Transit advocates warn cuts to MoDOT transit funding will curtail services
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Transit providers and local officials urged restoring $5 million in general revenue for state transit assistance, warning that reductions in House Bill 4 would lead to service reductions, delayed bus purchases and lost matching ability for federal funds — especially in rural areas.
Transit providers, tourism officials and port and university representatives used public testimony during the Feb. 9 appropriations hearing to press the legislature to restore general revenue support for transit and to maintain funding for Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner.
Director Hassinger had warned earlier in his opening remarks that the governor’s proposed removal of general revenue transit money would "have a devastating impact especially to small rural transit" providers because local agencies often use state GR to match federal grants. MoDOT staff later told the committee that the governor recommended cutting the GR portion of the State Transit Assistance Program from $6.7 million to $1.7 million, with the remainder of the program funded from the State Transportation Fund and federal sources. "The transit agencies use this as their local match to pull down federal dollars," Hassinger said.
Multiple witnesses testified in support of restoring GR transit funding. Tammy Brukerhoff, the tourism and economic development director for Hermann, said the Missouri River Runner is "essential to our tourism industry and the community at large" and described coordinated marketing to prepare for the World Cup. Mike Winter of the Missouri Public Transit Association said the loss of $5 million in GR represents an 85% cut from prior combined levels and urged restoration, citing impacts on bus purchases and route operations for about 30 providers statewide.
MoDOT staff answered questions about whether other funds could be used to backfill the reduction. The agency said the state transportation fund balance was limited (about $7.9 million as of December in accounts that could be used) and that many multimodal programs already have commitments; MoDOT cautioned that expanding state fund support would be challenging without reallocations. Officials emphasized that some federal CARES Act and IIJA funds remain unspent because of procurement timing and vehicle delivery schedules but said purchase orders for buses are in place and the money will move as vehicles arrive.
Advocates warned that reduced funding would mean cuts to service for persons who rely on transit for work, medical appointments and school. "This is the difference between people getting to work or not getting to work," Representative Fogel said while questioning agency staff about service impacts.
MoDOT and witnesses offered to provide the committee with county‑level allocation lists, program allocation formulas and a list of outstanding purchase orders and commitments so members can evaluate options.