Transportation Panel Considers Options

JEFFERSON CITY — The Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight met Tuesday at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City to discuss funding options for transportation infrastructure in Missouri. The meeting featured presentations by MoDOT Director Pete Rahn and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation David Horner.
The meeting was billed as the 2007 Transportation Funding Summit, and attendees reviewed what other states are doing regarding transportation infrastructure funding.
“Today we want to take a look at where Missouri is as far as funding for transportation is concerned, then we want to go to a national panel that will help us learn what’s coming down from the federal level, and hear what other states are doing and how other people are addressing the issue,” said Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, co-chair of the Joint Committee.
The other co-chair of the Joint Committee is Rep. Neal St. Onge, R-Ellisville.
“The needs are very real for Missouri and soon to be very serious,” St. Onge said. “I think we have about 300 people in the room and there’s probably 300 different solutions in the room. The ultimate goal that we have is to come together with a solution that will be put before the people that benefits all of Missouri.”
MoDOT Director Pete Rahn told the panel the state faces a “perfect storm” in transportation funding, a storm caused by lower state revenue, increasing construction costs and fewer federal dollars. Rahn told the Joint Committee about several options for raising revenue, including a proposal to increase taxes. Rahn noted that Missouri voters would have to approve any revenue-boosting proposal.
The committee is required by statute to meet at least twice a year, and the agenda must include but may not be limited to the following:
(1) Presentation of a prioritized plan for all modes of transportation;
(2) Discussion of department efficiencies and expenditure of cost- savings within the department;
(3) Presentation of a status report on department of transportation revenues and expenditures, including a detailed summary of projects funded by new state revenue as provided in paragraph (a) of subdivision (1) of subsection 3 of this section;
(4) Review of any report from the joint committee inspector general; and
(5) Implementation of any actions as may be deemed necessary by the committee as authorized by law.
Sen. Stouffer, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight, also serves as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. Other senators serving on the Joint Committee include Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, John Griesheimer, R-Washington, Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, Frank Barnitz, D-Lake Spring, Joan Bray, D-St. Louis, and Rita Days, D-St. Louis.
For more information about this event or legislation in the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. To contact Senate Communications, dial (573) 751-3824 or send an email to newsroom@senate.mo.gov.