MoDOT FAQs for COVID-19 Vaccination

Please note the distribution of vaccinations and how it effects daily MoDOT operations is a dynamic situation. Responses to questions could change as circumstances change. We will update responses as necessary and update the date in the header. Answers are shown in red.

For more information and FAQs about the vaccine itself, please refer to the state of Missouri’s website MOStopsCovid.com

Distribution of the Vaccine

Where do MoDOT employees fall in the phases for distribution of the vaccine?

Based on the Jan. 14, 2021, information from the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services, Phase 1B Tier 1 (first responder and emergency services) includes all MoDOT employees working in Maintenance, Highway Safety and Traffic and Safety, and Emergency Management.  Phase 1B Tier 3 (critical infrastructure) includes all MoDOT employees in Bridge, Construction and Materials, Motor Carrier Services, General Services, and Information Systems. All other employees in MoDOT are included in Phase 2 (essential government and economic recovery). As of April 9, 2021, all Missourian residents 16 years and older are eligible to receive a vaccine.

How do I get the vaccination?

Register with the state at https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/ or also with your county health department, local pharmacy, healthcare provider (hospital) and primary physician. When they receive vaccine supplies, they will contact you. 

 Why are the MoDOT employees categorized by division and not by work function?  All employees in the field interacting with others to complete their work should be prioritized over office-based staff.

The state of Missouri requested we provide employees by division for ease of priority. We are following the main categories provided to us by the state.

 Why do we need names collected for who wants to receive the vaccine through MoDOT?

In order to populate the required forms to give the vaccine, we have to have the employee’s name. This is similar to the forms we do for sentinel testing.

 If I’m given an appointment time to get my vaccine during normal work time, do I have to take sick leave or vacation to get the vaccine?  If yes, what time coding do we use for the time spent getting the vaccine?

If the vaccine is done through MoDOT during your normal working hours, you will use the WSCOVD19 code. If the vaccination is being done outside of MoDOT during your normal working hours, the employee would have to take sick leave, annual leave or comp time to cover the time away from work, similar to going to a doctor’s appointment.

 Am I permitted to use a state vehicle to get my vaccine?

If the employee is obtaining the vaccine through MoDOT, employees will be permitted, with supervisory approval, to take a state vehicle to obtain their vaccine. Employees obtaining the vaccine other than through MoDOT are not permitted to use a state vehicle.

 

If I take my personal vehicle to obtain the vaccine through MoDOT, will I be compensated for mileage?

No.  Employees will not be compensated for mileage if they take their personal vehicle.  Employees will be permitted, with supervisory approval, to take a state vehicle to obtain the vaccine through MoDOT. 

If the vaccine is obtained through MoDOT, will I be paid if the time it takes to get the vaccine ends up being outside of my normal work hours?

As with all work outside of normal hours, employees should first obtain supervisory approval and flex out their time within the work week whenever possible.  However, if the employee is unable to flex out their time within the work week and the time to take the vaccine through MoDOT goes beyond the employee’s normal work hours, employees will be compensated for their time. Employees who obtain the vaccine other than through MoDOT are not compensated for time to obtain the vaccine, but employees may use accrued leave as needed to obtain the vaccine.

If I am working from home and get the vaccine through MoDOT, will I be paid for my time to drive to the location to obtain the vaccine and back home?

Yes.  Travel time to obtain the vaccine through MoDOT counts as time worked.  If the vaccine is done through MoDOT during your normal working hours, you will use the WSCOVD19 code.  If the vaccination is being done outside of MoDOT during your normal working hours, the employee would have to take sick leave, annual leave or comp time to cover the time away from work, similar to going to a doctor’s appointment.

Information about the Vaccine

Is there a cost to getting the vaccine? Does our insurance cover it?

No person can be billed for the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination providers may charge an administration fee to insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, if applicable in your situation. Uninsured Missourians will be able to receive the vaccination regardless of their health insurance status.

 What vaccine (which manufacturer type) will we be given? Is there a way we can choose?

There are currently three FDA approved vaccines for distribution in the United States – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. We do not know which ones will be available where and don’t have any information on if there is any way to choose. 

 What will the vaccine do for me as an employee?

According to the CDC, all COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. Learn more about the different COVID-19 vaccines. Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe getting a COVID-19 vaccine may also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Experts continue to conduct more studies about the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on severity of illness from COVID-19, as well as its ability to keep people from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

How long does it take for the vaccine to become effective?

