Candace BarnetteMissouri is investing heavily in transit infrastructure with the approval of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) approved the plan on July 9, opening $13.3 billion in federal and state funds for a variety of transportation improvements.
The STIP is a five-year plan, beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2030, which represents one of the largest transportation investment plans in the state’s history.
Of the total allocated funds, $9.5 billion is earmarked for contractor awards involving transit infrastructure projects, averaging around $1.9 billion each year.
The plan highlights future projects, including improvements to Missouri’s bridges, highways, interstates and other multimodal transportation systems. The STIP prioritizes highway and bridge renovation as Missouri has more than 33,000 miles of highways and more than 10,000 bridges.
Some of the largest planned projects include improvements to Interstate 70 and 44, both of which are outlined in the STIP but received dedicated funding through previous legislative sessions.
The I-70 project, approved during the 2023 legislative session, centers around widening about 200 miles of interstate and rehabilitating three lanes in each direction between Blue Springs and Wentzville. The project’s total cost of $2.8 billion is split between $1.4 billion from the General Revenue Fund and $1.4 billion in bonds.
The I-44 project, dubbed “Forward 44” and approved during the 2024 legislative session, will receive $577.5 million, including $213.7 million from general revenue and $363.8 million in bonds. The plan focuses on segments of I-44 that appear on tiers two and three of the High Priority Unfunded Needs list.
Bridge repair is another top priority after state officials identified 752 bridges in poor condition and 825 that are weight restricted. As bridges across the state age, an estimated 95 structures fall into poor condition each year.
The STIP outlines $6.6 billion over three years for bridge and pavement improvements, with $575 million dedicated to major bridge needs. The state’s goal is to keep the total number of bridges in poor condition every year to below 900.
While bridge and road construction and repair are the main priorities of the STIP, the state has also identified about $1 billion in potential multimodal needs. These include improvements to rail, freight, transit and airport operations, along with road repairs in rural areas and routes with fewer than 1,000 vehicles per day.
The STIP now awaits final approval from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) before taking effect. Once approved, Missouri will begin implementing the planned improvements. The state also plans to complete its 2026 Statewide Freight Plan by mid-2026 to guide future multimodal investments.
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