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MISSOURI TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE URGED TO BROADEN STAKEHOLDERS AND EXPAND DIALOGUE ON URGENT TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
STAKEHOLDERS MEET TO CRAFT ACTION PLAN FOR INCREASING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT TO CREATE JOBS AND KEEP MISSOURIANS SAFE
JEFFERSON CITY, MO (JANUARY 30, 2011)– The Missouri Transportation Alliance (MoTA) stakeholders met on Friday, January 28 in Jefferson City to carve out an action plan to increase infrastructure investment in Missouri. The current stakeholders urged the Alliance to broaden the statewide stakeholders and district chair organization in order to strengthen the statewide coalition and further MoTA’s efforts to deliver a smart, sustainable long-term statewide transportation plan that will provide greater safety to Missouriʼs families and spur the economy.
“We understand, and so do our stakeholders, that the only realistic solution will come from the citizens of Missouri,” said Bill McKenna, MoTA spokesperson and former Missouri Highways and Transportation Chairman. “MoTA has already begun to reach out to groups and individuals across Missouri about the state’s urgent transportation needs.”
According to McKenna, MoTA has begun the process of building a coalition and engaging Missourians. Over the past 18 months, MoTA conducted more than 200 public meetings and gathered input from all over the state to help guide the creation of a comprehensive transportation funding plan based on what Missourians need to make their travel safe and to create jobs and spur the economy.
“Missourians understand there are risks to not properly maintaining roads and bridges to keep their families safe and they are struggling in this economy,” said McKenna. “We’ve already begun the conversation and Missourians understand the need. Now, weʼre asking them to get involved and join us in taking action.”
MoTA will be working with first responders, small businesses, transportation and community leaders, businesses and citizens to develop a funding solution over the next several months. The Alliance has outlined several steps interested organizations and individuals can take to help elevate the conversation. To learn more about becoming an active supporter of the Alliance or to provide your input on how Missouriʼs transportation system can meet the safety and economic needs of Missouri, visit www.missouritransportation.org.
About the Missouri Transportation Alliance
The Missouri Transportation Alliance (MoTA) is a nonpartisan, citizen-led group of transportation stakeholders, business and labor organizations, and community leaders who believe Missouriʼs transportation infrastructure is critical to citizen safety and job creation. MoTA conducted more than 200 public meetings over 18 months in all ten MoDOT districts, to both inform the public about Missouriʼs current transportation situation and seek input on the regional priorities that should be considered in developing a new vision. MoTA has defined the need and is now developing a funding solution for a comprehensive transportation plan.