News and Information from February 2022
A Message from the Executive Director
This month managed to pack in weather issues, global unrest, great events highlighting our Black History Month, Lincoln's birthday, Presidents' Day, Valentines Day, the Super Bowl, and disappointing news from Punxsutawney Phil. And I thought this was our short month. Well as the world turned, so too did our organization. Our Board of Directors and Technical Planning Committee discussed upcoming projects for our 2023 fiscal year which included a 2024 - 2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Update , which is a federal requirement under 49 U.S.C. 5303(j), and a Public Transit – Human Service Transportation Coordination Plan. Under the recommendation of MoDOT, the proposed TIP Update would actually need to start this fiscal year but would have a significant amount of the work occurring in next fiscal year. Our Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan will also spill over into FY2023 with an anticipated adoption of the plan occurring in September. I will share a draft of our FY2023 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), a.k.a. our budget and work plan for the upcoming fiscal year, with our Technical Planning Committee this Wednesday (3/2) and provide the SEMPO Board an opportunity to review and recommend any additional thoughts before a final draft is presented for consideration in May.
Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan Update
In February, our efforts focused on stakeholder outreach with interviews being conducted with selected groups and solicitation of surveys for broader public input. While the interviews have been fruitful, we only have roughly 26 completed surveys. Here is a brief breakdown of which groups have surveys completed so far.
SEMPO Stakeholder Outreach Summary 02/24:
Public = 21 surveys
Community Organizations = 5 surveys
Fleets = No responses
EV Dealers = No responses
EV Service Providers = No responses
Phone calls to local dealers have given us insight that none contacted so far have the ability and/or tools to service EVs. Our plan is to continue to follow up with the groups that have no responses to date. We will also be developing additional social media text that we will encourage Steering Committee members and SEMPO members broadly to share on their respective social media sites advertising the surveys that are on SEMPO's website.
MoDOT Statewide Planning Partners Meeting
On February 16, 2022, SEMPO staff attended the MoDOT Statewide Planning Partners Conference; which was hosted virtually due to Omicron precautions. Presentations included an update from MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna, Unfunded Needs & Letting Update, MoDOT financial status and forecast, MoDOT planning update, Discretionary Grants, Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL), 2023 - 2027 STIP Update, and State Highway Safety Update. To view a copy of the presentation materials click the button below.
2023 - 2027 Preliminary Draft Road & Bridge Program
MoDOT's preliminary draft 2023 - 2027 Road and Bridge Program is ready for review. The draft incorporates the anticipated revenues from the passage of state Senate Bill 262, increasing the Missouri state fuel tax for the first time in 25 years, as well as the increase in federal funds from the November 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
Proliferation of EV Ads
Did you know the average Super Bowl ad this year cost $6.5 million for 30 seconds of airtime? This says something when you see General Motors, BMW, Kia, and Polestar investing in ads featuring electric cars and SUVs. Over the next few years we will see automakers introducing dozens of new models of electric vehicles. Borrowing a quote from a recent AMPO article, "We’re in the early stages of the biggest transition in the auto industry since the car was first invented,” said Nick Nigro, head of the research group Atlas Public Policy. “Transitioning to electric is going to transform every facet, every aspect of building and manufacturing vehicles, and that’s a multitrillion-dollar market.” The United States' currently has a goal of half of all new car sales in the US to be hybrid, electric, or hydrogen-powered by 2030. This wave is coming. SEMPO's upcoming Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan will help us navigate these new waters.
Did you miss the EV Super Bowl ads? Click the button below to find a recent AMPO article featuring the Electric Vehicle movement and watch the EV Super Bowl ads.
Roadway Fatalities Update
The Southeast District has experienced 12 fatalities on the roadways in 2022 as of February 20. This number is slightly lower than the 15 fatalities which occurred in 2021 at this time. Of these 12 fatalities, 60% of the occupants were not buckled and all 12 were in rural locations. Statewide fatalities are on the same trajectory as experienced in 2021 with both years having 100 fatalities at this time. This is not the path we want to emulate as 2021 recorded the highest number of fatalities on our roadways in over five years, eclipsing 2020 which had previously held this dreadful record.
Dollars Dead Ahead
The $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) legislation includes both competitive grants for local governments, as well as even larger funding that will flow through state governments for transportation-related projects, airports, and port improvements. The below article was published by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) highlighting techniques for getting the most from this “once-in-a-generation” funding. Click the button below to be taken to the article.
SEMPO Trivia
"Oh sir, just one more thing": What kind of car did Lt Columbo drive?
a. Peugeot 403 convertible
b. Jaguar E-Type
c. Porsche 911
d. Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing
e. Aston Martin DB4
f. Shelby GT350
Be the first one to respond to my email (amcelroy@cityofcape.org) with the correct answer and I'll bring the drink of your choice to our next meeting.
A city that was built on walking
Some good planning taking place here. See the Complete Streets project in Pittsburgh, PA.
Transportation Quote
“Somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a note on the windscreen, it said, ‘Parking Fine’.”
– Tommy Cooper
