BOND PUTS ROADS BILL FORWARD; SENATOR SAYS FAIR STATE FUNDING VITAL

SIKESTON - U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond made a stop in Sikeston Saturday afternoon to tout legislation he is sponsoring this year that he says will stop the "highway robbery" that has plagued Missouri.

Bond charged that the present formula for distributing federal gas-tax money to the states penalizes Missouri to the point that it receives only about 85 cents for every dollar paid in. He said Missouri is one of 19 states that receives a disproportionate share of federal highway funds.

"Our state is at the crossroads of the nation, but we're getting shortchanged," the senator declared.

Bond prepared his legislation after discussing funding problems with state highway officials, community leaders, and representatives of groups advocating better highways.

Under his proposal, which would apply to the reauthorization of the Federal Highway Trust Fund, all federal highway funds would have to be spent on highways and not for trying to reduce the budget deficit; the funding formula would be based on gas usage rather than interstate miles; states would be given more flexibility on how to use the money; and there would be increased funding for bridge repairs and maintenance.

"I believe a fair funding formula and authorizing full expenditure of the funds will make a big difference for Missouri," said Bond, speaking at the intersection of Highways 60 and 61.

If his bill is passed, Bond explained that Missouri would receive an additional $1.4 billion in federal highway funds over the next five years, which is almost double what the state receives now.

"We simply cannot meet our existing needs without additional funding," Bond said.

Bond said his efforts in the Senate are supported by Missouri's other senator, John Danforth, and stressed that 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson would play a major role in the House as a member of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee of the Public Works Committee that will draft the highway bill.

Lloyd Smith, Emerson's chief of staff, said he understood that Bond's bill would be moving rather quickly in the Senate. "We'll be doing our part; we'll be working together," said Smith.

Bond said it is very important that a highway reauthorization bill be passed this year, even though some members of Congress are suggesting there is no need to hurry or that the present program should be continued for another year or two so that legislators will have more time to work on a plan.

But further delays will result in continued penalties for Missouri, said the senator.

"We very much want to get a bill passed this year," said Bond, adding that getting one passed will require a strong grassroots effort encouraging members of Congress to act.

He stressed the importance of state legislators and members of highway organizations keeping the pressure on members of Congress to get the job done now.

Several of the area officials who joined Bond at the press conference pledged to continue the grassroots push. Among those were State Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter; Bob Sfreddo, chief engineer of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department; and Josh Bill and Blair Moran, members of the Highway 60 Committee and the Missouri Highway Corridor Coalition.

One of the top priorities for additional federal highway money will be upgrading Highway 60 across southern Missouri, Bond said. His legislation places a strong emphasis on upgrading of state primary highways, like Highway 60, as part of the national highway system.

Sfreddo outlined some of the projects included in the unfunded 10-year needs study of the state highway department, which additional federal money could make a reality.

"It's time for this highway robbery to stop," said Bond. "Our roads are decaying and our bridges, rated second worst in the nation, are falling apart. We need a fair funding formula. Better roads and bridges will mean more jobs and economic growth, but they will also mean less traffic congestion and tragedy on our highways."