According to the CDC, it can take two weeks after receiving a vaccine before antibodies are fully active in your system. So far, the available COVID-19 vaccinations require two doses before you have full antibodies. You will be instructed by the medical provider at your first dose when you must return for the second dose.

How long will the vaccine’s effectiveness last?

We won’t know how long immunity lasts after vaccination until we have more data on how well COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions. Experts are working to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity. The CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

Which lasts longer? Immunity after getting COVID-19 or the immunity from the vaccine?

According to the CDC, the protection someone gains from having an infection (called “natural immunity”) varies depending on the disease, and it varies from person to person. Because this virus is new, we don’t know how long natural immunity might last. Current evidence suggests that getting the virus again (reinfection) is uncommon in the 90 days after the first infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. We won’t know how long immunity lasts after vaccination until we have more data on how well COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions. Experts are working to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity. The CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

I have already had COVID-19. Do I need to get vaccinated?

Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. If you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Experts do not yet know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called “natural immunity,” varies from person to person.  It is rare for someone who has had COVID-19 to get infected again. It also is uncommon for people who do get COVID-19 again to get it within 90 days of when they recovered from their first infection.  We won’t know how long immunity produced by vaccination lasts until we have more data on how well the vaccines work.

If I tested positive for COVID, do I have to wait a certain period before I can be vaccinated?

Vaccination should not occur until the person positive for COVID-19 has met the criteria to stop their quarantine.  After your quarantine is over, you can be vaccinated.

If I’ve had another vaccine recently (flu, shingles, tetanus, etc.), is there a waiting period to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

According to the State of Missouri vaccine website, the COVID-19 vaccines should be spaced at least 14 days from any other vaccine.

Post-Vaccine MoDOT Protocols / Operations 

What percentage of the population needs to get the vaccination to have herd immunity?

Experts do not yet know what percentage of people would need to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity to COVID-19. Herd immunity means that enough people in a community are protected from getting a disease because they’ve already had the disease or they’ve been vaccinated. Herd immunity makes it hard for the disease to spread from person to person, and it even protects those who cannot be vaccinated, like newborns. The percentage of people who need to have protection in order to achieve herd immunity varies by disease. The CDC and other experts are studying herd immunity and will provide more information as it is available.

Will the vaccine allow us to have in person meetings, travel, and have gatherings?

We are evaluating situations based on the operational need to be in person on a case by case basis. If you have a situation that you need to meet in person to accomplish core MoDOT business, please talk to your supervisor and your District or Division leadership for consideration by executive leadership. 

Do I need to wear and mask and social distance after I have had two doses of the vaccine?

We are strongly encouraging employees to wear masks in shared spaces and when within 6 feet of someone.

If I have received the vaccine and have body aches, fever, fatigue, or other symptoms, what are my leave options?   

If employees can work remotely, that remains an option to the extent they feel up to doing so.  If they cannot work remotely, then they should use sick leave, annual leave, compensatory time and leave no pay if leave is exhausted. 

If you get vaccinated, can you still participate in the Sentinel Testing program?

Yes. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccination cannot cause you to test positive on viral tests, like sentinel testing, which are used to see if you have a current infection.​  Based on the best information of experts and their knowledge of the vaccine’s protection, you can still carry the virus asymptomatic after you have received the vaccine. You can still transmit the virus to others.

If you get vaccinated are you still required to test in the box in testing program?

No. Based on current CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated employees with no COVID-like symptoms are not required to be tested or quarantine following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, as their risk of infection is low. Employees will be required to show proof of their full vaccination in order to not be tested or quarantined.

Do you still have to quarantine as a close contact after you receive both doses of the vaccine?

No, if you meet certain criteria. If a team member has had close contact, the team member is not required to quarantine if the following criteria are met: The team member (1) is fully vaccinated for COVID-19 defined as at least 2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or at least 2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine; AND (2) has remained asymptomatic since the current close contact. An employee who met these criteria may be required to be off work until MoDOT receives sufficient documentation of the employee’s vaccination to ensure the employee meets the criteria.   

Am I required to provide documentation to verify I received my vaccination?   

