a:27:{s:9:"weblog_id";s:1:"4";s:8:"entry_id";s:3:"648";s:6:"sticky";s:1:"n";s:14:"allow_comments";s:1:"n";s:16:"allow_trackbacks";s:1:"n";s:10:"entry_date";s:19:"2009-08-05 07:23 AM";s:15:"expiration_date";s:0:"";s:23:"comment_expiration_date";s:0:"";s:8:"category";a:2:{i:0;s:1:"4";i:1;s:2:"65";}s:9:"author_id";s:1:"2";s:10:"new_weblog";s:1:"4";s:6:"status";s:4:"open";s:14:"trackback_urls";s:0:"";s:18:"versioning_enabled";s:1:"y";s:5:"title";s:39:"Tough Market Lets MODOT Stretch Dollars";s:9:"url_title";s:39:"tough_market_lets_modot_stretch_dollars";s:6:"submit";s:6:"Update";s:11:"field_id_26";s:39:"Tough Market Lets MODOT Stretch Dollars";s:11:"field_ft_26";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_31";s:0:"";s:11:"field_id_44";s:157:"The Missouri Department of Transportation saved nearly $33 million in construction costs in the St. Louis area in 2008-09 because of tough market conditions.";s:11:"field_ft_44";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_28";s:14:"MODOT, savings";s:11:"field_ft_28";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_29";s:3072:"<p>Due to the struggling economy, the Missouri Department of
Transportation was able to save nearly $33 million in budgeted
construction costs in the greater St. Louis Metropolitan Region in the
last fiscal year, which ended June 30.</p>
<p>In fiscal 2009, the
department awarded 79 construction projects for a total cost of $108
million. This amount was $33 million under the budgeted amount for the
year - nearly 24 percent of construction budget.&nbsp; The cost savings can
be attributed to the Missouri Department of Transportation\'s \"radical
cost control\" philosophy, as well as to increased competition in the
construction industry. These project cost savings will allow the
department to perform additional highway and bridge work at a time when
revenues are on the decline.</p>
<p>Highlights from the department\'s drive to get the most for the Missouri taxpayer\'s money in St. Louis included:</p>
<ul>
<li>Route MM realignment in Jefferson County -$6.5 million under the budgeted amount</li>
<li>Route 61 resurfacing in Jefferson County - $1.7 million under the budgeted amount</li>
<li>Bridge rehabilitation along I-55 in St. Louis City - $2.4 million under the budgeted amount</li>
<li>Signal improvements around the greater St. Louis area - $1.3 million under the budgeted amount</li>
<li>Route 94 overlay in north St. Charles County - $1.3 million under the budgeted amount.</li>
</ul>
<p>Statewide,
for the fiscal year that ended June 30, MoDOT awarded 461 projects
totaling $1.3 billion 9 percent under budget for a savings of more than
$135 million.&nbsp; The work included 103 recovery act projects and a
design-build contract that included 554 bridges to be fixed under the
Safe &amp; Sound Bridge Improvement Program.</p>
<p>For the last five
fiscal years, MoDOT has awarded 2,151 projects costing $5.7 billion 5.5
percent under budget saving taxpayers more than $334 million.&nbsp;</p>
<p>\"We
put these cost savings right back into our highways,\" MoDOT Director
Pete Rahn said.&nbsp; \"We do a good job of estimating our projects and we
work aggressively with our contractors to cut costs without
compromising quality.&nbsp; That translates into more projects and jobs and
safer highways.\"</p>
<p>Keeping down costs is a philosophy that runs
deep throughout MoDOT, Rahn said.&nbsp; \"You can practically hear our
employees chanting &lsquo;better, faster, cheaper\' as they work,\" he quipped.</p>
<p>One
of the department\'s most successful cost control measures is its
Practical Design initiative which ensures projects are designed to fix
specific needs without the frills.&nbsp; Other cost-curbing tools range from
rebidding projects to allowing contractors to propose innovative ways
to accomplish the work.&nbsp; That could mean using alternate materials,
coming up with improved designs, working off-hours and closing lanes.</p>
<p>Rahn
said the department\'s commitment to completing projects on time and
within budget is reflected in the fact that 89 percent of Missourians
say they trust MoDOT to keep its commitments to the public.</p>";s:10:"category_0";s:1:"4";s:10:"category_1";s:2:"65";}