HB 685 -- Transportation Funding

Co-Sponsors:  Bray, Johnson (61), Hilgemann, Campbell, Van
Zandt, Harlan, Kennedy, Hollingsworth

This bill is a comprehensive package relating to transportation
funding and related items.

The bill creates within the Office of Administration a Public
Capital Investment Board.  The board will consist of 19 members,
6 of whom will be department directors, 6 citizen members, 6
municipal officials appointed by the Governor with the advice
and consent of the Senate, and the State Treasurer.

The board will advise the Governor and his cabinet on statewide
economic and quality of life goals and develop a coordinated,
statewide, interagency plan for the investment of public capital
toward achieving these goals.  The Highways and Transportation
Commission in cooperation with the regional planning commissions
and metropolitan planning organizations must develop a statewide
total transportation investment plan for the purpose of
determining priorities and allocating funds consistent with the
priorities, methodologies, and accountability mechanisms
established by the investment board.  The state transportation
plan will need approval of the Governor and the General Assembly.

The Transportation Sales Tax Fund is created to receive sales
tax revenues that support transportation needs.  Distribution of
moneys from the fund will be as follows:

(1)  66.5% will be used for public transportation to be
allocated to transit service providers for capital and operating
assistance based on service area population, employment, and
passenger-miles provided;

(2)  13% will be used for intercity rail facilities and services;

(3)  13% will be used for any transportation purpose and
allocated to cities and counties based on a formula which
considers population, employment, and lane-miles of local roads;

(4)  3% will be used for port facilities;

(5)  1.5% will be used for intercity bus facilities and services;

(6)  1.5% will be used for bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and

(7)  1.5% will be used for support activities of the Public
Capital Investment Board, regional planning commissions, and
metropolitan planning organizations for transportation planning.

The Transportation User Fee Fund is created. Certain fuel tax
and user fees will be deposited in the fund for the support of
highways.  Moneys in the fund will be allocated as follows:

(1)  To cities and counties as required by constitutional
provisions relating to fuel tax, vehicle sales, and license fees.

(2)  To the Department of Transportation for expenditure in each
state highway district in an amount distributed through a
formula based on population, employment, principal arterial
lane-miles, and vehicle-miles traveled.

The bill also:

(1)  Increases the motor fuel tax by 3 cents per gallon, phased
in over 3 years;

(2)  Increases the state sales and use tax on tangible personal
property, excluding certain types of foods, by 0.25%;

(3)  Increases the sales tax on motor vehicle sales by 0.5%;

(4)  Removes the sales and use tax exemption of jet fuel;

(5)  Increases the membership of the Highways and Transportation
Commission from 6 to 9 members, with one from each Congressional
district;

(6)  Authorizes the Department of Transportation to use design--
build contracting methods for projects on the state highway
system;

(7)  Establishes requirements for the participation of
disadvantaged businesses in any program or project using funds
derived from the bill in accordance with federal laws and
regulations applying to the federal-aid highway program;

(8)  Gives the Highways and Transportation Commission
authorization for tolls on I-70, I-44, and I-55.  These tolls
would have an $80 million cap adjusted annually based on the
Consumer Price Index.  Toll revenues will be deposited in the
Toll Road Fund and used solely for capital expenses on the toll
facilities.

(9)  Increases all license, title, permit, and registration fees
by 50%;

(10)  Establishes new parameters for the competitive bidding
process in relation to selecting a vendor for the material used
to manufacture license plates;

(11)  Limits the number of characters on special personalized
license plates;

(12)  Lowers the blood alcohol content level necessary for a
conviction of driving with excessive blood alcohol content from
.10 to .08; and

(13)  Allows for the designation and enforcement of the lawful
use of high occupancy vehicle lanes.

The bill contains a referendum clause.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated September 13, 2001 at 2:03 pm