POOR TIMING FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANS

There is talk that Gov. Mel Carnahan will call a special session of the Missouri Legislature to address transportation needs in the state. Such a move would be largely based on a yet-to-be-produced report from the governor's Total Transportation Commission, which is considering a broad program involving some 30 separate strategies for highways, aviation, waterways, ports, railroads, mass transit and even bicycles and pedestrian paths.

The commission's report isn't expected until after the Legislature's mid-May adjournment of its regular session. Perhaps this was a calculated maneuver to force a special session.

Why such scheming? In reality, the commission's efforts are little more than a smokescreen for what is likely to be the most costly transportation plan ever envisioned in the state. The plain fact is there isn't enough money to pay for such a plan. Thus the commission's real aim is to build public interest in and support for special funding programs or a massive state bond issue.

Better that such a far-reaching program would be presented during the Legislature's regular session so that it could appropriately be considered along with all the other spending needs of the state.