News and Issues

Senator Claire McCaskill made public Tuesday her letter to the Appropriations Committee to lobby for a provision that would allow federal stimulus money to be used by Metro and other transit agencies for ongoing operations. Now, the $8.4 billion earmarked for transit systems can used only for new activities or routes.

Wrote McCaskill: "In my state of Missouri , transit agencies in Kansas City and St. Louis are having serious problems because of dwindling sales tax revenues. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority [KCATA] recently approved a service reduction on 25 of 66 routes. Things are even worse in St. Louis , where Metro St. Louis had to cut transit service drastically beginning March 30th. Metro St. Louis eliminated 2,300 bus stops and laid-off over 550 employees who made a good wage and contribute to the community...."

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