The Missouri Highway and Transportation Department is touting a 6-cent increase in the state's gasoline tax that would be used to match additional federal funds available from a new highway bill. Approval of the increase would enable Missouri to embark on a major highway construction effort over the next 15 years.

With the additional money, highway department officials point out that many pressing road projects that have been identified as priorities could be funded.

"This is the plan that will carry us into the 21st century," declared District 10 Highway Engineer Freeman McCullah. "This does not answer all of our needs, but it does put us in a good situation toward meeting many of those needs."

Among the projects that would be funded in Southeast Missouri would be the extension of Nash Road into the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, an Interstate 55 interchange at Route EE near Oak Ridge, an outer road from Scott City to Nash Road, and the eventual widening of Highways 25, 34 and 72 to four lanes.

For the first time, McCullah noted, the highway department will be able to work on developing a "total transportation system" for the state rather than dealing with pressing needs on a piecemeal basis.

"We've never been able to do that before," he said. "What we are saying is, if we get 6-cents, this is what we will get done over the next 15 years."

One feature of the package, which is being offered to the Missouri General Assembly for quick consideration this year, is that it would connect all towns in the state with populations of 5,000 or more with four-lane highways. Also, all lakes in the state, including Clearwater and Wappapello in Southeast Missouri, would be accessible by four-lane highways.

McCullah said the additional state gas tax would enable Missouri to move beyond projects funded by Proposition A, which primarily provided money to do re-surfacing and catch up on projects that had been neglected due to a lack of money.

The highway department is stressing the plan will provide up to 40,000 additional jobs in the state; provide greater safety by upgrading many roads; lead to better roads and bridges by increasing the number of four-lane highways connecting cities, provide 3,060 miles of wider two-lane roads and 1,386 new or rehabilitated bridges; and allow Missouri to get its fair share of federal gas tax dollars.

Under the new federal highway bill, Missouri will receive about $4 from the federal government for every $1 the state spends on highways.

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission has endorsed a phased-in gas tax increase of 6 cents, which would include a 2-cent hike immediately, and then two additional cents in 1994 and 1996.

On Tuesday night, staff from the highway department met with legislators to discuss the gas tax proposal and to outline what the money would be used for.

If the General Assembly does not act until later in this session and submits the proposal to voters this year, money would not be coming in to take advantage of the 1992 construction season. One idea being offered to legislators is that it might consider approving a gas tax so that it fits the state constitutional cap on taxation and therefore would not have to be submitted for a statewide vote.

By acting prior to Feb. 15, highway department officials contend that more than 7,800 jobs can go to Missourians during 1992 and could help provide a jump start to the state's economy. Prompt action would provide for $100 million in additional construction contracts this year alone.

In their opening session addresses Wednesday, both House Speaker Bob Griffin and Senate President James Mathewson called on lawmakers to approve a gas tax increase that would by-pass a vote of the people.

Gov. John Ashcroft has also expressed support for a 6-cent gas tax hike, but whether he will go along with the House and Senate leaders' suggestion probably will not be clear until he delivers his annual State of the State address Wednesday morning.

Missouri's current gas tax of 11-cents a gallon is well under the national average, said McCullah. The 6-cent increase would still leave Missouri about 1.5 cents under the average, which by 1996 will likely grow as other states increase their taxes.

"The gas tax is one of the fairest taxes in the nation because all money goes to roads," said McCullah. "If you don't drive on the roads you don't pay a dime."

Each 1-cent increase in the state gas tax generates about $32 million. Of that, $25 million goes to the state and $7 million goes to cities and counties for road projects. McCullah pointed out that the additional tax would increase by 50 percent what cities and counties receive.

As new highways are improved and upgraded, McCullah said that there will be less money spent on maintenance of highways and bridges and more on improving the overall system.

"Many of the roads we have now are not built to carry the heavy traffic that is using them, but these will be built to do that and will hold up better," he said.

The plan also will increase the amount of gas tax money going to the Department of Revenue and Highway Patrol for their efforts on behalf of highways, which should help ease some pressure on state general revenue.

If legislators took quick action on the plan, McCullah said it is likely construction of the Nash Road extension could start later this year. The port authority already has acquired the right of way for its project and has conducted most of the environmental studies needed for construction.

Highways 25, 34, and 72 would be upgraded with new or improved two-lane roads initially, however, right of way would be acquired so that the roads could be expanded to four-lane when future traffic counts justify it.

Highway 25 would be improved from Cape Girardeau to the Malden/Campbell area; Highway 34 from Jackson to Van Buren; and Highway 72 from Jackson to Fredericktown. Highway 72 would also be relocated to tie into the new Mississippi River bridge route at Cape Girardeau.

Money would also be available to four-lane the rest of Highway 60 from Sikeston to Willow Springs; Highway 53 from Poplar Bluff to Kennett; Highway 67 from Fredericktown to Poplar Bluff; and Highway 412 from I-55 to west of Kennett, eventually connecting with a four-lane highway in Arkansas.

In addition, McCullah said statewide about 3,000 miles of roads like Highway 51 and 32 would be upgraded to widen shoulders and replace one-lane bridges. Re-surfacing on smaller roads in the state would be done twice as often.

The plan also provides funds to help with rehabilitation of the Chester Bridge and improving parts of Highway 51 near McBride.