MoDOT director Rahn quits, joins company Transportation Dept. did $75m in business with over five years

Intro:	The company MoDOT director Pete Rahn is joining has gotten huge amounts of money from Rahn's department.
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Wrap: $75 million over five years.

That's not Albert Pujols' new contract.

It's the amount of money MoDOT says it's paid engineering giant HNTB under Rahn's direction.

Rahn is quitting the state Transportation Department to join HNTB.

But he denies there's anything wrong with that.

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Description: "I have never influenced the selection of a contractor or consultant, HNTB or any other, for any reason."

Rahn says he is taking the job to move back to New Mexico to be closer to his grandson.

He'll step down April 23.

From the state Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	The Senate Transportation Committee's chairman says there's no need to investigate MoDOT director Pete Rahn's decision to quit.
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Wrap: Rahn is joining engineering giant HNTB.

Under his leadership, MoDOT has done $75 million in business with the company over the last five years.

Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Stouffer, a Napton Republican, says that's not an ethical problem.

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Description: "In my mind, that's just foolishness. I mean, the truth of the matter is, Missouri has gotten very high quality roads, we have gotten every dollar. I mean, I don't even see what the implication would be."

Stouffer says Missouri went from near worst to near first in road quality under Rahn.

Rahn says he's stepping down April 23 to take a job in New Mexico, where he can be closer to his grandson.

From the state Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	MoDOT's outgoing director says new taxes or tolls are key to keep the state's roads from crumbling, and a Senate Republican offered an ultimatum.
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Wrap: Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Stouffer says the choice is clear.

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Description: "I-70's worn out, I-44's worn out. And we're gonna have to decide - do we want good-quality, safe roads, or do we want to go back down to where we're 47th in the country?"

That's the challenge MoDOT's next director faces, after Rahn announced he was quitting.

Rahn says Missouri should have toll roads and increase its sales tax to pay for the state's infrastructure.

Rahn has said the Transportation Department is about to drive off a cliff because of its plummeting budget.

From the state Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.