LWV opposes Proposition B, seeks better plan

To the editor:

The League of Women Voters of Missouri worked with other groups this year to encourage the legislature to pass a comprehensive transportation bill for all Missourians, both those who drive and those who rely on public forms of transportation. The LWV hoped for a bill that recognizes the importance of reliable, safe transportation for every citizen.

Rather than a single transportation issue, Missouri faces four demands for transportation dollars: 1. repairing and maintaining existing roads and bridges, 2. better highways serving small towns to facilitate their economic development, 3. transit and 4. demand for new road-building in the outer edges of urban areas.

It is most unfortunate that Proposition B fails to differentiate among these demands for the transportation dollar. The LWV is highly supportive of the first three types of transportation improvements but fears the sprawl-inducing effects of new highways on the fringes of cities.

Due to lack of accountability, regressiveness of the sales tax and no master plan to meet Missouri's transit needs, Proposition B cannot be endorsed by the LWV.

The LWV urges Missourians to vote no on Proposition B, but all citizens should encourage their legislators to find a more equitable funding mechanism to address unmet needs of those in the middle of the state who need good highways to keep their towns vital, those who need public transportation and those who drive over poorly maintained highways and bridges every day.

DEBORAH WAITE

President

League of Women Voters

of Missouri

St. Louis, Mo.