Franklin County commissioners table cooperative agreement with MoDOT for Highway 47 improvements

Franklin County commissioners on a meeting date not specified voted unanimously to table Commission Order 2025-299, which concerned repealing a prior commission order tied to a cooperative agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for improvements on Highway 47.

City of Washington representative Darren told the commission the city opposes repealing the agreement and urged the county to keep the cooperative agreement in place or at minimum table action so more design and public-input work can be completed. "We are in opposition to the commission order you just read off of there, and let me explain a little reason why," Darren said, describing prior community advisory meetings and a preliminary cost estimate tied to a 0.7-mile segment. He summarized MoDOT’s approach as a staged process: apply for state cost-share first, then in early 2026 apply for federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds if the cost-share is awarded.

The discussion focused on cost, design choices and safety. Commissioners and speakers cited figures presented during the meeting: an approximate $76,000,000 estimate for a 12.7-mile corridor; a more detailed estimate of about $13.8–13.9 million for the roughly 0.7-mile segment; and a 50/50 cost-share approach that would make the local share roughly $6.5 million (with the county and city splitting that local share). Darren said possible right-of-way reductions could lower that total by an estimated $800,000–$900,000.

Several commissioners and a traffic engineering speaker questioned the preliminary design choice discussed at public meetings, which included a potential roundabout at the East-West Parkway entrance north of MidAmerican Coaches. The traffic engineer (identified in the discussion as Ken) warned roundabouts are generally not appropriate for higher-speed, higher-volume corridors and said, "Well, right now, we're about 50, 55 mile an hour on 47." Commissioner Cox expressed concern about the project design and public process, saying the roundabout proposal undermined his confidence and that some discussions had occurred in closed sessions. "I'm not sure why everyone thinks a roundabout is a solution to everything… I do not and will not support any roundabouts on State Highway 47," Cox said.

Other speakers, including Darren and a city official, emphasized that safety had been the dominant public input theme in community meetings and that MoDOT's committee required more detailed cost estimates before the state decision. The city representative said construction program year would be 2028 if awarded and that the MoDOT cost-share committee would announce decisions at its December highway commission meeting; federal STP award decisions could be known by May 2026.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to table Commission Order 2025-299 to allow additional review by the City of Washington’s transportation committee and further input from MoDOT. The motion was seconded and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

The item remains tabled until the commission receives additional information from MoDOT, the City of Washington transportation committee and the state review process. The county and city will still need to decide whether to pursue the 50/50 cost-share and, if awarded, how to allocate the local share.