Commission Approves Transportation Improvement Program

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved the FY 2025-2029 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, which lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies from July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2029.

The five-year program is the largest to date with $14.6 billion for transportation needs and includes additional funding from General Revenue. The STIP was passed by the Missouri General Assembly and signed by Gov. Mike Parson. Funding is allocated for the improvement of interstates 70 and 44, the fixing of low-volume minor roads, and improvements to bridges, airports, and rail crossings.

The STIP makes available $14.6 billion of federal and state revenues for all modes of transportation over the next five years. Of the $14.6 billion, the STIP details $10.7 billion in road and bridge construction contractor awards, averaging approximately $2.1 billion per year.

“The available state road and bridge funds along with the work of the General Assembly and Gov. Parson continue to result in historic investments in transportation infrastructure that benefit Missourians across the state,” said Missouri Department of Transportation Director Patrick McKenna. “We thank our regional planning partners who helped develop this plan. Delivering this high level of investment in projects is only possible because of the partnership between the MoDOT team and the private sector in design engineering and construction contractors. We are asking the public to work with us and slow down to protect the workers in work zones.”

The STIP details maintenance improvements to Missouri’s 33,811 miles of roads and 10,392 bridges and culverts. The draft STIP was released in May for public review, with MoDOT receiving 107 comments.

The STIP also includes detailed project information for non-highway modes of transportation and a section detailing planned operations and maintenance activities for the next three years. This additional information is provided to allow Missourians to more easily see how their transportation funding is invested. The Final STIP is available online HERE.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Excelsior Springs Man Indicted on Multiple Charges

Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson

Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson announced an additional criminal charge in the Timothy Haslett, Jr. case on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Haslett, who has already been charged with rape and kidnapping, was charged with first-degree murder by a grand jury.

Haslett is now charged with murder for the death of Jaynie Crosdale, whose remains were found in a barrel along the river in Saline County in 2023.

Excelsior Springs Police had identified Crosdale as a possible witness in Haslett’s case because the investigation shows she was in Haslett’s home before he allegedly kidnapped another woman.

Timothy Haslett, Jr.

Previous documents state that Haslett picked the other woman up ne Prospect Ave. in Kansas City. He allegedly held her captive and restrained her in his basement. The woman also alleged that Haslett had killed two other women.

Haslett continues to be held on $5 million bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

KC Scout Website Restored

On Tuesday, July 9, the KC Scout website www.kcscout.net was restored which includes live camera views. This is the second major public-facing restoration of KC Scout services.

On June 20, digital message boards began displaying real-time information. Full-service restoration efforts are still underway which include the KC Scout mobile app, real-time information cameras on the MoDOT Traveler Map, camera stream access for media partners, and the KDOT traveler map, KanDrive.gov. Updates on additional service restoration will be shared with the public.

KC Scout, a bi-state initiative between the Missouri and Kansas Departments of Transportation to provide travel and traffic information and service for the Kansas City metro area, suffered a cyberattack on April 25. Since then, efforts to restore KC Scout services have been underway.

The Kansas and Missouri DOTs remind motorists that emergency services are still available in Kansas and Missouri. Kansas Highway Patrol Motorist Assist Vehicle (MAV) continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. MoDOT Emergency Response Continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. 

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Eight Traffic Fatalities Over July Fourth Holiday

This holiday weekend Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers worked 382 traffic crashes, which included 159 injuries and eight fatalities over the holiday weekend. Troopers also made 147 DWI arrests.

The 2024 July Fourth holiday counting period started at 6 pm, Wednesday, July 3, and ended at 11:59 pm, Sunday, July 7, 2024.

During the 2023 counting period, 15 people were killed and 646 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,505 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated.

This year, troopers worked ten boating crashes, which included seven injuries and zero fatalities. Troopers made 11 boating while intoxicated arrests. One person drowned over the holiday weekend. The drowning occurred in Troop D.

In 2023, there were 11 boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned during last year's July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 10 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend.

The fatal crash on July 5 at MO 92 Highway and A Highway was not included in this report.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Sheriff’s Office Looking for Missing Man

*** UPDATE***

Willman has been located and is safe.

***

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is looking a man who has been missing for the past week.

53-year-old David M. Willman has been missing from the Liberty Kearney Area. His family has not seen or heard from him since July 1. He was last seen driving a 2006 black Ford Fusion, MO license XK2 C5K. The vehicle was spotted in the Westport area of Kansas City in the early morning hours of July 6, but investigators could not determine who was in it.

Willman is about 5’9, 185 lbs. He has blue eyes and was last seen wearing blue Detroit Lions T-shirt and gray shorts. He is known to frequent the areas of homeless camps. If you know where he is, please call the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at 816-407-3700.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.