Express Lane - Amtrak expands Missouri River Runner passenger capacity for World Cup

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View the Express Lane video for the May 14 edition.

Amtrak expands train capacity for World Cup in Kansas City

Missouri River Runner will seat 25% more passengers per route

Kansas City will serve as a Host City for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and Missouri officials are preparing for increased traffic from travelers around the world this June and July.

Amtrak's Missouri River Runner service, sponsored by MoDOT, is helping accommodate World Cup attendees by increasing passenger capacity on the trains by 25%. This expansion is courtesy of additional train cars transferred from Illinois and Michigan.

Both daily roundtrips between St. Louis and Kansas City will expand service beginning June 15 before the first match in Kansas City and be available until July 12 for the remainder of the World Cup matches the city is hosting.

The Missouri River Runner route spans 283-miles with stops in Kirkwood, Washington, Hermann, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Warrensburg, Lee’s Summit and Independence. The trains feature many convenient amenities such as a cafe car, onboard wireless internet and storage for standard-sized bicycles. Interested riders can learn more and plan their trip at moriverrunner.com.

Amtrak riders can also take the Southwest Chief to Kansas City, which runs between Chicago and Los Angeles and includes a stop in La Plata, Mo. More information about Amtrak service nationwide is available on their website.

MoDOT crews are also doing their part to assist motorists traveling across the state during another record construction season. The Kansas City District has scheduled most road work to take place off of the roadway during the tournament to minimize travel impacts. There could still be up to 1,000 active work zones on any given day this summer across the state, so drivers are encouraged to plan their route accordingly using the Traveler Information Map. Learn more about MoDOT's efforts to support the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Kansas City on MoDOT's website.

Draft 2027-2031 STIP available for 30-day public comment

The 30-day public review and comment period for the draft 2027-2031 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is underway. The draft STIP lists the next five years of transportation projects planned by state and regional partners, and details $13 billion of federal and state revenues for all modes of transportation across the state. The proposed program is available for public review and comment on MoDOT's website until June 5.

Sponsor-a-Highway goes statewide to Keep Missouri Beautiful

MoDOT's Sponsor-A-Highway program has expanded statewide to help keep roadsides cleaner and safer across the state. Businesses, organizations, community groups and individuals can sponsor one-mile sections of highway for a MoDOT-certified service provider to remove litter and handle related maintenance on the sponsor's behalf. Each stretch of sponsored highway receives signage displaying their name and logo. Sponsor a highway today.

Improve I-70 Program celebrates two project milestones

At its May 6 meeting, MoDOT's Commission selected the KCI Construction Team as the Design-Build contractor for the Improve I-70: Truck Parking project, which includes increased truck parking and other upgrades along the corridor. The next day, the Improve I-70: Rocheport to Columbia team hosted a groundbreaking for the fifth project in the Improve I-70 Program. Construction begins later this spring, with the project scheduled to be completed in late 2029.

FARM Bridge Program recognized with prestigious national award

MoDOT's FARM Bridge Program was recognized by the American Institute of Steel Construction as the National Winner in the Short Span category of the 2026 Prize Bridge Awards. This program delivered 31 short-span rural bridges across 15 counties in under two years with support from former Gov. Mike Parson and the General Assembly, as well as a Competitive Highway Bridge Program grant from the Federal Highway Administration.

Improve I-70 Monthly Report - April 2026

Stay in the know with the Improve I-70 Monthly Report

Want to keep up to date on the Improve I-70 Program? This monthly recap focuses on recent project news and construction updates along the Interstate 70 corridor.

April's report includes construction updates for Improve I-70: Warrenton to Wentzville and Improve I-70: Blue Springs to Odessa, recaps of the Boonville to Rocheport groundbreaking and Work Zone Awareness event, demolition of the St. Charles Road Bridge in Columbia and more.