Yes.  To not be required to box in test or quarantine, you must provide a copy of your vaccination card to your local human resources representative to verify you received your vaccination.  If you have misplaced your vaccination card, you can obtain documentation from your local health department or your healthcare provider of proof you have been fully vaccinated.  An employee who meets the criteria to not be required to quarantine may be required to be off work until MoDOT receives sufficient documentation of the employee’s vaccination to ensure the employee meets the criteria. If you are unable or unwilling to provide documentation to MoDOT verifying you meet the criteria, you will be required to quarantine.  It is important for employees to be aware that Personnel Policy 2500, “Standard Rules of Conduct” states employees shall not provide false information, misrepresent information, or omit relevant information on work-related documents including but not limited to medical, physician or health documentation submitted to the department in connection with the employee’s job.  Violation of these rules can result in discipline up to, and including, termination.

Can we ask our co-workers about their vaccination status? 

Employees are discouraged from asking others about their vaccination status. The decision to get the vaccine is a personal choice and coworkers and supervisors should not be asking questions about an employee’s decision to receive or not receive the vaccination.  This is consistent with how MoDOT handles not sharing personal medical information about employees diagnosed with COVID-19.  Conversations about COVID-19 cases and who has or has not been vaccinated should not occur as these conversations could include confidential medical information, which may be protected from disclosure under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  An employee may choose to voluntarily disclose their own vaccination status to a coworker or supervisor.  If an employee discloses their vaccination status, supervisors may not ask the reason(s) why the employee has or has not been vaccinated.

 

Guidelines and Best Practices to Reduce COVID-19 Exposure

Guidelines

• Any meetings that can be conducted virtually should be conducted by phone or videoconference. 

• Anyone who is assigned a laptop computer should take it with them, along with necessary power cords and accessories, after each shift to ensure it is available for use if a facility is closed. 

• If on MoDOT time or traveling in a MoDOT vehicle, it is strongly encouraged to wear a face covering when you enter any public building or store. 

• Please comply with local public health orders, and social distancing guidelines specific to a building or business or location. 

• Create District Response Teams (DRT) to discuss emerging issues and develop mitigation strategies related to COVID-19. Teams may consist of DE, ADE, HR, SM & other necessary management team members, along with the supervisor of the impacted work unit. To ensure employee privacy, medical information shall not to be discussed or shared with DRT members except as necessary to carry out the functions of the DRT. Best Practices 

• Goal is to ensure we have continuity of operations, including the availability of leadership for various functional areas. 

• Avoid having multiple leaders of a unit working in close quarters to reduce chances of both being out at the same time due to exposure. Consider moving the work location of Maintenance Supervisors and Asst. Maintenance Supervisors to separate areas of the facility. • Avoid gathering all Crew Leaders for a work location. 

• Plan for seasonal operations several months ahead, to be well prepared. 

• Implement changes to winter operations to limit contact in the District EOC. 

• Stagger operation shifts, when possible, to avoid close contact among equipment operators. 

• DRT conference calls may be beneficial following the notification of a positive test of an employee to determine If cleaning of facility &/or vehicles is required. 

• Inform employees who to notify in case they have symptoms and/or get tested for COVID-19. 

• Be prepared if your building closes before you return. Supervisors need plans for keys and PPE as access to facilities isn’t guaranteed. 

• When physically out of the office, employees who have an assigned desk phone should forward the desk phone to a MoDOT provided cell phone or other monitored MoDOT phone number so that messages are not left unreturned. 

District and Division Leadership: 

May 17, 2021 Best Practices 

• Model the way by following all safety protocols at all times. 

• Routinely check-in with leadership areas within the work units. 

• Share information in a timely manner. 

• Establish a process for after-hours notification to HR and SM so employees/supervisors know how to inform when an employee is being tested/tested positive/under quarantine. 

Supervisor Leadership: 

Guidelines 

• Determine the locations, equipment, & co-workers with whom the COVID positive employee worked within the 48 hours prior to the earlier of the employee developing symptoms or the date the test was conducted through the point the employee was no longer physically present at work. 

• If the employee requests to be off work for a doctor appointment, it is appropriate to verify if it is for COVID-19 symptoms. If the employee states that the appointment is not for COVID-19 or related symptoms, do not inquire further about the reasons for the appointment. 

• Employee return to work must be based on the Department’s COVID-19 guidelines; consult HR and SM for related questions. 

• Understand and follow guidelines for reporting of symptoms and COVID-19 testing. 

Best Practices 

• Revisit symptoms of COVID-19 periodically with teams, so they know what to watch for. 

• Revisit social distancing, face covering, handwashing requirements and disinfecting expectations regularly with supervisors and teams. 

