Columbia Chamber of Commerce hosts 9th, final public hearing of 2017

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce hosted its ninth and final public hearing of the 21st Century Missouri Transportation System Task Force at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center.

ABC 17 News learned the hearing is in place to discuss recommendations and the current conditions of Missouri’s transportation system and funding.

The task force is also prepared to give those recommendations to the General Assembly on Jan. 1.

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce stated that they hope to give local business leaders the opportunity to speak directly with the task force members on the specific needs of the city of Columbia.

Missouri spends a half a billion dollars a year on roads and bridges, but the money coming in for those repairs and projects are in jeopardy.

Jerry Dowell, the Director of Government Affairs with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce said people will put less gas in their vehicles, which means less gas revenue from the state roads.