Dec. 7, 2023

Your voice matters!

MoDOT's employee survey available through Dec. 31

MoDOT’s employee survey is now available, and as of Dec. 7, 1,836 employees (41.3%) have already completed the survey. This survey gives employees a chance to make their voices heard and work together with leadership to create a great workforce and an enjoyable place to work.

The last employee survey was conducted in 2016, and MoDOT leadership is eager to hear what employees currently think about working at MoDOT.

In the 2016 survey, 69% of employees were satisfied with MoDOT, with the two areas of greatest improvement being “MoDOT does a good job giving employees different ways to get information” and “I feel secure in my job at MoDOT.” The lowest ranked were dissatisfaction with MoDOT salaries being competitive and the question “People are held accountable for the quality of their work.”

Since the 2016 survey, the Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission and MoDOT leadership have taken many steps to implement a marketing pay plan to improve competitive wages.

An external organization, PRC, has developed the 2023 survey and will conduct and analyze the results to ensure employee responses remain anonymous and the results are unbiased and unfiltered. The survey is hosted on PRC’s website, further ensuring all employee comments remain private. No employee name will be attached to the survey. Employees can fill out the survey online during work time.

The survey’s final report will be shared with department employees in late winter. PRC will also work with department managers to understand the survey results and identify ways to improve the organization.

This survey is an important way to let management know what employees think and what it’s like to work at MoDOT. Employees can access the survey through the custom link in their email, provided by PRC, or by clicking here to log in to PRC’s website. Please take the time to fill out the survey before Dec. 31. MoDOT leadership appreciates your feedback!

THINGS TO KNOW

MoDOT's Employee Referral Program expanding

MoDOT’s current Maintenance Winter Operations Referral Program that helps address the hiring needs of maintenance workers during the winter operations season is expanding. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Human Resources will launch a statewide Employee Referral Program for current team members to advocate for all MoDOT jobs by referring and attracting quality applicants.

A MoDOT employee who successfully refers an applicant to MoDOT (and that applicant is hired) is eligible for a referral incentive of $250 after the successful completion of the referral’s six-month probationary period. All MoDOT full-time vacancies are eligible for a referral incentive, but the program does not include OA’s Statewide Referral Program.

Program Requirements:

TEAM MEMBER REQUIREMENTS	APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
Team member must be in good standing and be employed at the time the new employee successfully completes their six-month probationary period.	Candidate must list referring employee name on MoCareers Application as a referral source. If more than one name is listed, only the first listed name is eligible.
Referrals are given for all job fills and the referring employee must be listed on the job application prior to the job posting being closed or removed.	Candidate must be a first-time hire or not employed by MoDOT within the last six months before application submission.
The referring employee cannot be a member of the senior management team, the hiring supervisor, or human resources employee responsible for selection.	Candidate must be hired into a full-time, benefit-eligible position for MoDOT posted on MoCareers.
There is no limit on the number of referrals an employee can receive.	Candidate must maintain employment for a minimum of six months.

Team members making successful referrals in January 2024 can expect first payouts the end of July 2024. For more information and FAQs, please visit HR's SharePoint site.

Happy Recruiting!

December Commission meeting held in Kansas City

At its Dec. 6 meeting, the Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission heard presentations from the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the mid-America Regional Council discussing the many infrastructure needs in the area. The Missouri Rail Passenger Advisory Committee discussed the value of Amtrak's Missouri River Runner line. A group of leaders from Cass County also presented on concerns regarding Interstate 49 widening needs.

Director McKenna provided a summary of the department's annual Year in Review. Highlights included the Commission’s approval of the fiscal year 2024 to 2028 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, the passing of Missouri's hands-free law - a great success of 2023 - and MoDOT's recognition for the Buckle Up Phone Down campaign as a "First Mover" in the U.S. DOT's National Roadway Safety Strategy.

The director provided a recap of several projects worth celebrating. Major progress was made this year on the Interstate 70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport and the Buck O'Neil Bridge in downtown Kansas City - both are on track for completion next year. Last week, MoDOT broke ground on the Chester Bridge project between Perryville, MO and Chester, IL. MoDOT also celebrated the completion of the FARM Bridge Program earlier this fall. In addition, MoDOT will soon celebrate the completion of the Interstate 270 North project in St. Louis. Later this month, MoDOT will be celebrating the completion of Gov. Parson's Focus on Bridges Program. Learn more about these projects on MoDOT's website.

Director McKenna also provided an update from the recent annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials. The group approved the Safety Action Plan and a Safety Resolution. These efforts are critical to collaboration, consistency and prioritization of the efforts in public policy as well as engineering to address safety. Missouri's Improve I-70 Program was selected as a pilot project for an AASHTO initiative entitled "Moonshot," a transformative project delivery method for State DOTs to focus on connecting communities, moving people and goods, and meeting customer needs while enhancing safety, security and stability on transportation corridors.

