Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation has 4 public hearings remaining

Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley formed a Blue Ribbon Citizens Committe on Missouri’s Transportation needs this past Spring which has four meetings left.  The committee is being chaired by Rod Jetton and Bill McKenna, and they will be looking at total transportation needs in the state.

It is imperative that supporters of public transit voice their opinions on the need for better funded and improved public transit infrastructure for Missouri.   For every one dollar invested in public transit, there is a $4 return for the state. Not many other infrastructure projects are demonstrating such a return on investment.  The current state budget allocated little more than $560,000 for 33 transit providers across Missouri including Metro and KCATA.  In 1999, Missouri allocated a little more than $8 million for transit. This numbers has been on a decline ever since.

Missouri ranks near the very bottom nationally as well with regards to state support for public transit.  This Blue Ribbon committee provides the opportunity to articulate the needs for public transit in Missouri.

Upcoming Blue Ribbon Commission Meetings:

• June 29 – 10:00 a.m.

Show-Me Center

1333 North Sprigg Street

Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

• July 9 – 10:00 a.m.

ARC City Activity Center

1701 West Ash Street

Columbia, MO 65203

• July 23 – 10:00 a.m.

MoDOT – Northeast District Office

1711 South Route 61

Hannibal, MO 63401

• August 6 – 10:00 a.m.

Gamber Center, Shenendoah Room

4 SE Independence Avenue

Lee’s Summit, MO 64063

Committee members include:

• Mr. Ben Jones, Union Pacific Railroad
• Mr. Blake Hurst, Missouri Farm Bureau
• Mr. Estil Fretwell, Missouri Farm Bureau
• Mr. Brian Meisel, Lake of the Ozarks Economic Development Council
• Mr. Duane Michie, First State Bank and Trust
• Mr. Joe DeLong, DeLong’s Inc.
• Mr. Len Toenjes, AGC of St. Louis
• Mr. Neal St. ONge, Coldwell BAnker
• Mr. Rick Neubert, Delta Concrete Inc.
• MR. Tom Crawford, Missouri Trucking Association
• Mr. Tony Thompson, Kwame Construction
• Mr. Dan Mehan, Missouri Chamber of Commerce
• Mr. Ed DeSoignie, The Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City
• Mr. Jim Anderson, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
• Mr. John Nations, Metro
• Mr. MArk Stidham, Dexter City Adminstrator
• Mr. Randy Verkamp, Phelps County Presiding Commissioner
• Mr. Scott Smith, HNTB Corporation
• Mr. Tom Dunne, Fred Weber, Inc.