The work MoDOT does is constantly in the public eye, so it’s not unusual for people to have questions. Here are five things you can tell your neighbors about ways we’re controlling costs.

MoDOT is doing a good job of delivering projects on time and within budget. Over the past six years – while many transportation departments were experiencing costs 17 to 20 percent over budget, we have delivered $5.3 billion in road improvements that came in only three-tenths of a percent over budget. In the past year alone, our cost-saving measures have lowered project costs 7.4 percent under budget, saving taxpayers $91 million.

Here’s how we’re doing it:

1. We’re using Practical Design to design projects to fit specific needs, without the frills.  This effort has saved nearly $500 million over the past three years and the money has been put back into highway projects.
2. If bids come in too high, we ask contractors to go back to the drawing board.  In the past two years, we rebid nearly $234 million in projects so we could get a better price.
3. We’re closing roads if it means finishing projects faster and saving money.  We closed 136 roads for construction over the past two years, completing those projects an average of 30 percent faster.
4. We’re asking contractors to propose innovative solutions, such as using alternate materials or working off-hours. Last year, this saved $3.7 million on 17 projects.
5. We’ve reduced direct administrative costs to only two percent of our annual budget.  The savings go right back into highway improvements.