Last updated: 5th August 2002
| Back to Articles Page |
16th July 2002: Proposition B is a transportation tax package that will be voted on on August 6. The following letter, requesting a commitment to non-automobile infrastructure of at least 1% of all revenues raised from Proposition B (if passed), was sent to MoDOT on June 13th. Signatories to the letter are individuals with an interest in promoting bicycle, wheelchair, and pedestrian infrastructure in Missouri.
5th August 2002: The PedNet Coalition now understands that MoDOT has specifically rejected the request to commit moneys to non-automobile infrastructure, but has agreed to listen to representations after the election, if Proposition B is passed.
| June 13, 2002 By Fax and Email
Mari Ann Winters, Secretary Dear Ms. Winters and Commissioners: We are writing on behalf of Missouri's non-drivers to ask that the Commission commit not less than one percent of new highway revenue from Proposition B to improving accommodations for pedestrians and and other non-motorized travellers on state routes within Missouri's cities and towns. We are quite pleased that Missouri citizens will have the opportunity to vote on a transportation tax package, Proposition B, on August 6. That measure, if approved, will provide much-needed revenues to improve roads throughout the state, and will also provide for increased funding for public transit, river ports, airports, and passenger and freight rail services. We accept as given that, under recently-adopted Commission policies regarding non-motorized transportation, MoDOT will incorporate suitable accommodations for people to move along and across state routes on foot or by bicycle wherever new roads are constructed or existing roads undergo major improvement or reconstruction. We call to your attention, however, that many miles of state routes located within cities and towns will not see significant improvement during the next 10 years, and that many of these routes are currently unsafe for seniors, kids, and other citizens who are not driving. Anecdotal evidence indicates that past Commission policies have discouraged, and in some cases actually prohibited, even the construction of sidewalks along many such routes. In the inclusive and multi-modal spirit of ISTEA and TEA-21, we ask that the Commission commit to a level of spending to meet such unmet needs. We request that the commitment be set at not less than one percent of new revenue deposited into the State Road Fund as a result of Proposition B, and that this money be used in partnership with local jurisdictions to inventory non-motorized needs on state routes within incorporated areas, and then construct needed improvements. We envision a program of matching grants to local jurisdictions willing to initiate and participate in funding such projects. We anticipate that MoDOT staff would design an appropriate "Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvement Partnership Program" in consultation with MoDOT's Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and the Regional Planning Commissions, and that funds would be allocated among State Highway Districts in proportion to population. We hope you will act with resolve to correct this critical omission from SB 915 and Proposition B. We believe the sort of program we propose is a clear highway purpose, and that it is well within the prerogative of the Commission to commit funding for such purposes. Should you not be able to make a commitment based on this request, we hereby request a hearing before the Commission at your July 12 meeting to elaborate on our request and present illustrations of the needs we have outlined. We look forward to a favorable response so we will be able to report to our members that Proposition B will, indeed, provide improvements for all Missouri citizens, including those who do not drive, but who nevertheless will be supporting transportation through their sales taxes. The following Missouri citizens are representative of those who support this request. Affiliations are included for identification purposes only.
Bea Covington, St. Louis |