Transportation and Economic Prosperity

Transportation has always been a central part of economic development and the vitality of a community. Without good transportation access, a region´s economy eventually declines as businesses, jobs and people move elsewhere. Missouri boasts the 6^th largest highway system in the nation with approximately 32,372 miles. It also has the 2^nd and 3^rd largest rail terminals in the nation. The state has 2 major navigable rivers with over 1,000 miles of navigable waterways. There are also 2 international airports and over 100 general aviation facilities. Missouri has many transportation options, the focus now has to be on improving these systems and planning for their growth in a comprehensive manner.

The Missouri economy depends on transportation for freight and employee movement, for attracting and retaining businesses, and for tourism. Most manufacturing businesses rely heavily on road, rail, airport and/or port access for the movement of raw materials and finished goods. With the development of JIT (Just In Time) manufacturing and other cost savings procedures, reliable transportation routes and travel times are critical. Agriculture businesses are a more dispersed industry that usually relies on road, rail and water modes of travel. Good, inexpensive transportation is key for getting bulk agricultural products to markets that are usually far away. Service-related industries also rely on a good network of roads and airports for business success.

Transportation Map

Transportation systems need to be continually improved to meet the future demands of the public. Some issues critical for Missouri include:

A need for holistic planning, prioritization, and performance measurement for transportation investments
A need for financing options that adequately fund future transportation goals. Dependable funding sources are needed to ensure the long-term viability of transportation modes that so closely and directly effect economic development, safety, and the environment.
A need to continue to improve safety.
A need to maintain existing roads and to improve economically significant highways. The future of transportation and economic prosperity are closely linked in Missouri. Highway maintenance and enhancements will continue to be a core concern as will public transportation.
A need to implement multi-modal transportation policies and actions that support an integrated transportation network. Transportation modes need to be interconnected so that businesses and people can depend on a variety of transportation alternatives to meet their needs.
A need to continue to utilize new technologies.
A need for concurrent transportation and land use planning. The places that we live and work need to be better planned. Communities want to take advantage of transportation improvements while, at the same time, minimizing the detrimental side effects of sprawl that usually follows. Coordinated transportation and land use planning can help preserve community character, connect transportation modes, and improve economic development potential.

The long-term economic health of Missouri will be greatly impacted by how the state chooses to address transportation issues. The infrastructure of the past and future can serve Missouri well, but only if proactive steps are taken.

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