• Remind employees face coverings are strongly encouraged in MoDOT facilities, like building entry, close quarters, hallways, breakrooms, common areas, etc. 

• Have situational awareness of any employees who comment on showing any symptoms. 

• Reassign workspaces or stagger occupancy times if cubicles or workspaces do not have at least 6 feet of separation. 

• Consider ways to conduct a virtual &/or socially distanced Risk Based Assessments (RBAs) or morning muster such as meeting outside, using a conference call or the radio. 

Individual Safety: 

Guidelines 

• Do not come to work if you have symptoms and/or if you have been exposed to someone who is positive. Your actions could result in others on your team getting COVID-19, your building not being able to perform winter operations, and putting more stress on other buildings to have to cover. 

• Do not rely on face coverings as fail-proof protection; even if wearing a face covering, remain 6 feet away from others whenever possible.  

• Employees are strongly encouraged to have a face covering in their possession at all times during their workday, so they are ready to put it on any time they walk into a facility or are within 6 feet of anyone else. 

Facilities: 

Guidelines 

• Frequently sanitize work surfaces, doorknobs, stairwell railings, break room tables, bathrooms, etc. 

• In person social gatherings shall not be held. Social gatherings may only be held via Cisco meetings, WebEx or other approved virtual platforms Best Practices 

• Avoid entering a facility that is not your primary work location whenever possible. If necessary, to enter another facility, try to keep at least 48-hours between visits to different facilities. 

• Avoid using the restroom or break room in a MoDOT facility that is not your assigned facility, whenever possible. 

• Supervisors within a building should separate their desks to different areas of the building if possible, to reduce the likelihood of a building supervisor, assistant, or crew leader all being quarantined at the same. 

• Place a sign on break room and conference room doors to inform employees of maximum occupancy to maintain social distancing. 

• Consider designating one door as “ENTRY ONLY” and one door as “EXIT ONLY” to minimize interaction and congestion at entryways, along with following face covering and social distancing guidelines. 

• Stagger shift changes to reduce the number of employees present at the facility. • Consider splitting crews and assigning specific areas for morning musters, lunch, and end of shift to minimize the number of employees in an area. • Minimize the number of facilities, even within the same work location or areas within a facility, that an employee enters during their workday as much as possible. This will help insure having other facilities that are available to work from in the event the main workspace is closed.

 • Ensure cleaning supplies are stored in each facility that employees may work from. 

• Need to consider availability of restrooms & sinks. Portable toilets may be an option. Determine an alternate plan for providing restroom & handwashing options if facility is closed. 

• Identify where the portable toilets are typically used for inmates, so you can move them as needed. 

• Make arrangements with employees at other facilities before borrowing equipment to minimize contact. 

• Periodically revisit the staging and setting up of break rooms and common areas to ensure social distancing can be maintained. 

• Make arrangements to notify employees impacted by closed buildings, including those who are dropping off field samples or picking up mail. 

Vehicles & Equipment: 

Best Practices 

• Keys for vehicles & equipment – consider storing another set of keys in a safe & secure location separate from the main building. For example, consider duplicate keys kept by Superintendents for common fleet that is easy to make a key. 

• Park vehicles, equipment & loaders outside, including mechanic’s trucks, as much as possible.

COVID-19 Symptom & Testing Reporting Guidelines

Employees shall immediately report COVID-19 related symptoms experienced by themselves and household members, close contacts, pending tests (other than asymptomatic community-based/sentinel testing), and positive test results to their supervisor and the District/Division HR staff. These reports are to be submitted as soon as possible, including on weekends or holidays, in order to manage any facility cleaning or closures that may need to take place. Please provide the information on the COVID-19 Reporting Form to your District/Division HR staff. 

The following guidelines shall be used by MoDOT employees for reporting COVID-19 related symptoms, close contacts and testing: Scenarios: 

1) Employee has taken a COVID-19 test during a community testing event and is waiting for results or has received a negative result, but has not had symptoms of COVID-19 • No reporting to MoDOT is required. Note: Community testing may include sentinel tests, pre-op testing, community testing events, required workplace testing, etc. Positive test results shall be reported to your supervisor and District/Division HR staff. 

