To develop highway spending priorities and to generate voter approval of a temporary one-cent sales tax increase to fund highway construction, the Missouri Transportation Department will host a series of 16 public "On The Move" forums around the state.
Central Missouri residents' only opportunity to participate in the forum will come on Feb. 5 during the first public forum, which will be in Columbia from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Reynolds Alumni Center, Conley and Maryland avenues.
Other forums are scheduled in Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, St. Charles, Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City, Lebanon, Poplar Bluff, Kirksville, Hannibal, Maryville and St. Joseph.
The forums begin on Feb. 5 and end on April 11.
MoDOT Chief Engineer Dave Nichols said the On the Move initiative will be used to update Missouri's long-term transportation plan through a series of listening sessions.
The department also has launched its On The Move website at www.missourionthemove.org to give Missourians another way to make their voices heard on the state's highway needs.