Graves Welcomes Audrain Presiding Commissioner to Testify Before Transportation Committee
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, welcomed Audrain County Presiding Commissioner and Highway 54 Coalition Chairman Alan Winders this week to testify on the challenges in securing federal transportation grants.
“We’ve done well securing federal transportation grants in North Missouri during my time leading the Committee. The fact remains though that applying for grant programs is a moving target for rural communities, with ever-changing requirements. For those who do get a grant, implementation comes with countless strings that only complicate the project,” said Graves. “I greatly appreciate Commissioner Winders coming to testify before the Committee and share the perspective of folks in rural North Missouri.”
Winders discussed the hurdles the Highway 54 Coalition has faced when applying for federal RAISE grants and the importance of the project to increasing safety in Audrain and Pike Counties.
“Our application rating for RAISE grant funds has declined over the years and the difference has been the raters and the rating criteria that has changed. Highway 54 shares traffic with everything from horse and buggy to combine to truck traffic. Passing lanes would be a great safety improvement. We don’t have the financial capacity to compete with the larger projects,” said Winders.
The project proposes to add alternating passing lanes on Highway 54 between Mexico and Louisiana, Missouri, creating a “shared 4-lane.” MoDOT recently completed scoping on the route. No additional funding has been allocated for the project, but the Highway 54 Coalition has submitted another RAISE grant application. During the hearing, Winders also discussed their ability to more easily complete projects that don’t have federal strings attached as well as the importance of other major unfunded transportation projects in Northeast Missouri, including the proposed Hannibal bypass.
Additional Highway 54 Coalition members also attended the hearing including Pike County Presiding Commissioner Bill Allen, Audrain County Road and Bridge Engineer Brian Haeffner and Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments Transportation Planner Anna Gill.
You can view Winders response to additional questions here and here.
You can view the entire hearing here.
You can read Chairman Graves opening statement here.
You can read Commissioner Winders written testimony here.
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