Communications Team Wins Social Media Award for I-435/I-70 Efforts

MoDOT KC's communications team took home a Silver AMPS award from the Social Media Club of Kansas City on Thursday, February 27. The award was for the team's successful public relations campaign for the new I-70 and I-435 Partial Turbine Interchange. To view the full award submission on Sharepoint, click here.


This is the second AMPS award the communications team has won in two years; last year's being for the I-470 bridge rehabilitation project. The team has a total of five AMPS awards to date.


The $40 million construction project began in spring 2019 and is a total interchange
redesign to replace bridges within the interchange, remove the less traditional left side exit ramps, improve the loop ramp configuration, and provide congestion relief for the more than 200,000 vehicles traveling through it daily. The work would require numerous long term ramp closures with various detours to consider. Additionally, the project sits adjacent to two of the largest KC attractions: Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums.

Through the use of weekly news releases, numerous media events, social media, radio, TV, additional construction signage, and online information, MoDOT Kansas City’s communications team was able to successfully alert the public about closures, detours, and other traffic related information.

Congratulations Kenny Lynch

Congratulations to Kenny Lynch who retired on Wednesday, Feb. 19 after 28 years of service at MoDOT. Lynch served as senior traffic, signal and lighting tech. Check out photos from his retirement party below.

Be careful where you charge

When it comes to charging your personal cell phone, not all USB outlets are safe charging stations.

Employees should never charge their personal phones on MoDOT computers. Connecting your cell phone to your MoDOT computer makes it possible for items on your phone to be transmitted to your computer and vice versa.

With more people using phones that charge with USB ports MoDOT leaders want to remind everyone not to charge their phones on MoDOT computers, said Randy Cook, Kansas City District information systems manager.

“It has been a big problem in other districts,” Cook said.

Cell phones have not been a cause of malware in the Kansas City District as far as Cook knows, but the district still had more malware incidents than any other district last quarter.

Kansas City had 15 incidents, almost double the second highest district which was Northwest with eight incidents. Cook said most of these came through spam emails.

“People opening emails and clicking on links,” Cook said. “If you don’t know, don’t accept the email.”

If you suspect an email might be suspicious do not forward the email to anyone. Report it as spam.

When it comes to your personal cell phone make sure you bring a charger that can be plugged directly into an outlet. If you do not have one visit the IS department. If they have one available, they will loan it to you.

Crews demolish old Interstate 435 bridge

Crews worked through the night last weekend to demolish the old Interstate 435 over Interstate 70.  Maintenance crew used the closure to do median barrier work and pavement repairs as well.

Demolishing these bridges will allow crews to build the new I-435 bridges over I-70 as part of the I-435/I-70 Partial Turbine project. Check out photos from the demolition below.

Save the date: Women’s Conference April 15

Ladies, mark your calendars for this year's Kansas City MoDOT Women's Conference, Roaring into 2020.

The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, at the Lee's Summit Police Department Training Facility.

This year's conference will focus on wellness and empowerment. The day will include guest speakers, a panel, lunch and more.

This event is free. Registration opens soon. Stay tuned for details.

If you are interested in joining the Women's Conference Committee or have an interest or hobby that you would like to share during the conference showcase, email Claudia.Hoffman@modot.mo.gov.

James Banhart becomes first dispatcher to lead SHRP2 training

Traffic Systems Operator James Banhart made history at MoDOT recently when he became the first dispatcher to present at a Strategic Highway Research Program training.

The training, referred to as SHRP2, teaches core competencies for first responders and addresses responder safety on highway incidents. Presenters are typically first responders who work in the field—firefighters, police and emergency responders.

Banhart said he had taken the SHRP2 class a couple of times when he decided to take the Train the Trainer Course in Warrensburg, Missouri. The two-day course teaches participants how to become a SHRP2 presenter.

Banhart said his experience as a dispatcher brought a perspective to the table that other first responders did not have.

“They don’t know what the dispatchers have to do in the incident,” he said. “It allowed me to share my side of the coin.”

Banhart is the first dispatcher to lead one of these trainings in the metro.

“I didn’t know that I was going to be the only dispatcher,” he said. “That was actually pretty cool to find out.”

Emergency Response Operation Supervisor Scott Banes said that he hopes to have more dispatchers leading the training.

“Their role is just as valuable,” Banes said. “They are another piece of the puzzle.”

Kansas City Scout Incident Management Coordinator Marcus Slaughter agrees.

“It was a real pleasure having James be a part of the SHRP2 (TIM) training team,” Slaughter said. “Since SHRP2 was created for responders by responders, it’s important that its instructors reflect just that. Never before had there been someone in dispatch that expressed an interest in being an instructor and share their perspective at incident scenes. With James’ involvement in the program, we now have just that in our region. We are encouraged that others will see/hear of this and want to do the same.”