2) Employee has taken a COVID-19 test and has received a positive result:
    • Report necessary details to district or CO HR due to the employee’s work status being changed to “unavailable for work” or “working but cannot report to work” during self-quarantine period
    • Identify any close contact that may have exposed additional co-workers
    • Report last physical presence in a MoDOT facility to determine facility status 

3) Employee has been identified as having close contact with an individual who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is being tested, employee has been identified 5/14/21 as having close contact with an individual (including a co-worker) who has tested positive for COVID-19, or the employee has otherwise been directed by local public health officials to quarantine due to close contact with an infected person:
    • Report necessary details to district or CO HR due to the employee’s work status being changed to “unavailable for work” or “working but cannot report to work” during self-quarantine period. 

4) Employee or household member has COVID-19 related symptoms but has not taken a COVID-19 test:     
    • Report necessary details to district or CO HR due to the employee’s work status being changed to “unavailable for work” or “working but cannot report to work” during self-quarantine period. 

5) Employee has COVID-19 related symptoms and has taken a COVID-19 test, but has not yet received the results:
    • Report necessary details to district or CO HR due to the employee’s work status being changed to “unavailable for work” or “working but cannot report to work” during self-quarantine period Note: The term “positive test” in this document refers only to a PCR/active infection test. Antibody tests that show an individual may have been previously infected are not required to be reported. The privacy of all personal and medical information must be protected at all times. Confidentiality of personal and medical information must be maintained at all times and may not be shared with anyone except those required.

Still time to download Outlook Mobile App

Those with MoDOT-issued mobile devices have until July 1 to upgrade to the new Outlook mobile app. Native mail on all devices will be going away, but the new app includes great features and more closely aligns with your PC experience.

Setting up the new mobile app is easy and quick. Information Systems has created a training SharePoint page, which includes setup instructions and information on how to take advantage of the new features.

Video setup instructions

More features

 

Internal Communications survey ready now

 

To improve MoDOT’s internal communications, a brief survey is being distributed to all employees.

The seven-question survey is anonymous and asks employees which communications tools they use, which ones they don’t, how they prefer to receive MoDOT information and what kind of information they’d like to see in our publications.

The Communications Division asks all employees to take the survey to make sure their opinions are included. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, May 28.

Make sure your voice is heard – take the survey today!

If you need printed copies, please contact your local Communications staff.

 

Guidance Updates for Cleaning, Two in a Vehicle and Testing Protocols

Cleaning

Effective May 17, 2021 Cleaning On April 5, 2021, the CDC updated guidance regarding surfaces. Specifically CDC says “The principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infectious virus. It is possible for people to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects (fomites), but the risk is generally considered to be low.” Based on this CDC guidance, employees should do daily cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. Employees should continue to clean surfaces in buildings, equipment and fleet regularly as a best practice for minimizing the spread of any virus. When we have a positive case in a building, we will focus the cleaning on the specific area the positive employee worked in and any shared areas frequented by that employee. We do not plan to close complete facilities for professional cleaning. 

Vehicles 

We are permitting no more than two people in a vehicle to facilitate operations. Both vehicle occupants should wear a face covering and have the windows down when possible. Employees will have the option to not ride with two people in a vehicle for personal circumstances. It is important to keep in mind the CDC and public health department definition of close contact is greater than 15 minutes in a space less than six feet. If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the close contact will be based on any time greater than 15 minutes. Close contact employees will have to quarantine for 14 days unless they have been fully vaccinated. Employees may use annual leave, sick leave (if applicable), comp time or leave no pay. Borrowed Leave and COVID leave options are no longer available. 

Testing Protocols 

Employees may perform all tasks/training without pre-operational COVID testing. Employees may ride two in a vehicle without pre-operational COVID testing. Box in testing will be initiated if one employee tests positive for COVID-19. All employees who work with and/or physically reported to that work location as determined by the Safety and Health Manager and Division or District leadership within the last 14 days will be required to have a self-administered nasal PCR COVID-19 test. Employees will be identified for testing by utilizing available resources to identify employees who need to be tested (i.e., supervisor reports, facility access reports, etc.). Testing will occur within 24 hours of the confirmed positive result or the next regularly scheduled business day. Based on current CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated employees with no COVID-like symptoms are not required to be tested or quarantine following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, as their risk of infection is low. Employees will be required to show proof of their full vaccination in order to not be tested or quarantined. Voluntary COVID-19 testing is available upon request. 

Am I required to provide documentation to verify I received my vaccination? 

