Overview
- The High-Priority Unfunded Needs List is a document that identifies additional transportation projects to build if funding becomes available.
- Missourians for Responsible Transportation has identified key transportation priorities across the state that are (and are not) included on the list.
- The deadline to submit public comments to MoDOT is Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Missourians for Responsible Transportation monitors key developments with transportation policy and programming across the Show-Me State. One of the regular elements that we have seen and commented on is the High Priority Unfunded Needs List. In this blog, we’re seeking to answer three basic questions:
- What is the High-Priority Unfunded Needs List (HPUN) and why does it matter?
- What are the multimodal priorities that MRT is advocating for through this process?
- How can everyday people get involved?
What is the High-Priority Unfunded Needs List (HPUN) and why does it matter?
Each year, MoDOT develops and implements its Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, which is intended to guide its construction projects for the next five years. In the push to get projects and programs on that list, there are some items that ultimately fail to get on the list because there isn’t enough funding. This is where the HPUN comes in.
The HPUN can essentially be thought of as a wish list of transportation projects for the state if additional funding becomes available, and it has led to projects being built. As MoDOT notes in the introduction to the 2026 HPUN, they “were able to move 20 needs worth $186 million from the High-Priority Unfunded Needs list to the FY 2027-2031 [Statewide Transportation Improvement Program].” What remains on the HPUN is about $5.7 billion worth of projects and programs, including about $1 billion in multimodal needs.
In addition to the HPUN document (click here), MoDOT has also created a map of HPUN projects that you can explore (click here).
What are the multimodal priorities that MRT is advocating for through this process?
MRT has advocated for multimodal transportation priorities in the past through the HPUN, and we are doing so again for 2026. It’s important to note that MRT’s definition of “multimodal projects” is narrower than MoDOT’s definition. MoDOT’s definition includes rail freight, airports, and waterways in addition to walking, biking, accessibility, and public transportation elements.
We’ve made a spreadsheet where you can see just walking, biking, accessibility, and public transportation priorities (click here). Combined, these projects across the state amount to almost $650 million. While that may sound like a lot, it makes up less than a quarter of the $2.8 billion MoDOT is spending to expand I-70 from two to three lanes in each direction.
In addition to supporting those projects, we’re also advocating for the following items to be added to the HPUN:
- Rock Island Trail State Park: Portions of the Rock Island Trail are only listed for consideration in Jackson and Gasconade Counties. This is a major economic development and active transportation project for the entire state, and is a Missouri State Parks site that will benefit all residents and connect to the Katy Trail State Park.
- Annual Program to Construct High-Priority Active Transportation Projects: This program is necessary because there is currently no state funding devoted to active transportation projects. Such a funding stream is especially important in the current moment because of threats to active transportation funding at the federal level.
- Road Diet Program for State Roads and Highways: We request the inclusion and creation of a program for road diets on state roads and highways. Such a program could mimic a similar effort within the Iowa Department of Transportation.
- Third Round Trip for Missouri River Runner Amtrak Service: This is a listed priority in the STL District’s unfunded multimodal needs, but it has implications for the Central and Kansas City districts as well. It could also spur similar investments and development along other passenger rail corridors across the state.
- Ozark Regional Passenger Rail Feasibility Study: This project is still listed in the Southwest MoDOT District, but should be included on the statewide multimodal unfunded needs list. It should also be extended to incorporate Amtrak’s long-distance study findings and other Amtrak projects.
- Development of a Statewide Active Transportation Plan: As MRT has said before, Missouri remains one of only four states without such a plan in place. While MoDOT has taken some meaningful steps to address the needs of people who walk and bike, this is a critical step that they have still yet to take.
- Reconsideration of the Forward 44 Project: Acknowledging that some work has already begun on this project, MRT still has significant concerns about the project as a whole. Those concerns primarily focus on the cost, safety, and accessibility of the project to nearby communities and users that are unable to drive.
You can read our full comments by clicking here.
How can everyday people get involved?
There’s still time to share your thoughts with MoDOT about what should be on the HPUN and why. The deadline for submitting public comment is Thursday, September 10, 2026. Here’s how you can do that:
- Submit a public comment: Use the public form to submit public comments about the HPUN (click here). Use the comments to advocate for specific projects on the list in your area of the state as well as key statewide priorities. You can also use this space to ask MoDOT to consider an approach that does more to prioritize the needs of all Missouri road users rather than drivers alone.
- Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same: Part of the reason why both elected leaders and MoDOT staff continue to prioritize highway and road expansion is because they believe that this is what people want. The more people who speak up about the need for safer crossings for pedestrians, more connected trails for biking, and increased state funding for transit, the easier it will be for MRT and our partners to advocate for these priorities in Jefferson City.
The High Priority Unfunded Needs List is an important document that shapes the transportation landscape in Missouri. MRT has identified projects and programs that can be elevated from the list and given greater priority in the future. To make these changes stick and improve transportation outcomes across the Show-Me State, we still need a critical piece: you and your neighbors.
