Dear Editor:
Governor Greitens formed a 21st Century Missouri Transportation System Task Force to study ways to fix our roads and bridges. Hopefully, this task force takes note of the governor's recent commercials saying he won't increase taxes on Missouri families. Missourians have already said no to toll roads and a sales tax for transportation. A public/private partnership suggestion is no more than a veiled toll road and would not seem to be an acceptable solution, either. This leaves few options for the task force.
The reason Missourians are reluctant to approve more funding is the Missouri Department of Transportation history of using deceptive and hypocritical practices. Their actions have caused a lack of credibility.
On the small side, they selectively enforce state law prohibiting signs on right-of-way. On the larger side, former Director Pete Rahn promised we would have better roads and bridges for years into the future if taxpayers approved bonds for transportation. Taxpayers approved bonds and continue paying those off today, but our roads and bridges still need fixing. Bond funds were expended on things other than fixing or roads and bridges such as higher salaries, new equipment, sidewalks, trails, bicycle bridges, railroads, airports and grant programs.
MoDOT tells us there is a funds shortage, but records show fuel tax collections were up 3 percent in fiscal year 2016. They deceptively include aforementioned bond funds in prior years revenues. It was a known fact funds for future projects would be slim due to issuance, expenditure and repayment of the bonds. There is no need to be deceptive like this and telling taxpayers funds are down.
MoDOT tells us they want to fix our roads and bridges, but they can't seem to get away from the notion of building more and bigger roads. Missouri has over 30,000 road miles - more than any contiguous state. In fact, we have two to three times more roads than all but one contiguous state. The task force is looking at making I-70 six lanes. We don't need more new roads. We need to take care of our existing roads and bridges.
Hopefully current Director McKenna can address the deceptive and hypocritical practices of the past and earn some credibility. I'm not sure what solutions the task force can suggest, without a tax increase, but hope any proposal includes fixing our bridges and roads and not building more new roads.