MoDOT - New revenue needed

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- While characterizing the condition of Missouri's transportation system as sound, state transportation director Henry Hungerbeeler on Wednesday told lawmakers it is still inadequate to serve the needs of the state.

However, Hungerbeeler suggested no overall plan to significantly increase transportation funding, but he did suggest toll roads and seat belt fines as means for generating new revenue -- an issue lawmakers almost universally acknowledge needs to be resolved to substantially upgrade the system.

Hungerbeeler made his comments before a joint session of the Missouri Legislature during the first-ever State of Transportation address. The speech, the only on record by any agency director to the legislature, was mandated by a state law enacted last year intended to improve oversight of the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Southeast Missouri lawmakers gave Hungerbeeler's remarks positive reviews and said the much-maligned MoDOT has generally improved under his leadership. Hungerbeeler will step down as director in June.

"I think he probably will leave MoDOT in lot better shape than when he got there. For that we're grateful," said state Rep. Gayle Kingery, R-Poplar Bluff and a member of the House Transportation and Motor Vehicles Committee.

New revenue

While avoiding any mention of a transportation tax increase, such as the one voters rejected in 2002, Hungerbeeler did suggest ways to pad transportation spending.

Among them is to give MoDOT the authority to build toll roads, a power currently barred by the Missouri Constitution. If granted, he said that power would be used sparingly.

"Many people fear that giving MoDOT the authority to use tolls will mean a tollbooth on every street corner," Hungerbeeler said. "I can assure you that will not happen. In actuality, it would be feasible to place tolls on only a few major projects."

State Rep. Lanie Black, R-Charleston, is sponsoring a proposed constitutional amendment to allow toll roads. The amendment would require voter approval. Black also has companion legislation that would limit tolling to projects designated by the legislature, including a new Mississippi River bridge connecting U.S. 60 to Kentucky.

State Rep. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said voters would have to be educated about toll roads for the concept to take hold.

"I'm not certain right now they would vote to approve that, but I think we need to start working toward it," Mayer said.

Hungerbeeler also called for an end to the so-called diversion of highway user fees, such as fuel taxes, to other state agencies.

"The vital functions of other state agencies should be funded through sources outside of transportation dollars," Hungerbeeler said.

During the current fiscal year, $197 million in user fees is appropriated to other state agencies. However, 98 percent of that total goes to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Department of Revenue -- agencies that are constitutionally entitled to the money. As a result, ending the diversion would require another voter-endorsed constitutional change along with replacement revenue for the affected agencies.

More federal money could be leveraged for road construction, Hungerbeeler said, if Missouri enacted laws banning passengers from drinking alcohol in moving vehicles and allowing police to pull over and ticket motorists solely for not wearing seat belts. Federal law funnels more highway money to states with such laws.

State Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, said he could support the seat belt legislation.

"If they can really show me that we're going to get $15 million extra from the federal government to enforce seat belt laws, I don't have any problem with that," Engler said.

Hungerbeeler cited a list of improvements the department has made under his tenure, including becoming a national leader in its accuracy in estimating project costs and finishing them on time. Faulty cost projections contributed to the failure of MoDOT's ambitious 1992 construction plan.

Engler said MoDOT has become a better and more responsive agency when it comes to the big picture.

"Where they get in trouble is the little things like in Perry County, where they built a roundabout that had to be torn out and redone because it didn't accommodate the tractor-trailers that had to get around it," Engler said.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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