Our View: Ask the voters

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February 16, 2012

Anonymous The Joplin Globe The Joplin Globe Thu Feb 16, 2012, 08:56 AM CST

Missourians, for years, have relied on the gas tax as the major funding source for roads in our state.

But more efficient cars and belt tightening due to higher gas prices are quickly bringing us to the place where we’re going to need to find an alternative route to pay for road repairs as well as new roads and bridges.

Are toll roads the answer?

We don’t know, but we do know that Missourians will want a say in any decision that affects their pocketbook.

There’s legislation in the General Assembly now that would allow Interstate 70 to be converted to a toll road without a vote of the people.

The cost for the improvements could be as much as $4 million, and the Missouri Department of Transportation says turning I-70 into a toll road is the only feasible way to make the improvements in enough time. The interstate is 60 years old and was built to last 25 years. Missouri already has gotten permission from the federal government to put tolls on the interstate as part of a federal pilot program.

MoDOT officials suggest that a public/private partnership would raise the billions needed to rebuild the freeway from one end of the state to the other.

Again, we think toll roads may be a consideration. In fact, all options should be on the table as we look at funding sources for roads.

But, let’s make sure the voters have a say in a change that would require them to pay for using the road.

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Our View: Ask the voters

The Missouri National Guard has refused to respond to repeated open records requests concerning possible looting by a few of its members in the aftermath of the Joplin tornado. The Missouri Sunshine Law gives the guard an exemption. Do you think that law needs to be changed?

The Missouri National Guard has refused to respond to repeated open records requests concerning possible looting by a few of its members in the aftermath of the Joplin tornado. The Missouri Sunshine Law gives the guard an exemption. Do you think that law needs to be changed?

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