State Transportation Director Henry Hungerbeeler acknowledges the sad state of Missouri’s roads and bridges, telling a joint session of the Legislature more money needs to be directed toward the state’s transportation system. In the frist State of Transportation Address, Hungerbeeler says he won’t propose any particular avenue for funding, other than to ask for authority to establish tolls on about six roads and bridges. He says there are certain projects that cannot be funded without the additional money tolls would provide. He adds lawmakers should devote more of the state budget to transportation and to end the diversion of gas tax dollars to other agencies. Hungerbeeler also calls on the legislature to ban open containers of alcohol from vehicles and to make the state seat belt law a primary law, which would allow troopers to stop motorists solely for not wearing their seat belts.
