MoDOT asks Legislature to restore staff, keeps focus on delivering major projects

Director Ed Hassinger told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 9 that the Missouri Department of Transportation’s FY2027 budget is focused on four priorities: delivering legislatively designated projects, restoring operations staffing, improving roadway and employee safety, and improving customer responsiveness. "We are still delivering projects under budget and on time," Hassinger said, pointing to $2 billion of contractor-completed work since 2020, which he described as about 44% of legislatively designated funds.

Hassinger said MoDOT’s request includes continuation of last year’s market pay plan and an ask for an additional 100 maintenance positions on top of 100 funded previously. "We're making progress on hiring — we hired about 80 new employees in January — but we still have vacancies," he said, noting turnover of roughly 15–16 percent and a maintenance vacancy figure he later described as 119 for that classification. The additional hires, Hassinger said, would be "boots on the ground" to address day-to-day maintenance — mowing, signage, litter removal and pothole response.

Committee members pressed Hassinger on the department’s authority over certain funds and on how budget book language reflects changes made after the department’s request. Representative Fogle asked which funds the General Assembly directly controls; Hassinger replied that the state road fund is stand‑appropriated to MoDOT and that the governor’s budget book before the committee represents the governor’s recommendation, which MoDOT will flag when it differs from the department request.

Safety and customer service were recurring themes. Hassinger highlighted a three‑year decline in statewide traffic fatalities and cited recent legislative actions and proposed device‑use laws as contributors, but said behavior — seat belts, avoiding distracted driving and impaired driving — ultimately drives the trend. On customer service, several members told stories of constituents who ran into bureaucratic delays; Hassinger said he has made customer service an expectation for MoDOT staff and asked the committee to point out specific instances for follow up.

The director also described costs and scale for sign replacement: MoDOT reported about 700,000 signs in its inventory and said an interstate green sign can cost roughly $30,000 to replace. "It's not a few thousand dollars," Hassinger said, and replacement timing depends on district capability and project schedules.

Hassinger urged the committee to view the department’s overall fiscal plan as responsible and within the financial forecast, and emphasized MoDOT’s commitment to continue working with the General Assembly on budget choices.

Next procedural steps: the committee will continue detailed line‑by‑line review and follow up on requested clarifications (bridge inventories, FTE detail and sign replacement plans).