Harsh economic times add weight to Proposition B issues

Action now may save money and lives, and generate economic development

Dave Roling is the president of APAC-Missouri Inc.'s Masters Jackson division in Springfield.

Having been employed in the Missouri highway/heavy construction industry for the past 30 years, I can testify to the cyclical nature of the construction industry over that same time period.

The construction industry has enjoyed and been challenged by the peaks, and suffered and made adjustments with the declines. No different than any other market-driven business sector, the highway/heavy industry in Missouri has changed to become more "performance driven" with a constant demand for organizations to produce a consistent, quality product with life-cycle predictable contract applications.

Construction projects are executed in shorter time periods with the least amount of interruption to the public as possible. Survivors in this industry have been forced to make substantial annual investments in upgrading equipment and training our personnel.

Proposition B would provide those of us in the highway/heavy industry the workplace to present taxpayers a response to proactively address Missouri's crumbling transportation system.

Proposition B is very much about what our response will be to the broken, under-funded condition of our stagnated transportation system. Our state transportation "asset base" is huge, the seventh largest in the nation, with an assessed value of nearly $60 billion. Yet Missouri ranks 43rd in revenue per mile to fund our transportation system and second to last among our neighboring states. Meanwhile, the "load" to the system, vehicles traveling 45 billion miles on Missouri's highways and bridges has doubled in 25 years, while the size of the system remains virtually the same. The revenue to fund the growth demand, coupled with the increased cost of Missouri's aging roads and bridges, has demanded that the taxpayers respond with a solution. I commend our state legislators who have been proactive in presenting the voters an opportunity to provide a solution.

MoDOT, in communication with transportation stakeholders, have taken seriously the designated projects and areas of committed emphasis that will be delivered in full or started during the 10 year span of Proposition B.

The Proposition B issue is also one that addresses our competitive stance as a state, region, city or community in attracting new industry and commerce to proactively position them to prosper and grow. Missouri's roadways ranked third worst in the nation by the Road Information Program and Missouri's bridges ranked second worst in the nation.

As a highway/heavy contractor, the state of deterioration of Missouri's transportation system will, in all likelihood keep us viable, however Proposition B provides MoDOT, our city, our county and public transportation an alternative to spend a preventive dollar now. A dollar now may save $6 in future road rehabilitation and reconstruction; a dollar now may prevent one of the 1,100 deaths or 76,000 injuries last year from traffic crashes in Missouri; a dollar now spent on transportation infrastructure that generates more than $2 in economic activity and will annually, with Proposition B revenue estimates, create 20,000 new jobs.

Voting "Yes" for Proposition B is the right thing and the responsible thing to do if we want a better transportation infrastructure for ourselves and those who follow.