Heads up, Missouri truckers! Four proposals that would convert some highways in the state to toll roads have been forwarded to the Senate Transportation Committee.

It is important you contact the committee members to voice your opinion on the proposals.

SJR31 and SJR38 are constitutional amendments that would give the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission the authority to build and operate toll roads.

Two other proposals – SB855 and SB958 – are worded slightly different but would authorize the highway commission to fund, build and operate toll roads and bridges. The measures are contingent upon the approval of a constitutional amendment.

SB958 specifically authorizes four tolling facility projects:

• Interstates 70 and 44;
• the new bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Louis;
• a companion bridge for Kansas City’s Paseo Bridge; and
• the U.S. 71 Arkansas bypass in southwestern Missouri.

The Missouri Constitution currently doesn’t allow the use of state funds to build toll roads. Changing the constitution would require a public vote.

For contact information, visit www.senate.mo.gov/04info/comm/tran.htm, or call OOIDA’s Membership department at 1-800-444-5791 and they’ll look it up.