PORT HOPES STATE WILL PAY FOR NASH ROAD EXTENSION

SCOTT CITY - The executive director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority is hoping to convince the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission that it should fund the extension of Nash Road into the port.

Port Director Allan Maki testified before a meeting of the commission earlier this month and suggested the state should increase its investment in the port to make it comparable with local funds that have been contributed.

Of the $12 million investment at the SEMO port, only $1 million came from state funds, Maki observed. Another $7 million came from local funds through a four-year, quarter-cent sales tax, and $4 million was in federal funds.

"This isn't a request for gratuitous funding or pie in the sky," declared Maki. "This is a real live viable project that has already been supported by local interests. To go back and tax people again when the state only has $1 million of the $12 million invested in the port project seems premature."

The port's board of commissioners have discussed forming a transportation district to extend the road. But as part of the voter approval required to form a district, there must also be approval of one or more methods of financing the improvement.

Maki contends the people of Cape Girardeau and Scott counties actually formed a transportation district when the port was formed in 1975, and voters overwhelmingly approved the sales tax.

"I think the state ought to reward that kind of initiative and that unity of purpose," Maki said.

John Oliver of Cape Girardeau, a member of the highway commission, said the six-member body has discussed the Nash Road project, but it can make no commitments until after Congress acts on a new highway bill.

"If we don't get a change in the formula, there aren't going to be any more new projects," declared Oliver.

Walt Wildman, executive director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association; Scott City Mayor Shirley Young and Cape Girardeau Mayor Gene Rhodes have voiced support for the port authority's request.

Oliver said the commission's response to the request was favorable.

"I know we are committed at the very least to providing engineering help, but what happens beyond that will depend entirely on the federal bill," said Oliver.

Maki said there are no firm cost estimates on extending Nash Road, although a general estimate is $5 million. He said that so far the port authority has spent $250,000 toward the project, for such things as engineering, cultural surveys, legal fees, appraisals, property acquisition, and project administration. In addition, he stressed the port authority was willing to provide all the necessary rights of way.

The House and Senate have passed different versions of the new highway bill and are hoping to reach a compromise before the end of November.

Oliver said if the Senate version passes, at least one third of all gas tax money from this part of the country will be redistributed to help existing mass transit systems on the East Coast.

"If the Senate bill passes, most of the new money in it is earmarked and goes elsewhere or to subsidize light rail in St. Louis and Kansas City," declared Oliver. "There won't be any new money for new roads. Only if the formula changes do we get new real money."

If a version of the highway bill like the one passed by the House is ultimately approved, Oliver said it is "a very real possibility" that the highway department might be able to come up with as much as 75 percent of the costs for Nash Road.

"We might have all kinds of possibilities, but right now it's all speculative," said Oliver. "If the formula does not change, we will have to look at alternatives."

Extending Nash Road eastward into the port is considered essential to the port's overall development and being able to take advantage of the various methods of transportation.

Maki said the SEMO port offers the opportunity to quickly shift the mode of transportation from rail, river, road, or air.

In her remarks to the highway commission, Young pointed out there is only one entrance into Scott City, from a congested Interstate 55 interchange. She said the road through Scott City has 550 trucks passing through every week day, including 250-300 loaded with gasoline.

Young said economic development potential will be limited until there is another highway access provided into the port and Scott City.

Rhodes stressed the importance of extending Nash Road to link the city with the port and that "it will not only provide an economic stimulus to the region, but directly and positively impact the city of Cape Girardeau."

Rhodes also said the extension would link the port to industries situated west of I-55 on Nash Road and enable them to take advantage of what the port authority has to offer.