Lawmakers call for better funding of Missouri's ports

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A legislative committee studying multimodal transportation is recommending the state improve funding for river ports. The broad suggestion, however, doesn't specifically set a dollar figure or identify a source for new revenue.

The recommendation by the Joint Interim Committee on Multimodal Transportation is included in a draft report the panel will finalize in the coming weeks. The committee has spent the last several months studying nonhighway transportation modes such as waterways, aviation and rail.

Speaking before the committee on Monday, Missouri Port Authorities Association lobbyist Marvin Proffer said a stronger investment in the state's ports would pay healthy dividends in terms of economic development. As fuel prices continue to increase, river transport is becoming a more attractive way of moving goods, Proffer said.

Cheaper by water

"Ports are becoming very valuable because it is much less expensive to ship by water than by rail or truck," he said.

Due to budget constraints, state funding to develop and operate Missouri's 13 ports was eliminated for the 2004 fiscal year after being cut in each of the previous two years. However, $150,000 was still provided for the operation of river ferries in Mississippi and Ste. Genevieve counties.

For the current fiscal year, lawmakers restored $450,000 for grants to local ports in addition to funding the ferry operations.

The committee toured the New Madrid County and Southeast Missouri port authorities in August. State Sen. John Griesheimer, the committee's chairman, said those ports have made good progress despite the budget problems.

"It is amazing what they have done with an absence of state funding," said Griesheimer, R-Washington.

Amendment 3, a proposal voters ratified last month to redirect more money to the Missouri Department of Transportation, will provide about $1.6 million a year for multimodal transportation. However, that falls well short of providing the additional $60 million to $70 million Brian Weiler, the agency's director of multimodal operations, said is needed to address all multimodal needs, including rail and aviation.

Weiler also said there is no guarantee the $1.6 million from Amendment 3 will truly be additional money as lawmakers may choose to use the funds to free up general revenue that currently helps support multimodal programs.

The committee is recommending that a substantial portion of revenue from any future transportation tax be set aside for multimodal needs. Several committee members, however, expressed skepticism that a transportation tax proposal will be put before voters anytime soon.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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