New transportation task force discusses fuel tax, toll roads among possible funding solutions

A new task force created by Gov. Eric Greitens started looking at ways to improve the state’s roads and bridges Wednesday.

The 21st Century Missouri Transportation System Task Force met for the first time Wednesday at the state Capitol.

The Missouri Department of Transportation gets about $2.5 billion a year from federal, state and local sources. But the department said that is not enough to keep up with the state’s growing needs such as road and bridge improvements and major interstate reconstruction.

The task force is made up of 23 people, including state representatives, senators, the directors of MoDOT and the highway patrol and multiple nongovernment members. It was created to evaluate the condition of the state’s transportation system and funding levels and come up with recommendations for a solution.

Raising the state’s fuel tax was one of the popular proposed solutions Wednesday.

“We have not seen an increase in the motor-user fuel-tax fee since 1996,” said Sen. Dave Schatz, (R)-Sullivan. “There’s not been an increase in the federal gas tax since 1993. Inflation has risen 64.6 percent since 1993. It’s obvious what the problem is.”

The state Legislature could raise the fuel tax by a maximum of two cents without having to go to voters.

Increasing the fuel tax by that amount would generate about $82 million, according to MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna.

But not everyone on the committee liked the idea.

“I have a huge hesitation to solve our problems by simply going back to our constituents and asking for more money any time we perceive a shortfall,” said Sen. Bill Eigel, (R)-Cottleville.

Eigel was interested instead in reallocating money from other areas of the state’s general revenue fund to the Department of Transportation.

Others on the committee raised concerns about losing Missouri’s competitive edge over neighboring states if the tax increases.

“Are those people that are passing through the state, rather than stopping here and buying fuel, are they gonna just keep driving?” said task force member Craig Porter with Porters Building Centers.

Another idea thrown around for years is making Interstate 70 a toll road.

That, however, is no longer an option for the state Legislature without voter approval.

The task force will continue to meet over the next six months in different cities across the state. It must present its final report with a recommendation by Jan. 21.