Yes. To not be required to box in test or quarantine due to close contact, you must provide a copy of your vaccination card to your local human resources representative to verify you received your full vaccination. If you have misplaced your vaccination card, you can obtain documentation from your local health department or your healthcare provider of proof you have been fully vaccinated. An employee who meets the criteria to not be required to test or quarantine may be required to be off work until MoDOT receives sufficient documentation of the employee’s vaccination to ensure the employee meets the criteria. If you are unable or unwilling to provide documentation to MoDOT verifying you meet the criteria, you will be required to quarantine. See Personnel Policy 2500, “Standard Rules of Conduct” for more information.

May is mental health awareness month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which provides a timely reminder that mental health is essential.

There are several resources available for individuals who may need mental health assistance:

•       Show Me Hope – free, confidential, multilingual helpline available 24/7 for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties due to the pandemic.

•       DMH CARES – live, interactive wellness webinars including health and wellness tips, stress management exercises, resilience education and disaster recovery resources.

•       DMH website resources – COVID-19 Information and Self Care.

•       Employee Assistance Program – employees and any member of their immediate household can receive up to six free visits per episode for personal areas of concern (health problems, marital problems, family problems, financial problems, stress, grief, etc.).

 

Statewide EAC accepting applications

 

MoDOT’s Employee Advisory Council is now accepting applications!

The EAC is comprised of three salaried MoDOT employees from each district and Central Office, including up to three members chosen by the department director.

These employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, must meet their performance expectations and must not have any serious disciplinary action within the past year or while serving on the EAC.

Click here to apply. 

May 2021 Commissioners meeting

A draft 2022-2026 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) that focuses on taking care of the state’s existing transportation system was presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission at its May 5 meeting. The presentation kicks off a 30-day public review and comment period that ends June 4. 

Transportation Planning Director Eric Curtit told commissioners the draft STIP includes 1,417 highway and bridge projects, of which 84% will maintain the system in the condition it is in today. On average, this STIP annually invests in 740 lane miles of interstate pavements, 1,387 miles of major route pavements, 2,733 miles of minor route pavements and 277 bridges. 

 
“MoDOT’s priority is maintaining the existing system of highways and bridges,” Curtit said. “We have developed asset management plans for each district, which focus on preventive maintenance improvements to keep good roads and bridges in good condition. If preventive maintenance investments were not made, the cost of improving the asset in poor condition can cost four to ten times more.” 

This STIP includes funding for the “Focus on Bridges” program that was initiated by Governor Parson and funded by the Missouri General Assembly in 2019. During 2020, 101 Focus on Bridges projects were completed and many more will be completed in 2021. 

This STIP was developed assuming a federal funding level consistent with the last year of the FAST Act and includes the federal surface transportation funding provided by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which was enacted on Dec. 27, 2020. Other funding assumptions include redirected CARES Act monies and bond issuances in 2023 and 2026 to be repaid with dedicated motor vehicle sales tax revenue which is deposited in the State Road Bond Fund per the Amendment 3 legislation. 

The STIP details an annual construction program that averages $1.1 billion per year for the five-year period. But it is insufficient to meet the state’s unfunded high-priority transportation needs that are estimated in MoDOT’s “Citizen’s Guide to Transportation Funding” at an additional $825 million per year. 

“The STIP represents our commitment to Missourians of the projects that will be developed and delivered over the next five years,” MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna said. 

The draft STIP also includes detailed project information for non-highway modes of transportation and includes a section detailing planned operations and maintenance activities for the next three years, alongside expenditures for those same activities in the prior year. This additional information is provided to allow Missourians to more easily see how their transportation funding is invested. 

The draft 2022-2026 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026). The program is available on MoDOT's website: https://www.modot.org/DRAFTSTIP. 

Following the public review period, the comments will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. The Commission will review the comments and the final transportation program before considering it for approval at its July meeting. 

Director’s Report – Director McKenna reported that Commissioner Terry Ecker recently presented a Leadership Coin to Northwest Assistant District Engineer Marty Liles. On the evening of March 29, Commissioner Ecker was traveling on Highway 71 when he approached a temporary traffic signal that had been installed for road work. A semi suddenly came up behind Commissioner Ecker and was unable to stop so the driver took the rig into the shoulder/median. 

Ecker contacted law enforcement and called Liles regarding the incident. While Ecker was unhurt, the rig and its load created a mess. Marty arrived on scene quickly and assisted with traffic control to help clear the scene and adjust the temporary signal to help with traffic flow. 

“Marty went above and beyond the call of duty,” Ecker said. “The actions taken showed genuine care for the traveling public.” 

