BOND VOWS HIGHWAY FUND FIGHT; ARTERIAL ROAD STATUS URGED BY INCUMBENT

Having won a battle to get increased highway funding for Missouri, U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond pledged Monday that in a new term he would fight to prevent raids on those funds and see that major arterial routes in the state are designated as part of the National Highway System.

"We won the battle and a 75 percent increase in federal highway funding, but we must be on the lookout for raids from the East Coast guerrillas," said Bond at a morning news conference along Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau.

Bond noted that East Coast senators attempted to take highway funds that would go to Missouri to pay for a new courthouse and have also tried to limit the special minimum allocation funding for states like Missouri.

"I always knew the price of freedom was eternal vigilance, but now we've learned that applies to highway funding too," said Bond.

"The next skirmish will be over the National Highway priority system," the senator predicted.

Under the new federal highway bill passed last year, 155,000 miles of highways will be designed as part of the highway system. The Department of Transportation is developing a proposed list now; however, Congress will have two years to make any changes.

Bond said he wanted to insure not only that Missouri's main corridors are given the designation, but he also wants to prevent a decrease in the mileage that will be designated.

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act designates a 155,000 mile system, but gives the Secretary of Transportation the authority to increase or decrease the mileage by 15 percent.

"If the mileage is decreased, you can bet the East Coast will try to decrease the overall NHS funding too," said Bond. Funding under this program is designated for major state highway projects, while the Surface Transportation Program can be used for a broad range of activities.

Among the highways in Missouri that could get the NHS designation are Highways 60, 67, 61, 36, 63, 7, 13, 54, and 71. In the 1992 fiscal year Missouri received $355 million, including $189 million through the interstate maintenance, bridge replacement and National Highway System programs.

Joining Bond were Harriet Beard of Kirksville, chairman of the Missouri Corridor Coalition; John Oliver of Cape Girardeau, a member of the Highway and Transportation Commission; Walt Wildman, executive director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association; and Josh Bill of Sikeston, chairman of the Highway 60 Committee.

All who spoke praised Bond for his efforts in the Senate the last six years and stressed the importance of his being re-elected next week to continue his effort on behalf of the state.

"The viability of rural Missouri's quality of life may well hinge on the corridor system," said Beard, adding that Missouri's central location makes the corridors important as a link between states.

Oliver noted that Bond had proven himself as a capable legislator and is quite familiar with the needs of the state, especially in highways.

"It is essential as we go forward to the second phase of funding on these projects that we return you to the United States Senate," said Oliver. "I look forward to having you there fighting for Missouri and its infrastructure."

Oliver pointed out that the state has already let two contracts for Highway 60 and will let two more next year.

Bill noted that there has been a lot of talk in the country about the need to improve infrastructure. "All that talk turned to action when you took the leadership in getting the funding formula for us," he said.

Republican state senatorial candidate Peter Kinder said he looked forward to being able to work with Bond on highway needs for the state.

"We have a great leader in Sen. Bond," said Kinder. "We have never had a senator in my lifetime who did the kind of heavy lifting for this state that you have."

With the election now just one week away, Bond said he would be traveling the state getting people's views on issues facing the country.

Bond said he planned to hit 20 counties this week, which he noted is probably more than his Democratic opponent Geri Rothman-Serot has hit in the entire campaign.

"I learn a great deal by meeting with people around this state," said Bond. "Many of the ideas I have taken to Washington have been Missouri ideas."

Bond added, "My opponent is missing a beautiful fall in Missouri ... my opponent has not been in a county that doesn't have a major city, an interstate, and TV station."

The senator maintained that jobs, economic development, and growth are the key issues of the 1992 campaign, and said good roads and highways are essential to meeting those needs.