Metrolink, MODOT, And You

Tonight, the Missouri Department of Transportation is hosting a meeting to inform citizens about a draft list of projects to be funded through the federal
American Recovery and Revitalization Act.
There are more than a few reasons why you should be upset enough to go to this meeting and state your opinion.

The meeting, which is slated to start at 6 PM at MoDOT’s Transportation Management Center, 14301 South Outer 40 Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017.

The announcement, which was made yesterday (which in and of itself tells you something), seems somewhat cynical. First of all, they seem to not want people there. Or at least, not want city people who may have legitimate concerns. I mean..its in Chesterfield, and they gave little more than 24 hours notice.

Why should you care? Because of the $525 million that MO is slated to receive in federal stimulus money, less than 10% of it is coming to St. Louis. That's right, despite the fact that St. Louis is the main economic engine of the entire state, the fact that it has the largest population concentration in the state, and some serious needs, it won't even get a proportional piece of the pie.

You absolutely can make a difference. Go to this meeting and tell them that it is ridiculous that your tax money should be spent on roads and bridges that are likely to fall into disrepair from under use, while streets in St. Louis are crumbling from over use, particularly as high way traffic is diverted due to 64-40 closures.

At least email MODOT and tell them what you think.

Anybody?