MoDOT outlines proposed workforce cuts

Many would be in Jefferson City

The Missouri Department of Transportation on Wednesday proposed closing three of its district offices, selling off almost $44 million in equipment and eliminating almost 20 percent of its workforce, a significant portion of which would come from Jefferson City.

The plan was presented to the Highways and Transportation Commission, which is expected to act on it at a June 8 meeting.

"I presented a bold plan to the (transportation) commission to try and focus as many resources as we can on roads and bridges in the state," MoDOT Director Kevin Keith said. "It's not easy."

MoDOT's "rightsizing" program is an effort to provide needed road maintenance throughout Missouri with a continually shrinking budget.

During Wednesday morning's meeting, Keith said that by Dec. 31, 2012, the department will eliminate 1,200 positions. As of February 2010, MoDOT employed more than 6,300.

See also: Our Earlier Coverage, including video of Kevin Keith's full presentation to the commission.

View post-presentation press conference video below.