Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES—Salem City Administrator Ray Walden began his duties as chair of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s (MRPC) Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) at its Aug. 9 meeting. Walden from Dent County replaces John Casey of Washington County. Casey served two terms as allowed by the TAC bylaws. Other new officers included Mayor George Lauritson of St. Robert as the vice chair, and Darin Pryor with the city of Rolla as secretary.

The committee then heard a presentation from Cyndra Lorey, executive director of the Rolla Regional Economic Commission, on Proposition D, a statutory ballot measure aimed at increasing Missouri’s fuel tax by 10-cents applied in 2.5 cent increments over the next four years. Like the current 17-cent fuel tax, the increase can only be used to fund Missouri state law enforcement and roads, bridges, streets and highways and is shared with cities and counties across the state. The current state’s fuel tax is 17-cents, which was established in 1996. If you adjust for today’s inflation rates, the 17-cent fuel tax is worth about 7-cents in 1996. Essentially, the 10-cent fuel tax increase is raising the state of Missouri back level with inflation costs.

Missouri is currently ranked 49^th in the nation on fuel tax and ranks 46^th in the nation on revenue spent for transportation funding. With the 10-cent increase at the end of the four years, Missouri would be at 27 cents and comparable to surrounding states who all fall into the 20-30 cent range, excluding Oklahoma which is lower but has toll roads to supplement transportation funding instead.

In other business, the committee:

• • Heard from Kim Tipton with MoDOT on the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grants. The TAP program can fund on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized forms of transportation, including sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, traffic calming techniques, lighting and other safety related infrastructure as well as infrastructure to meet ADA compliance. Submission deadline for TAP grants is Nov. 1;
• • Heard a report from Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Executive Director Bonnie Prigge on fatality accidents in MRPC’s eight counties and the Arrive Alive/Buckle Buddy Program, administered by MRPC staff through a grant from the Central District for Roadway Safety. Staff have been sharing information at back-to-school fairs and encouraging folks to wear their seatbelts and to put their phones down while driving; and
• • Was reminded by Tipton that if applying for funding from MoDOT that one staff person must complete the Local Planning Agency (LPA) Certification Training. For example, counties with Bridge Replacement Off-system (BRO) projects must have a person who has a current LPA certification.

Persons needing more information on MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee may contact MRPC at (573) 265-2993. The group will meet again at 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at MRPC, 4 Industrial Dr., St. James. Meetings are open to the public. Ray Walden of Dent County chairs the TAC.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Washington County Presiding Commission Marvin Wright serves as chairman. A professional staff of 23 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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Cutline: Salem City Administrator Ray Walden (left) replaced John Casey (right) of Washington County as chair of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). Casey served two terms as chair as allowed by the TAC bylaws.