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Green moves from MoDot
Recent letters (4/20 and 4/26) urge the Missouri Department of Transportation to consider green alternatives. We’ve turned that corner, finding ways to reduce costs, emissions and save energy. Our partners include Missouri Department of Conservation, Grow Native! and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
MoDOT’s mowing policy ensures that no growth hinders a motorist’s view of approaching traffic. We mow less, particularly in rural areas, where a more verdant right of way blends with the surrounding countryside. In urban and suburban areas, MoDOT mows less often but still maintains a tidy right of way.
MoDOT also mows as a method of weed control, while also using natural means whenever possible, such as thistle weevils instead of herbicide. And we plan new projects to include natural summer grasses such as buffalo grass, which crowds out other vegetation, requires less water and remains short.
Native grasses can be found along the corridors of I-435 from 87th to south of 95th; I-29 north of Route 92; Route 50 east of Lee’s Summit and Route 7 south of Harrisonville; the medians of I-70 throughout Lafayette County; the intersections of I-70 and I-470 and at Route 152 and I-435. Most of these are mowed less than annually.
Steve Porter
Senior community relations specialist,
Missouri Department of Transportation
Lee’s Summit
Oil company profitsI am extremely disturbed by the obscene profits the oil companies are reaping. With the economy so heavily based on energy, there should be more outrage at the gouging being practiced.
Since it seems that higher cost is the only factor that will encourage conservation, I would much rather pay a gasoline tax that would be earmarked for repairs and rebuilding of our ailing highway and bridge system. This would result in reduced costs to motorists through fewer accidents, insurance and automobile maintenance costs and provide much-needed jobs for our labor force.
We need to be more concerned about our legacy for future generations. We’ll leave them nothing if we consume oil as though there is no tomorrow.
Brian Steele
Olathe
There is much criticism of the oil companies for the price of gasoline and the large profits they are reporting.No one seems to realize that oil companies have tens of billions of dollars invested in dry well exploration and in capital costs when oil is discovered and additional refining capacity has to be built.
I would guess oil companies’ income-to-capital investment is pretty much in line with other manufacturers.
Edward H. Barnes
Prairie Village
While we were concentrating on preventing terrorism coming out of the Middle East, up popped terrorism right here at home.The oil companies are ruining our economy, and we can’t do anything about it.
Roberta Newth
Leawood
Miley Cyrus photo shootShame on Annie Leibovitz! As a photographer she should have chosen a pose that was age-appropriate to her client. Miley Cyrus is quoted as saying, “That’s what she wanted me to do, and you can’t say no to Annie” (4/28, A-6, “Star apologizes for photo shoot”).
Therefore, I think Leibovitz should be held responsible for the inappropriate pose. Don’t blame Miley. Miley was probably starstruck with the idea of working with a photographer of such stature and fame. She has already expressed regret and embarrassment at the photograph. That shows me maturity beyond her 15 years.
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