Memorial roadway naming may slow

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- U.S. 412 in the Bootheel could soon be dubbed the Gov. John M. Dalton Memorial Highway after the state's first chief executive from Southeast Missouri. It also could be one of the last roads in the state named through an act of the Missouri Legislature.

Seeking to stem the growing proliferation of bills annually filed to name roads and bridges, the legislature passed a measure last week that would establish standards and give the Missouri Department of Transportation responsibility for processing such requests.

Memorials would be limited to honoring an event, place, organization or a person who has been deceased for more than two years. The waiting period for individuals, however, doesn't apply to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The concept is similar to a law enacted last year aimed at curbing bills to create specialty license plates. That process is now handled through the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Senate Transportation Committee chairman Jon Dolan, R-Lake St. Louis, said he doesn't believe the creation of memorial roadways has gotten out of hand, as had been the case with license plates. However, Dolan said the number of memorial highway bills has been on the rise and some lawmakers felt it appropriate to establish a procedure outside of the legislative process to allow them more time to focus on other issues.

"We now know there is a better way," Dolan said.

The bill, which is awaiting action by Gov. Matt Blunt, contains the Dalton highway provision and eight others honoring former and current public officials and law enforcement officers. Included is a proposal to name a portion of Interstate 44 in Phelps County after governor Mel Carnahan, who died in office in October 2000.

Instead of asking a legislator to file a bill, those seeking to name a road or bridge would file an application with MoDOT signed by least 100 supporters and provide a $1,000 deposit. The House and Senate transportation committees would decide whether to approve the application. If approved, MoDOT would use the deposit to pay for construction and maintenance of signs.

MoDOT spokesman Jeff Briggs said the bill would provide more coordination in the process and shift the burden of paying for such memorials from taxpayers to the groups seeking them.

Opposition from House Republicans to a provision of the bill naming a Missouri River bridge in the western part of the state after U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, a Democrat, helped prompt the inclusion of the new standards.

Although he feels Skelton is worthy of the honor, Dolan said there is some merit in limiting them to the deceased. The limitation would cut down on political controversy and the potential that the honoree might later be deemed unworthy.

For example, the legislature several years ago named a stretch of I-70 after former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire. Some lawmakers saw the designation as an embarrassment after McGwire, while testifying under oath before a congressional committee earlier this year, refused to answer questions about whether he used steroids as a player.

The legislative process, however, can still be used to honor a living person if lawmakers feel it necessary.

While a few license plate bills were still filed this year, Dolan said he isn't aware of any that passed, and that the new system is working.

"It definitely saved legislative floor time, committee time and has been a welcome change without controversy," Dolan said.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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