Read the full meeting summary, which topics include: Director's Report, Unsheltered Partnership Update, Kansas City District Update, Consideration of Bids, Consideration of Proposals for the Northwest Bridge Bundle Design-Build Project, State Appropriation Mega Projects State Road Bonds Series A 2023 Pricing Summary and Annual Report.

MoDOT employee wins Community Impact Award

Highway Safety Program Manager Kacey Wilson (right) and Vitendo 4 Africa President and CEO Geoffrey Soyiantet.

On Nov. 11, Highway Safety Program Manager Kacey Wilson was honored with the Community Impact Award at Vitendo 4 Africa’s annual gala. Vitendo 4 Africa is a non-profit organization based in St. Louis and surrounding communities whose mission is “to welcome, connect and empower healthier immigrant individuals and families through the provision of supports and services, and by coordinating resources.”

Wilson met Vitendo 4 Africa’s President and CEO Geoffrey Soyiantet at MoDOT’s Equity & Engagement in Traffic Safety Summit last May and worked with him to incorporate highway safety initiatives into the organization’s programs. Together, they were able to send 16 of Vitendo 4 Africa’s students to this year’s TRACTION conference in Kansas City. The students were able to learn about Missouri’s traffic safety issues, network with other students from around the state, and develop an action plan that is being implemented in their schools and communities.

Annual No MOre Trash! contest launches

Missouri schools invited to participate

MoDOT is inviting Missouri students in grades K-12 to help fight litter in Missouri – and to have creative and educational fun – by participating in the 2024 “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free” trash-can-decorating contest. The contest is part of MoDOT’s annual “No MOre Trash!” statewide litter campaign, which is held in April.

The contest encourages school classes and groups to join in the fight against litter by decorating a large trash can with the “No MOre Trash!” logo and a litter-prevention message using a variety of creative media.

Schools may submit one entry in each competition category: grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 - and new to this year's contest is grades 9-12. Entries are due by March 15 and will be judged based on creativity, adherence to the contest rules and effective use of the theme and logo.

First-place winners from each competition category receive $200 awarded to the sponsoring schools. All first-place winners are then eligible for a grand prize of $600 and a trophy awarded to the sponsoring school. There is no entry fee for the contest!

Contest rules, entry forms, release forms, logos, past winners and educational information can be found at modot.org/trash-can-contest.

Motor Carrier Services powers through busy season

Motor Carrier Services is in the middle of its peak busy season, which runs from September through January. During this time, the following occur:

The most substantial of the four apportioned license plate renewal quarters. More than 36,000 power unit registrations renew in this last quarter – three times more than the next busiest quarter.
Requests for 2024 oversize overweight blanket permits arrive.
Intrastate operating authority is renewed for carriers who operate within Missouri’s borders.
Fourth quarter 2023 fuel tax return filings arrive for processing.

Furthermore, during mid-November, employees participated in the annual International Fuel Tax Agreement stuffing days. During this time, MCS staff automatically renewed the fuel tax licenses of 7,000 motor carriers whose accounts are in good standing.

Motor Carrier Services documents are prepared for packaging and distribution.

This involves sending the carrier a paper license and a 2024 decal for each power unit registered. Employees manually pack these documents. This process typically takes one to two days of organizing paperwork, checking decal serial numbers and packaging. “Auto-renewal,” as it is called, is popular with account holders who simply open the mail and are ready for the new year.

Meanwhile, the Safety & Compliance team wraps up December appointments to help carriers learn how to comply with federal motor carrier safety regulations through visits and training. Great work by the MCS team during this busy quarter!

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Having a primary care physician matters

A primary care physician (PCP) serves as your main doctor and should be your first stop when you need care. When you see the same PCP over time, they can:

See the full picture of your health. Your PCP knows your health history, so they connect the dots quickly if you have a health issue.
Save you time and money. They help you stay your healthiest and manage any chronic conditions or medications.
Coordinate your care. If you're seeing other doctors or specialists, your PCP will talk to them - and make sure they're talking to each other - so everyone is on the same page about your health needs and treatment.
Help you avoid costly emergency room visits. Call your PCP first if you have an illness or minor injury. They can help you decide the best place to go for care. Please note: if you believe you're having a life-threatening emergency or your health is in serious jeopardy, call 911 immediately.
Assist you after hours. Many PCPs now have weekend and evening hours. You can also ask if they offer virtual visits.

The Power of Checkups

Even if you feel healthy, regular checkups can make a difference by giving your doctor the chance to catch health problems early. They can also help you stay on track with good habits that help keep you feeling your best. Talk to your doctor about how often you need regular checkups.

Make Time for Better Health

Take a moment to schedule a checkup with your PCP today. If you don't have a PCP, use the Find Care feature to find the right one for you in your plan's network. You can search based on your health history, office location, quality ratings and cost. Check your plan details to see how your plan covers checkups.

Questions? Contact Member Services at the number on your ID card or chat with representatives in the Sydney Health app or at anthem.com.

Rocheport Bridge update video

Lance Corporal Leon Deraps I-70 Missouri River (Rocheport) Bridge Project Director Mike Schupp talks about progress on the new eastbound bridge and the next steps for the project in the November edition of the monthly Road to Rocheport video series. Click above to watch.

