Opinion ID: 1423514
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Taussig Road Project

Text: For some time, Bridgeton has intended to improve Taussig Road, but has been unable to fund the needed improvements. Mayor Conrad Bowers stated in an affidavit that Taussig Road is narrow and congested. He further stated that Taussig Road needs to be enlarged to increase safe travel speeds, to enhance the safety of motorists, and to address storm water runoff problems. Similarly, Doug Shatto, president of Crawford Bunte Brammeier Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning, stated in his affidavit that Taussig Road is substandard and in need of modification and/or reconstruction. According to Shatto, Taussig Road's problems include a narrow pavement cross-section, no shoulders, insufficient lateral clearance from trees and utility poles, a single-lane underpass of a railroad viaduct[,] uneven pavement surfaces, skewed intersections[,] and substandard horizontal and vertical curves that limit sight distance and safe travel speeds. Shatto opined that [r]egardless of any new or future development within this area, Taussig Road is in need of improvement. In the late 1990s, TRiSTAR, a private developer, moved forward on plans to develop an industrial park north of Route 370. The development would be entirely within the city limits of Hazelwood, a municipality neighboring Bridgeton. Shatto's firm and another traffic consulting firm, Wells & Associates, conducted independent traffic analyses and concluded that TRiSTAR's development would add relatively little traffic to Taussig Road. TRiSTAR's project plans included construction of a new Route 370 interchange, part of which would be within Bridgeton city limits. The Missouri Department of Transportation required TRiSTAR to obtain the approval of all municipalities affected by the proposed interchange. In 1998, TRiSTAR complied by seeking Bridgeton's approval for the proposed interchange construction. Bridgeton offered its approval on the condition that TRiSTAR help finance the Taussig Road improvements. TRiSTAR agreed, and the parties executed a written agreement memorializing the terms of the deal on October 20, 1999. The Taussig Road improvements require relocation of certain Missouri-American facilities along Taussig Road. At some time after Bridgeton and TRiSTAR executed the October 20, 1999, agreement, but before June 26, 2003, Bridgeton offered Missouri-American the opportunity to relocate its facilities within the new Taussig Road right-of-way under a license agreement with Bridgeton. Missouri-American refused to relocate unless Bridgeton paid it over $500,000. The mayor and city council of Bridgeton passed a resolution on July 2, 2003, stating that Taussig Road is narrow, congested and in need of improvements to increase its size, capacity to handle vehicles of all sizes, speed of travel, and the safety of motorists using Taussig Road. The city council members found that Bridgeton's actions to expand and improve Taussig Road were public governmental acts in the public interest and safety to serve the traveling public [and] encourage business and industrial activity and growth. The city council members directed the mayor and staff of Bridgeton to take all lawful and proper actions to carry out the expansion of Taussig Road and empowered them to revoke the permission for any person, firm or utility to locate facilities or property on or under property owned by the City of Bridgeton, and to otherwise effectuate the lawful removal of such properties or facilities interfering with the construction and completion of the Taussig Road improvements. In May 2004, Bridgeton filed a petition in the circuit court, asserting claims of trespass and ejectment against Missouri-American. Bridgeton alleged that Missouri-American had no authority to possess or use the land along Taussig Road, but stated that Bridgeton remained willing to grant Missouri-American a license for its facilities within the improved Taussig Road right-of-way. Bridgeton sought damages and an order requiring Missouri-American to remove the affected facilities or relocate them at its expense. Missouri-American filed a motion for summary judgment, which the circuit court sustained. This Court ordered transfer of the case after opinion by the court of appeals. Mo. Const. art. V, sec. 10.