JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri has lost $202 million in federal funding for state and local road, bridge and other transportation improvement projects. The money was lost when Congress failed to repeal a rescission built into the last federal transportation act.
            On Sept. 30, the Federal Highway Administration took away $8.708 billion nationally in contract authority from state highway programs. Missouri's portion of lost funds was $202 million.
            "About half of this reduction will directly impact projects selected by our local partners. We have completed our calculation of specific project types affected and have passed along the bad news to them." said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn. "As we have cautioned repeatedly, our funding sources soon won't keep pace with even our basic maintenance needs. Missouri cannot afford to lose these funds. This decrease in federal funding will further jeopardize our ability to create jobs, provide a safer transportation system and continue improving roads and bridges."
            Future bridge improvements on state-maintained highways will be affected because more than $98 million was rescinded from the On-System Bridge program. Another $17.4 million was rescinded from the Off-System Bridge program, which will impact bridge improvements in every county and the city of St. Louis.
             Missouri lost $44.7 million for transportation projects in urban areas (Surface Transportation Program-Urbanized), including $13 million in Kansas City, $28 million in St. Louis and $3.5 million in Springfield.
           
           Federal funds for transportation enhancement projects, like sidewalks, landscaping and pedestrian and bicycle facilities, were cut by $16.2 million.
            More than $17 million was lost in federal funds for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement projects, including nearly $2.3 million in Kansas City and more than $15 million in St. Louis. That means Missouri's two largest metropolitan areas have less for projects like diesel retrofits and rideshare programs that help reduce the amount of air pollutants.
             Following is a list of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, or SAFETEA-LU, rescissions affecting Missouri programs:

Program                                                                             Rescission

Rail/Highway Crossing                                                     $4,367,189

High Risk Rural Roads                                                    $1,903,644

Highway Safety Improvement Program                              $94,320

Recreational Trails                                                          $1,262,964

CMAQ                                                                            $17,477,403

Bridge Off System                                                           $17,349,282

Bridge On System                                                           $98,312,598

Safe Routes to School                                                      $477,133

STP Enhancements                                                          $16,275,265

STP Urbanized                                                                $44,742,767

Total                                                                             $202,262,565

Editor's Note:  Additional attachments giving SAFETEA-LU rescission amounts by Missouri program and location and audio clips from Pete Rahn can be found at www.modot.org/newsroom.