McKenna also said Meritorious Safety Awards were recently presented to two Southwest District Employees, Maintenance Supervisor Matt Ilgenfritz and his assistant, Scott Austin. They were concerned with Kyle Whitmore, a senior maintenance worker in Springfield, did not show up for work or call in on Jan. 12. After calling him and getting no answer, they drove to Whitmore’s apartment where they got no response when knocking on the door. 

Enlisting the assistance of the apartment manager and her husband, they entered the apartment where they found Kyle unresponsive, face down on the floor. They called 9-1-1 and the operator had them pull Kyle from beneath the bed and roll him over. They provided updates to the operator, including the counting of breaths until the ambulance crew arrived. 

Kyle regained consciousness before the ambulance crew took him to the hospital and he is now recovering from his illness. 

“Their conscientious and caring response to this emergency probably saved a life, and is yet another example of the dedication of our employees, how they look out for each other, and their commitment to safety,” McKenna said. 

Also as a part of the director’s report, Deputy Director/Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger announced Chris Redline will become the district engineer for the Kansas City District when Dave Silvester retires at the end of May. Chris has spent his 29-year career at MoDOT. After graduating from Kansas State University with a civil engineering degree, he worked in a variety of positions in the Kansas City District including construction inspector, resident engineer and area engineer. He served as the Kansas City District’s Assistant District Engineer overseeing the operations functions for more than a decade before being promoted to district engineer for the Northwest District in St. Joseph three years ago. 

Commission Chair Tom Waters said the Commission had presented Silvester with a resolution expressing its appreciation for his many achievements in service to MoDOT during a 29-year career. 

Consideration of Proposals for Fixing Access to Rural Missouri (FARM) Bridge Program Design-Build Project – The Commission selected the Lehman -Wilson Team as the best-value proposer to deliver the FARM Bridge program, which will replace 31 bridges in the Northwest and Northeast Districts. 

Consideration of Bids for Transportation Improvements – Assistant State Design Engineer Kenny Voss reported to the commission the results of the April 16 bid opening. MoDOT received 57 bids on 20 calls. The commission voted to award contracts to all low bidders. For fiscal year 2021, $746 million worth of work has been awarded 7.7% under budget (or $62.4 million under budget. 

Innovations Showcase – Transportation Planning Specialist Kelly Backues presented this year’s winners of MoDOT’s Innovations Challenge. In all, 59 submissions advanced to the showcase stage, with four teams being honored in the categories of productivity, projects and tool & equipment. 

Director McKenna presented his Director’s Awards: Safety: Camera Assisted Remote Sprayer from the Southeast District; Service: Tracker Evolution from the Central Office Transportation Planning Division; and Stability: Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Fly Ash from the Central Office Construction and Materials Division. 

He also said, “Everyone is a winner in the Innovations Showcase, and I’d like to congratulate all who participated in the Challenge and qualified for the Showcase. The out-of-the-box thinking by our employees demonstrates every year the ways that we have been able to improve safety and deliver to our customers the very best value for every dollar spent.” 

Cost-Share Program – Deputy Director/Chief Engineer Hassinger and Assistant Financial Services Director Doug Hood reviewed for the Commission the department’s cost-share program, which has leveraged $1.07 of local funds for every $1.00 of cost-share funds since it began in 2004 and delivered highway and bridge projects totaling $1.5 billion. In fiscal year 2021, $30 million is made available for cost-share projects, and that amount will grow to $45 million in FY 2024 and beyond. Also, for fiscal years 2021-2023, 10% is set aside for economic development. That amount will become 20% in FY 2024. 

Work Zone Awareness Week Recap – Traffic Liaison Engineer Ashley Buechter briefed the Commission on the importance of work zone safety and the promotional activities MoDOT launched last week during Work Zone Awareness Week to raise the visibility of safe work zones to the traveling public. This year’s campaign theme is “Work with Us.” 

She noted last year MoDOT vehicles were struck a record 48 times by drivers, and that unfortunately last week during Work Zone Awareness Week it happened three times. She said the top five contributing circumstances for work zone crashes in Missouri in 2020 were distracted/inattentive driving, following too closely, improper lane usage, driving too fast for conditions and failing to yield. 

She also described some of the work zone equipment and technology that MoDOT continues to develop and test, such as the Automated Flagger Assistance Devices (AFAD), real-time digital alerts, smart message boards and predictive analytics. 

Next Meeting: June 2, 2021.