News and Information from July 2021
A Message from the Executive Director
A quick update on infrastructure legislation. On Wednesday, July 28th, the US Senate advanced a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill representing a milestone that will open the bill up for formal debate and potential passage. The Senate voted 67-32 to take the first procedural step toward debating the measure that has the stated support of the President. The bipartisan agreement gained the support of all 48 Democrats, two independents and 17 Republicans on this first procedural vote. Here is what the bill currently proposes:
o $550 billion in new spending (scaled down from $579 billion previously proposed);
o $110 billion for roads;
o $73 billion for power grid spending;
o $66 billion for railways;
o $65 billion to expand broadband access;
o $55 billion for clean drinking water;
o $50 billion for environmental resiliency;
o $39 billion for public transit; and
o $25 billion for airports
Meanwhile, we do have some looming deadlines for surface transportation funding. As you may recall, the current surface transportation authorization was extended via continuing resolution for one-year, which will expire September 30, 2021. This close deadline is exacerbated by the upcoming August legislative recesses which is scheduled to commence August 9th - September 10th. During a MoDOT monthly planning partners call it was expressed that we may see the repeated use of continuing resolutions until an infrastructure bill is passed. However, talks about potential three-month extensions were mentioned as opposed to a one-year extension.
SB 262 Signed Into Law
At a ceremonial signing on July 13, overlooking Center Junction in Cape Girardeau, Governor Parson signed Senate Bill 262 into law. The new legislation will raise the gas tax 2.5-cent-per-gallon each year, starting October 1st, through July 1, 2025 for a total increase of 12.5 cents. Once fully implemented, it is estimated to generate an additional $450 million annually. Cities and counties will see roughly one-third of these funds going toward local projects. The passing of this legislation marks the first time the gas tax has been raised in Missouri since 1996. Missouri currently leverages one of the lowest state gas tax rates in the nation for transportation infrastructure investments.
Metropolitan Statistical Area - Threshold Preserved
On July 13th, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced it will side with communities who requested they maintain the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) threshold of 50,000 residents. As previously discussed during SEMPO meetings, this decision would not have impacted the Cape Girardeau-Jackson urbanized area (UZA) designation as recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) based on US Census Bureau population counts. The simple explanation for this is that UZA's and MSA's are not interchangeable. The UZA is developed by the US Census Bureau based on information collected during each census. The MSA is produced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), using information taken from the census and blended with information from other sources, primarily the Department of Labor. The primary purpose of both geographies is to provide statistical information for use by government agencies. A secondary purpose is to serve as the basis for distribution of program funds that use a formula. A wide array of federal, state, and local executive agencies use these urban definitions and delineations to allocate funding and implement regulations.
So while not impacting the Cape Girardeau-Jackson UZA designation, this decision to retain the current threshold for the MSA designation is a very positive outcome for our region.
Signal Improvement at U.S. 61 and Maria Louise Lane/N. Cape Rock Drive Intersection
Flashing yellow arrows will be installed at the intersection of U.S. Route 61 (Kingshighway) and Maria Louise Lane/North Cape Rock Drive in Cape Girardeau.
“The Missouri Department of Transportation analyzed traffic in this area, and the addition of flashing yellow arrows will help increase efficiency,” said MoDOT Traffic Studies Specialist Grant Bowers. “The new signals will signify that drivers turning left should yield to oncoming traffic.”
The signals will also display a solid green arrow when left turning traffic has the right of way. A solid yellow arrow will indicate drivers should prepare to stop or complete the turn if in the intersection.
“By using the flashing yellow arrow, traffic on Maria Louise Lane will have more opportunities to turn left,” said Bowers.
The new signals will be activated the night of Monday, Aug. 9, weather permitting.
In a conversation with Mr. Bowers, he shared that MoDOT had considered the timing of the project and the future pedestrian crossing improvements which will be funded by the City of Cape Girardeau and a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant through MoDOT. It was determined by MoDOT that it made sense to move forward at this time with the signal improvements as there were not anticipated savings if both projects were conducted simultaneously.
A video on how to navigate intersections with flashing yellow signals may be found below:
Roadway Fatalities Update
The Southeast District has experienced 64 fatalities on the roadways in 2021 as of July 11. This number is up from 54 fatalities reported from June 13. Of these 64 fatalities, 35 occupants were not buckled and 56 were in rural locations. Statewide, the 2021 total thus far is 488 lives lost. This number surpasses the number of fatalities statewide Missouri has experienced in the years of 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. At this time last year there were a recorded 489 lives lost.
July Committee & Board Action
In July the SEMPO Technical Planning Committee and SEMPO Board took the following actions:
- Established the following as a Tier 3 Road & Bridge Prioritization List for MoDOT consideration:
- Three Lane I-55 from Scott City to Fruitland - Phase 1: I-55 Additional lane for both northbound and southbound traffic from exit 91 to exit 99.
- US61 & Deerwood Drive Intersection Improvements - Intersection to be reconstructed into a roundabout.
- Established the following as an additional funding scenario for Multi-Modal funding Prioritization List for MoDOT consideration:
Aviation
- Land Acquisition for Runway 10 Extension
- Taxiway D Extension
- Taxiway access to NW Quadrant
- Landside access road and airside taxilane for northwest quadrant parcel
- Helicopter and Light Sport Aircraft Operations Area
Bike & Pedestrian
- North Jackson-Cape Trail – Design and engineering for a trail connection between the City of Jackson and City of Cape Girardeau as conceptualized in the Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
- Establish a Pedestrian Crossing at Route K and Farrar Drive.
- Establish a Pedestrian Crossing at North High Street and Deerwood Drive.
Transit
- New facility headquarters for Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority. Dedicate $300,000 toward $600,000 required local match for an estimated $3.0 million project leveraging FTA funding.
Waterways – Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority
- Extending TOFC Track north to Bridge 5 - Allow train crews a siding to tuck into when unit trains come online to pass by
- Ground storage for Loop Track Terminal - Allow to unload train while waiting on barges to keep operation running in a timely manner
- Loop Track Terminal Storage Tracks - Remainder of Loop 1 and all of Loops 2, 3, and 4
- North Lead Track #2 and North Tracks 11 & 12
- Grain Track # 5 - Additional grain track for extra storage and loading and unloading railcars
- Interchange Track #2 - Second interchange track for additional rail traffic in Scott City
- Railroad Right-of-Way and Drainage Improvements
- Approved Amendment No. 8 to the FY 2020 – 2023 Transportation Improvement Program
- Released a Request for Proposal for an Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan (all proposals are due by August 6, 2021)
TEAP Grant Program Now Open
The application period for the Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP) is July 16, 2021 through August 31, 2021. Administered through MoDOT, the TEAP program allows local public agencies (LPAs) to receive engineering assistance for studying traffic engineering problems. LPAs facing a traffic safety or operational problem must utilize approved TEAP consultants from the LPA On-Call Consultant List to perform a traffic study. To learn more about the program and the application process click the button below.
SEMPO Trivia
What was the name of the ship that Jacques Cousteau was the Captain of?
a. Barracuda
b. Calypso
c. Holland
d. Cuttlefish
e. Argonaut
f. Cachalot
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.
Why the Dutch Wait Less at Traffic Lights
The more I look into advancements in transportation design and engineering, the more I find the Netherlands referenced for their balance of multi-modal transportation systems. Here is an example of how they approach traffic signals.
Transportation Quote
"When dealing with complex transportation issues, the best thing to do is pull up with a cold beverage and let somebody else figure it out."
- Anthony Bourdain
