AREA REPRESENTATIVES ECHO CONCERNS OVER HIGHWAY ALLOCATIONS

ST. LOUIS - About 18 representatives of state and local government and transportation advocacy groups that testified before the Surface Transportation Subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives Friday, took the time to carefully outline the needs facing their areas.

Although each person who testified had a particular area of emphasis to discuss, just about everyone took the time to offer some clear instructions to the seven members of Congress that participated in the hearing.

Whether it was Gov. John Ashcroft talking about the needs of the state as a whole, Rep. Larry Thomason (D-Kennett) discussing the needs of the Bootheel area, or Josh Bill, of Sikeston, chairman of the Highway 60 Committee, talking about an east-west corridor across southern Missouri, they all echoed three key directives.

They stressed Congress should not use gas tax money for general revenue purposes because states needed that tax as a way of matching federal highway funds; that the entire highway trust fund should be released to the states rather than setting aside a portion to help reduce the deficit; and that any new formula for distributing federal highway funds should be more equitable so that Missouri will no longer receive less than 85 cents for every $1 contributed to the trust fund.

In discussion following testimony before the committee, Ashcroft said if more federal highway dollars became available to Missouri he would lead an effort to increase the state's gas tax so those funds could be matched.

"If you require me to find additional resources, I'm going to do my best as the leader of this state to help the people of this state come to the conclusion those resources would be well spent," said Ashcroft.

Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan and State Sen. Jay Nixon (D-Hillsboro) also said they would be willing to work for a gas tax increase if more match money was needed to obtain additional federal funds.

Ashcroft agreed that spending money on transportation is a good investment. "An investment in infrastructure is providing a basis upon which people can be prosperous," the governor remarked.

Also testifying was Walt Wildman, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Commerce and Growth Association, who outlined the needs for a new east-west interstate highway known as I-66.

Wildman reviewed the history of the I-66 idea and stressed that the RCGA and I-66 Project, Inc. are ready to assist with a feasibility study.

Wildman said the group would be willing to collect matching funds beyond the required 20 percent to "further indicate the support of such a project. We feel this type of public-private partnership will be a good demonstration of the cooperation that will be required to carry this nation into the 21st century," noted Wildman.

He was accompanied by Dr. Lonnie Haefner, a St. Louis engineer, who is a consultant on the project. Haefner explained several special features that could be included in the highway's design, including one lane specifically made for heavy trucks.

"This highway could serve as a land bridge between east and west ports," said Haefner, adding that it would bring $350 billion a year into the nation's economy.

Wildman stressed the concept of I-66 fits in well with the committee's interest in expanding international trade and developing intermodal transportation in the country.

Eighth District Congressman Bill Emerson said the feasibility study is being undertaken "to answer a lot of questions to which we don't have answers."

Emerson noted that when you look at a map, there appears to be a link missing in the nation's interstate highway system that this project could fill.

Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt of Arkansas told Wildman that the activity on behalf of I-66 is one of the reasons Emerson asked the subcommittee to hold a hearing in Missouri.

Josh Bill, in his testimony, stressed the need to widen Highway 60 to a four lane divided highway across southern Missouri to improve economic development.

"If completed, this corridor would serve the largest area in the eastern two-thirds of the United States not presently traversed by an interstate highway," declared Bill.

He also noted that the highway would provide access westward out of the port in Cairo, Ill., which is the second largest inland port in the United States. This access would help Highway 60 "serve a national goal," Bill suggested.

Laurel Thompson of West Plains spoke on the need to upgrade Highway 63 across south central Missouri. He noted that even though highway access was not good, West Plains was still the fifth fastest growing city in the state and needed better access to continue economic growth.

Rep. Thomason focused much of his remarks on upgrading Federal Highway 412 from Jackson, Tenn., across the Bootheel and into Arkansas. He noted that additional federal highway money would enable the state to make this project a priority.

Thomason noted that the highway crosses the Mississippi Delta, which has the highest concentration of poverty in the United States. "Many in the Delta are working hard to bring new jobs and opportunity to the area, but are hampered in their efforts because of a lack of adequate transportation access," he declared.

"Existing industry in the Bootheel say they are more likely to expand their current operations if transportation were improved. The way to solve the poverty problem in the Delta is not through transfer payments or other government handouts. The way to solve the poverty problem is through providing increased job opportunities, and improving Highway 412 would be a major tool in providing new jobs," Thomason said.

He also raised the issue of earthquake preparedness, which came up several times during Friday's hearing.

Thomason explained that Highway 412 is connected to Tennessee by the only Mississippi River bridge between St. Louis and Memphis constructed to withstand a major quake. As part of the upgrade, other overpasses and bridges along the route would be seismically designed.

"Being able to initiate a rapid response following a seismic event, which this highway would enable us to do, will save many lives and relieve much suffering," said Thomason.

Emerson said he agreed with the potential for Highway 412 as an economic development tool and stressed the need to prepare highways for a potential earthquake in the New Madrid Fault region.

Responding to a question from Rep. Glenn Poshard (D-Carterville, Ill.), Missouri Highway Department Chief Engineer Wayne Muri said all new highway projects are being built to seismic standards. However, to bring current bridges, overpasses, and highways in the Southeast Missouri region prone to earthquakes up to seismic standards, it would cost $80 million, Muri noted.

The cost of doing that would have to come from whatever allocation of federal highway funds are made available to Missouri, Muri said.

Emerson said it might be worthwhile for the committee to consider allocating additional funding to states that need to address seismic design concerns.

Carbondale Mayor Neil Dillard, a member of the Southwestern Illinois Freeway Team, outlined the work of his group in a regional effort to build a four-lane highway connecting Southern Illinois with the St. Louis metropolitan area.

He noted that this has been a longtime goal it has been a major detriment to development in Southern Illinois.

"Improved access to and from the region is critical for tourism development and to support the continued viability of existing business and industry," said Dillard.

U.S. Rep. Joan Kelly Horn (D-Ladue) said she had taken note of the number of private organizations that had been formed to promote transportation needs and to seek funding. "That just shows the incredible needs that we have all over the country," said Horn.