Banhart presented to about 100 participants at the SHRP2 training. Participants included police officers, firefighters, first responders, dispatchers and even a communications specialist.

“They all bring a different perspective,” Banes said. “James shows from a dispatcher perspective-- what they notice, what they see and how their part contributes to incident management.”

Banhart said he looks forward to presenting at more trainings in the future.

“I really enjoyed doing it,” he said.

Sign up now for Kansas City Corporate Challenge

Registration is open for this year’s Kansas City Corporate Challenge competition.

Companies throughout Kansas City compete against one another in a variety of athletic events, beginning April 10 and going through June. Money raised from the Corporate Challenge events goes to the Special Olympics.

Last year we had 158 employees sign up. Karlee Bauknecht, MoDOT’s Corporate Challenge Coordinator said she wants to see the number of participants increase this year. New participants will receive a free MoDOT Corporate Challenge T-shirt.

“It’s something fun to do outside of work,” Bauknecht said.

Events include team activities, such as basketball, dodge ball and tug-of-war. The competition also includes individual events such as a 5K, darts and half marathon.

Click here to view a full list of the events. 

The Kansas City MoDOT district has participated in Corporate Challenge since 2013.

“Some of the benefits MoDOT gains from participating in KCCC is improving employee morale, allowing employees to work together as a team outside of the workplace, building friendships and stronger work relationships and allowing employees to network with companies we do business with,” Bauknecht said.

Employees interested in the Kansas City Corporate Challenge can sign up now. To get started visit, http://kccorporatechallenge.com/. Use the code MODOT2020 to create your account.

Once you sign up for the MoDOT Corporate Challenge team you will be able to select the events in which you are interested. You are not committed to the events that you select that you are interested in, Bauknecht said. These interests give the team captains an idea of who is interested in what event. Bauknecht encourages everyone to sign up and try something.

All participants are invited to the kick-off celebration on April 10 at Kauffman Stadium.

For more information about Corporate Challenge contact Karlee Bauknecht at Karlee.Bauknecht@modot.mo.gov.

Free resources available through the EAP

Sometimes life events can feel like more than you can handle. It's important to know that if you are going through a stressful life event, the Employee Assistance Program is available to help, with many services free of charge. 

The EAP can provide counseling, financial services and legal advice. 

To use the EAP services, call 1 (800) 808-2261 or fill out a request online. Use the Company ID MCHCP. Someone from the EAP provider will get back to you, typically within 48 hours. You tell the EAP provider what your needs or concerns are, and then he or she will send you a list of providers. You are then able to schedule your appointments. Some services are available free of charge with the code provided by the EAP. 

All of the services are completely confidential and do not go through HR. 

For more information, visit https://www.modot.org/employee-assistance-program

Small actions can make a big difference with heart health

Sometimes a small choice can make the difference between life and death—just ask Northmoor maintenance worker Michael Rios.

Rios has been with MoDOT for two years. Last Sunday he had a pain under his shoulder that wouldn’t go away.

“I felt a small pain in my chest,” Rios said.

The incident followed two, 12 plus hour shifts of snow plowing and pothole filling.  Rios said he assumed his body simply felt stressed from all that work.

When he woke at 2 a.m. with a more intense pain he decided to go to the hospital. That decision, Rios later learned, saved his life.

Doctors at St. Luke’s East Hospital discovered that Rios had a 99 percent blockage to his heart. Had he taken pain medication and went back to bed he would have likely died in his sleep, doctors said.

The doctors were able to place a balloon and stint in his vein to allow the blood to flow to his heart again.

“This is from years of eating fast food,” Rios said. “I’m doing everything right now.”

Rios said he had given up greasy, high-fat food years ago, but years of eating through a drive-through and maintaining a sedentary life had caught up with him.

Fortunately for Rios, he caught his blockage in time. Not everyone is as lucky. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States—claiming 325,000 lives annually.

According to the National Institute of Health, about 344,000 people in Missouri have coronary heart disease.

February marks American Heart Month, making it the perfect time to start heart-healthy habits. The National Institute for Health recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, that’s less than 10 minutes a day.

To achieve a heart-healthy diet try eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.

And whatever you do, make sure you go to the doctor if you notice a change in your body. The visit just might save your life.

“If you feel like something isn’t right or normal, don’t wait,” Rios said.

2020 Chili and Bake Off Results

The EAC had its annual Chili and Bake Off on  Thursday, Jan. 30. The event raised $388.95 for the EAC. They will use this money for the Employee Assistance Fund.

Below are the winners of the chili and baking competition.

Chili:

First – Mike Schnakenberg

Second – Cliff Everts

Third – Anthony Crusha

People’s Choice – Martin Rinne

Bake Off:

First – Strike Team

Second – Kathy Polen

Third – Lea Ann Otis
People’s Choice – Strike Team 

Click here for more photos from the event.