RESTORING TRUST WILL FIX OUR HIGHWAYS

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- On my recent walk to Jefferson City I learned a lot about our highways, and it gave me plenty of time to think about possible solutions to some of our transportation problems here in Missouri.

I got a firsthand look at road conditions, dangerous bridges and traffic patterns. It was also helpful to actually talk with the very people who were driving on these roads every day. I met and talked with hundreds of citizens along the route and collected thousands of signatures on my petition.

As I talked with the residents, I heard the same thing over and over: Missouri voters do not trust the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission or the Missouri Department of Transportation. They feel they were lied to in 1998 when the highway commission threw out the 1992 15-year plan, which promised to build certain roads if the voters would give them a 6-cent-a-gallon fuel-tax increase.

The commission and MoDOT have explained how they do not have enough money to build all the promised projects in the 1992 plan in 15 years. In fact, they have said they are $14 billion short. It is hard for most citizens to understand how they could be $14 billion off on their figures.

What has made this funding shortage even more controversial is that MoDOT has collected more revenue than was projected from the 6-cent fuel tax. In 2000 alone the department collected $500 million more than projected, and since 1992 MoDOT has collected over $1 billion more than was anticipated in 1992.

There are two reasons the fuel tax provided extra money. First, the economy has been good and Missouri sold more fuel than was projected. Second, the federal government reworked the funding formula and Missouri started getting more money in 1996.

After taking the last six months and studying this issue, I feel there are six main reasons why MoDOT doesn't have the money to keep its promises:

1. The 15-year plan was over-promised.

2. Unanticipated inflation costs.

3. Improved design of projects, which raised construction costs (example: thicker concrete).

4. MoDOT waste.

5. Unanticipated design changes that improved projects (example: an extra overpass).

6. Diversion of 6-cent fuel-tax revenue (most of this money has gone to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Department of Revenue).

Some OK, some not

These are the main reasons the highway commission is short of funds. Some of them are very legitimate reasons and could not be helped, but others are not. In my opinion, the main reason we are in this situation is because the commission and MoDOT over-promised the 15-year plan back in 1992. You are probably wondering who is to blame for this mess. We need to realize that blaming someone will not help our current situation and the people who made these decisions are no longer around. But one key point that our leaders in Jefferson City need to remember is this: It's not the taxpayers' fault. The citizens of this state listened to the experts and held up their part of the bargain. We have been paying the 6-cent-a-gallon tax for nine years. Our transportation leaders need to understand it's the taxpayers who have been misled and mistreated in this whole mess. They owe it to us to make some changes and get their ship in order and prove to us that they can do a good job of spending our money wisely to fix roads.

One point needs mentioning is this. In all the talk of how bad the 15-year plan is and how we don't have the money to complete it, there is one thing that has remained constant. No one has ever said the needs have changed. No one has ever said the traffic patterns have shifted. No one has ever said fewer people are dying at dangerous intersections. Actually the opposite is true.

The needs identified in the 15-year plan are still there and the traffic and accident rates are only higher in 2001. This is true in both the urban and rural areas.

This brings us to our main problem. The voters do not trust the highway commission or MoDOT and will not give them any more money. And MoDOT cannot keep its promise and build more roads without more money. The question we need to answer is, How do we get our roads fixed if it will take more money but the taxpayers are not willing to give it? I have talked to hundreds of citizens who have told me they would be willing to pay more taxes if they thought it would actually mean better roads.

I believe there are some things our leaders must do to rebuild trust and prove to the voters of Missouri that they will use our tax money wisely to build roads.

The foundation to fixing our roads has to be restoring the trust in the highway commission. It includes all of the following:

1. Commit to finish the promised projects. This is not just a rural-urban fight, as some would have you believe. I feel all regions want to work together to find a solution. In the rural areas we can support changing some of the planned four-lane roads to super-two-lane roads. We need to follow the basic formula of the plan, but MoDOT must give taxpayers the commitment that it will keep its word.

2. Change the highway commission. There are several different plans for changing the commission. Most of my fellow House members in both parties agree that some type of change is needed. The governor also has proposed doing something different. We need to find a way to make the commission more accountable without having politicians picking out where roads will go. Most of the proposed plans would do this.

3. Do a top-to-bottom review of MoDOT. We need to have a total review of how MoDOT operates to look for ways to save money and be more efficient. Taxpayers see waste and mismanagement every day, and this makes them less likely to have confidence in how their money is spent.

4. Stop the fuel-tax diversion. Last year $199 million of MoDOT's money went to other state departments. While these were very needed expenditures, it should not have come from the money that voters had earmarked for roads. MoDOT needs this money to keep its promise, and voters want to see that money spent on highways.

5. Present a timeline for finishing projects. Many of the projects in the 15-year plan have not been completed and are not in the new five-year plan. MoDOT needs to be honest with the citizens and put out a new timeline of when the promised projects will be completed with current funds. This will no doubt be much longer than the planned 15 years, but taxpayers will appreciate the honesty and at least have a better understanding of where we are.

These are things that I feel must be done before the voters will approve any new taxes. Missouri is the Show Me-State, and MoDOT needs to show me. When I have a bucket that has holes in it and leaks, before I put more water in it I have to fix the holes. MoDOT needs to fix the organization and restore accountability before we put more of our tax dollars in.

Make changes

MoDOT needs to make some changes and start improving road conditions along with using our tax dollars wisely. When this is done, voters will support its efforts to build Missouri's roads. I truly believe this is not a Republican or Democratic issue. Nor is it an urban or rural fight. As Gov. Bob Holden said in his inaugural speech, "We all live in one Missouri." We all see the importance of fixing the roads, and we have all lost friends and family members on our highways. It's time we stop pointing fingers and blaming others. I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues next session to implement some of these changes and get started on the job of fixing Missouri's roads.

Rod Jetton, state representative in 156th District, recently walked from Jackson to Jefferson City to call attention to highway needs.