Roads

Okay, we have our challenges maintaining and traversing our local roads. But with this new year, let's start it with some perspective that we are not dealing with these 20 roads.

Transportation Quote

"Our decisions about transportation determine much more than where roads or bridges or tunnels or rail lines will be built. They determine the connections and barriers that people will encounter in their daily lives - and thus how hard or easy it will be for people to get where they need and want to go."

― Elijah Cummings