Southwest District raises money for animal shelter

On Oct. 26, chili chefs across the Southwest District shared their favorite recipes with colleagues to benefit dogs and cats looking for forever homes by hosting a chili contest at the district office.

Seven culinarians produced their favorite chili fare to be judged by their co-workers. A large crowd sampled the various entries and voted by secret ballot for their preferred version.

Senior Risk Management Technician Rachel Heath’s entry was chosen as the crowd favorite.

The contest raised $345 for the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri.

Dozens of Southwest District staff turned out to help choose the winner of the chili cookoff.

SHOW-ME MODOT

Tawanda Bryant

St. Louis District Traffic Systems Supervisor

Tawanda Bryant keeps her focus and eyes on the region’s roadways even when she is not driving.

As a traffic systems supervisor at MoDOT’s 24/7 Transportation Management Center in Chesterfield, Bryant and a team of operators respond to and monitor real-time feeds from more than 600 CCTV cameras, speed sensors and traffic signals on the area’s state roads, bridges and interstates.

The center is often the first call for motorists, law enforcement or other first responders when anything happens on roadways. They then work to dispatch the appropriate emergency response forces (whether law enforcement, MoDOT's emergency incident response team, maintenance forces, signal electricians or others) to address incidents on the roadway, help relieve congestion and improve safety.

“My primary role is keeping the traveling public moving as best and safe as possible with real-time information. Working within traffic management and customer service in the TMC gives a sense of gratitude that I’ve helped someone by providing information for alternative travel routes with dynamic message boards or answering a call about an upcoming construction project,” Bryant said. “My role also varies sometimes because there can be 'other duties as needed.' I don’t mind it though. I look at it as a way of gaining knowledge and experience. It also gives me a better understanding of co-workers’ roles in other departments,” she added.

The Normandy grad has been at MoDOT for 13 years and said she didn’t foresee herself in the role she holds today but is enjoying the experience.

“Honestly, my initial role of a traffic control room technician was not what I expected. I had previous experience in dispatching, which included dispatching for alarm systems and monitoring closed circuit televisions, so when I saw those two components of the job description, I felt like I could do the job. It was so much more at a different level,” she recalled.

Bryant enjoys her co-workers and feeling like she gets to make a difference.

“I know a lot of people may not understand or know what actually goes into traffic management, but I value making a difference through public safety and making a difference for my operations team,” she said.

EMPLOYEE UPDATES

December service anniversaries

30 Years

Janique Flora NW

Kevin Minear SW

25 Years

Susan Roark CO

20 Years

Phillip Standley NW

Richard Green SL

Dennis Day SE

Stephen Hulbert CO

Melissa Scheperle CO

Natalie Roark CO

15 Years

David French NW

Mark Montgomery KC

Floyd Bessard, Jr. KC

Paul Valadez KC

Edith Walton CD

15 Years Cont.

Jeffrey Jones CD

Garrett Depue CO

Alfred Davis SL

Shawn McClanahan SL

Glenn Cole SW

Christopher McGlone SW

Benjamin Henson SE

Curtiss Simpson CO

Brandon Schreimann CO

10 Years

David Poynter NW

Christopher Magers NW

Russell Penner KC

Russell Thompson SL

Seiji Shimbo SE

James Evans SE

Allison Heintz CO

Harry Adrian CO

5 Years

Charles Tucker NW

Robert Williams NW

Jose Madera NW

Omar Pena NE

Paul Murphy NE

Randall Baxter NE

William Martin KC

Tyler Sims KC

Stephen Botka III KC

Michael Schnakenberg KC

Zakary Stokes CD

David Straughan SL

Cole Thomas SW

Justin Moffett SW

Kenneth Shepard II SW

Ronald Thompson SW

Reuben Stilson SW

Cory Jackson SE

Desley Raeann Forshee SE

Cindy Dworek CO

Rachel Heath CO

In memoriam

The following retirees passed away:

Robert S. Essary

CO – Nov. 26

Richard F. Heisinger

CO – Oct. 21

Lloyd P. Parr

CO – Nov. 7

James D. Roach

CO – Nov. 4

Donald Trabue

CO – Nov. 30

Richard h. Barrett

NE – Nov. 22

Douglas L. Corlett

NE – Nov. 9

Harold L. Bishop

KC – Nov. 7

Truman P. Carrico

KC – Nov. 17

Diane M. Gaehle

KC – Nov. 3

James A. Fick

CD – Nov. 23

Sidney J. Carson, Jr.

SL – Nov. 16

Norman F. McKinney, Sr.

SL – Nov. 25

Kevin K. Steiner

SL – Nov. 30

Billie R. Taylor

SE – Nov. 19

The mission of Connections is to be a source of MoDOT news

and feature articles that connect employees statewide.

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bethany.belt@modot.mo.gov

MoDOT Communications

P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102

573-751-2840 | www.modot.org

Editor: Sr. Communications Specialist Bethany Belt

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