State Transportation Proposal would hurt MetroLink

Representative Neil St. Onge (R-Baldwin), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, is floating a state transportation funding initiative aimed at rebuilding Interstate 70 and doing it with the same funding source as MetroLink expansion funding, a half-cent general sales tax.

Currently roads and bridges in Missouri are funded through motor fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees. Funding a major road rebuilding through general sales tax would be a major departure from current policy, although his plan would also include a four-cent increase in gasoline taxes and a six-cent increase in diesel fuel tax, a sales tax on motor fuel sales, and small increases in registration fees.

The problem with the sales tax as the funding source is that St. Louis City and County would contribute roughly $100 million per year toward the rebuilding that would occur outside the metropolitan area. A part of St. Onge's scheme is to add dedicated truck lanes. The plan would rely on funding from the Metropolitan area and yet provide no direct benefit to the Metropolitan area. Rep. St. Onge would like to have a vote in August 2008, about the same time period that Metro would like to go to the voters with a half-cent sales tax to fund Metro's operation and expansion.

Rep. St. Onge's plan would raise about $4.2 billion and would sunset in six years, leaving me to wonder if his plan would pass, how would he expect to continue the maintenance of the roads if the tax were to be eliminated in six years?

The Post Dispatch has already editorialized against a similar proposal of Senator Stauffer who is chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Hopefully the Post, St. Louis area elected officials and the business community will oppose this and other state transportation funding plans that do not include significant funding for MetroLink expansion and improving passenger rail service in the state, similar to what Illinois has accomplished.