Transportation Director Says More Road Funding Needed

(Jefferson City, MO) — Missouri Department of Transportation director Patrick McKenna says the state has the seventh largest network of roads to maintain, but is 47th in funding. McKenna says he will explain to lawmakers in the next few months the need for more money. Missouri roads are financed through user fees in the form of a gas tax and costs for licensing and registration. McKenna says the gas tax hasn’t been raised in 20 years and license and registration fees haven’t seen an increase in more than 30 years. McKenna says the state will need 500 million dollars for state roads, without considering the interstate highways. He says it’ll cost at least 200 million dollars just to keep roads from deteriorating.