HIGHWAY BILL DRAWS ACCOLADES

Area officials said they are pleased with a House committee version of a new federal highway bill, especially with its distribution formula and recognition that highways are important for economic development.

Under the present highway authorization bill that expires Sept. 30, the formula does not take into account the amount of gas used in a state, so states like Missouri are paying more in federal gas tax than they are receiving.

John Oliver of Cape Girardeau, a member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, which decides where to allocate road and bridge money, said Saturday the House bill has a good formula.

"It seems to be a very fair formula for us," said Oliver, pointing out the bill uses lane miles and vehicle miles traveled for allocating gas tax funds. "Obviously, that's a big plus to us. That formula should also pacify western states with lots of length but not miles traveled."

Oliver said he also likes the flexibility of the House version because it gives states more of a say in deciding how to spend federal money rather than making mandates. For example, rather than widening interstate highway bridges, the Missouri highway commission might have a greater need to repave old sections of interstate highways, and this bill gives that flexibility.

The Senate has already passed a highway reauthorization bill but it does not address the problems with the formula.

"As good as the Senate bill is, the House bill, at least for Missouri, has some significantly improved provisions," said Oliver. "The primary difficulty with the Senate bill is that it doesn't change the formula by which federal fuel money is disbursed. It is that formula which has penalized Missouri and made a negative in relation to money paid in and money returned."

Oliver termed a 5-cent gas tax increase included in the House plan as "the bad news," but said, "At least we get it all back."

The House plan would almost double the amount of federal money Missouri receives, making the annual figure about $500 million.

Oliver said the additional money would help the highway commission tackle its 10-year unfunded needs list and might enable it to complete some projects earmarked for Proposition A funds earlier. Another plus, is that new problems that have arisen can be taken care of.

Before the bill goes to the full House, it will first have to clear the Ways and Means Committee.

But Oliver and Walt Wildman, executive director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association who has been in Washington following the progress of the bill, said they anticipate action by the full House this week before Congress adjourns for its summer recess.

Differences between the House and Senate versions will be ironed out in a conference committee in September.

Wildman said the RCGA was pleased with the funding formula in the highway bill and the projects mentioned for this area. In particular, he said the organization is pleased and surprised about the designation of the Interstate 66 concept as one of 16 high priority corridors. Projects in that category could receive priority funding during the next five years, but only if studies show them to be feasible.

Just over two years ago the RCGA convened a meeting in St. Louis to discuss the possibility of a new east-west interstate highway. "All we had hoped to do this year is get it mentioned in the bill," said Wildman. "It came out better than we thought. I think it was recognized as having a tremendous impact on the economy."

Other projects mentioned in the bill are widening to four lanes Highway 60 from Sikeston to Willow Springs; widening parts of Highways 67 and 63; widening Highway 412 across the Missouri Bootheel, and widening existing highways to provide a straight route from St. Louis to St. Paul, Minn.

"We just could not have asked for a better bill," said Wildman. "It speaks to a brighter future for Southeast Missouri than any I've seen for a while. The opportunity is there for Missouri to come way out ahead on this.

Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce President Robert Hendrix said the best news of the bill would be the new funding formula. "The particular funding formula will help us more than anything else, and the projects they have identified are just gravy," said Hendrix.

"I think it's encouraging to know that those types of programs are planned for Southeast Missouri, projects which we are long overdue for. A better highway system in this area will be a big catalyst for economic development," said Hendrix.

Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, said that upgrading Highway 412 from Nashville, Tenn., to Tulsa, Okla., will bolster economic development in the Bootheel.

"It will help create new jobs, there is no question about that," said Thomason, who served as director of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce before his election to the House in 1988. He recalled that he helped form the 412 Corridor Association with the chamber, but even before that a group in Kennett and Paragould, Ark., helped get the highway a federal designation.

Thomason, who testified for the project before a congressional subcommittee in St. Louis last spring, said having an improved 412 will improve access from the Bootheel to Interstate 40 at Jackson, Tenn., and a more direct access to Little Rock, Ark.

Thomason said the improved highway is still a long way from reality, but, "This is a giant step forward in getting the 412 corridor four-laned.

"The overall impact of this bill on Southeast Missouri is rather big. All of these projects mean good things for the Bootheel. The better roads we have, the more likelihood we have of attracting jobs, and that's what we so desperately need."