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MHTC Chairman Proposes 1-Cent Sales Tax To Fund Mo.'s Transportation Needs

The head of theMissouri Highways and Transportation Commissionhas unveiled a plan for funding the state’s aging highways and bridges.

The centerpiece would be a new one-cent sales tax.  It would expire after 10 years, and would need approval from both lawmakers and Missouri voters.  Transportation Commission Chairman RudyFarbersays the tax would not be collected on medicine, groceries or gasoline purchases.

“We’re not saying we have the final draft of this, but we are asking for input and we are going to be studying it,"Farbersaid.  "The members of the commission, while we have not formally adopted this, have certainly discussed it among ourselves.”

Here's video of today's press conference via MoDOT: 

http://youtu.be/ttL6ksAgzSE

Farber says if approved, it would generate around $7.9 billion, $1 billion of which would be used to expand Interstate 70 from 4 to 6 lanes between Independence andWentzville.

“You would prohibit trucks from driving in the third lane, and I have seen this done in a number of places in the United States, and it does increase traffic flow enormously and keep(s) it much, much safer.”

Farber says the proposed I-70 upgrades would not include turning it into a toll road or incorporating separate truck-only lanes.  Also, one-tenth of the $7.9 billion raised would be distributed to cities and counties for local transportation needs.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

(MoDOT) /

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.
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