Governor Nixon's withholding of Missouri Moves funding has affect on many bike/ped ped projects | stltoday.com

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

“Missouri Moves” is a $20 million pool of money set aside by Nixon and lawmakers in the state budget to finance local transportation projects. The cost-sharing program was announced this year as an election-year alternative to increasing the gasoline tax to help pay for upgrades to the state’s aging infrastructure. . . .

In the St. Louis region, local governments requested a total of $22.8 million to help with $116.7 million in costs for more than two dozen projects.

MoDOT said the high number of projects sought by applicants is a sign the state needs to find a long-term funding source for transportation.

“The overwhelming response by applicants demonstrates the need for a sustainable funding solution for transportation in Missouri,” a MoDOT memo to applicants says. . . .

Advocates of bike trails and pedestrian paths were told that about one-third of the money would be used for trail upgrades.

“Money to do this kind of thing is very limited. That’s why it was so exciting to find out it was coming and then so disappointing when it was withheld,” said Brent Hugh, president of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation.

Link: 

Governor Nixon's withholding of Missouri Moves funding has affect on many bike/ped ped projects | stltoday.com

MoBikeFed comment: The article lists many projects in the St Louis area and across the state that had applied for Missouri Moves funding. These projects include:

- St. Charles requested $500,000 to help offset the cost of a $2.5 million pedestrian and bicycle trail on the Missouri 370 Discovery Bridge over the Missouri River.

- Great Rivers Greenway District had applied for $1 million to help pay for a $5.2 million pedestrian and bicycle trail underpass where Highway 367 intersects with Maline Creek.

- $3 million sought by the Terminal Railroad Association in St. Louis

- $5 million requested as part of the Jackson County Rock Island Trail project

These project requests really do document the need for this type of funding in Missouri, and the short-sightedness of withholding ALL of this funding in response to relatively minor projected budget shortfalls.

We call on Gov. Nixon to restore the Missouri Moves funding as soon as possible.

Please take a moment to contact Governor Nixon's office in support of restoration of these funds:

http://mobikefed.org/2016/09/alert-contact-gov-nixon-oppose-complete-wit...