Missouri's transportation department unveiled plans on May 5 for dramatic cost cutting measures that will trim 1,200 staff positions, or 19% of its workforce. The department also will close 135 facilities and sell 740 pieces of equipment. The agency's five-year, $1.2-billion budget is being halved to $600 million due to severe revenue shortfalls. The reductions will create an estimated $512-million onetime savings as well as $117 million in long-term annual savings. The proposed program is “a matter of survival,” says state transportation director Kevin Keith. The cuts will scale back department facilities by 40% and reduce its equipment fleet by 12.6%.