FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mayor Ken McClure testified before the Governor’s 21st Century Transportation System Task Force Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017 in Springfield. The purpose of the Task Force is to evaluate the condition of our state transportation system, current transportation funding and whether current funding is sufficient to maintain our system in its current state and ensure it’ll continue to serve the needs of Missouri citizens as we move forward in the 21st Century.
“We believe a healthy infrastructure is one of the most important elements as we look to the future of our City,” the Mayor said. “Infrastructure is critical to economic development, quality of life & public safety.”
He went on to point out how Springfield recognizes the important role of the MoDOT system and shared that Springfield has a history of partnering with MoDOT on infrastructure projects that have acted as a catalyst for economic development in the Springfield community.
“We support additional funding for the Missouri transportation system outside of a sales tax, which could impact the City and County’s ability to fund other critical local needs via sales tax. We believe fuel taxes, as well as other current and new sources of revenue, are essential to funding the maintenance and improvement of the state transportation system. An increase in state funding through the current funding formula will also directly benefit local governments and help maintain our local transportation systems,” Mayor McClure said.
He said the City does not support the transferring of responsibility of roadways from the state to our local governments. “This will merely pass the financial burden of decaying roads on to local governments who are already hindered by unfunded needs – infrastructure and otherwise. This transfer, if put into effect, could have a significant negative impact on the City of Springfield, Greene County and many other local governments in the state.”
The task force is expected to provide a report of its findings to the Missouri General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2018.
For more information, contact Cora Scott at 380-3352 or Cscott@springfieldmo.gov.