The Looming Transportation Crisis

Governor Matt Blunt signed legislation Wednesday that will pave the way to repairing 800 Missouri bridges by 2012.

But in just two years from now, the state could face a major transportation funding crisis, involving a shortfall of millions of dollars.

The federal government has already said it will be delivering less money to Missouri roads over the next few years. Couple that -- with the end of funding from Amendment 3 -- and transportation officials are calling it "the perfect storm."

Missouri Department of Transportation District Engineer Matthew Seiler said in 2009, new work on roads and bridges will have to be drastically reduced, unless politicians come up with a solution.

That's when MoDot estimates it's annual $1.2 billion dollar budget will be reduced to less than 600 million dollars.

"It virtually gets cut in half," Seiler said.

The reason for the shortfall? 2009-2010 is when the state must begin paying back bonds from Amendment 3, which has provided funding for new projects all around the state since July 2005.

"We've spent it and now it's time to pay it off," Seiler said.

He said an inability to solve the financial shortage would basically take MoDot back to pre-Amendment 3 days, when MoDot focused on maintenance, and "not a lot of new construction."

To remedy the problem, some lawmakers are already talking about the possibility of a tax increase, on sales or gas. But that seems to be a non-starter with Gov. Matt Blunt.

"It's a conversation Missourians need to have," Blunt said at a press conference Wednesday.

"Funding mechanisms all need to be on the table for discussion, but again, I'm opposed to increasing taxes," he said.

Still, some transportation officials are scratching their heads about what political leaders will ultimately decide to do.

"It's an issue the whole state has got to address sooner, or later," Seiler said.

Ironically enough, two lawmakers who accompanied Blunt on his bridge bill signing tour, have come our in favor of a tax hikes to make renovations to Interstate highways.

House Transportation Chairman Neal St. Onge (R-St. Louis County) introduced a bill last session that would raise $4 billion dollars in taxes. Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Stouffer, also a Republican, introduced a similar bill that would increase the tax on gas. Money raised would be used to rebuild Interstate 44 as well as Interstate 70. It would also require a statewide vote for approval.

Blunt deferred questions about how to solve the looming financial crisis for a later date. "I think there's going to be plenty of time to talk to Missourians," he said. "My opposition to tax increases is well known, as I said, that's something Missourians are going to have to look hard at."

Still, St. Onge and Stouffer said they plan to continue the dialogue about a road tax as lawmakers head towards the 2008 session. Expect a push for a ballot initiative of some sort.

Next time you see your state rep, ask him (or her) if he'd support some sort of road tax.

Maybe first, you oughta ask yourself.