HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT PONDERS NAME CHANGE

Although the responsibilities of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department include planning for all forms of transportation in the state, some feel the highway portion of the name overshadows all else.

To eliminate that supposed perception in the minds of Missourians, a special committee of the Missouri House of Representatives last month suggested changing the department's name to better reflect its dedication to furthering aviation, waterways, railroads and mass transit as well as the highway system.

"The suggestion has been floating around for about two years that in order to give some reality to the fact we are the Highway and Transportation Department that we change the name to emphasize transportation," said John Oliver of Cape Girardeau, a member of the State Highways and Transportation Committee, the department's governing body.

While Oliver anticipates legislation to that effect will be introduced, the real issue, he said, is not about the merits of a name more reflective of what the department does but if such a change would really be worth the effort and expense. If the name were to be changed, all the appropriate laws would have to be altered and anything such as stationery that bears the department's name would need to be updated.

"When you think about all the work involved, you wonder if it is all worth it," Oliver said.

The department has been known by its current designation since voters passed Constitutional Amendment No. 2 in 1979 to merge the then-separate Highways and Transportation departments.

"It would certainly be simpler to refer to us as the Missouri Transportation Department or a similar name," said Steve Forsythe, a spokesman for the department. However, he quickly added that while some legislators may feel the issue is an important one, it is not a priority of the department.

"It is sufficient to say the name is something that is talked about from time to time, but in terms of what should be getting our attention, there are more immediate concerns," Forsythe said.

Oliver said the idea is championed by urban legislators -- particularly those in the St. Louis area -- who would like to divert funds from a statewide fuel tax to their mass transportation systems, including light rail. Currently all revenue raised by the fuel tax goes toward road and bridge projects.

"I think you will find one or more St. Louis area legislators pushing for it either now or in the near future," Oliver said.