You've Got Issues (in Missouri): Proposition M

Proposition M requests a half-cent sales tax increase in St. Louis County to support MetroLink and MetroBus services and expansions. If passed, St. Louis City will also begin to levy a quarter-cent sales tax suggested in 1997 but will not be enacted unless St. Louis County also approves the sales tax increase.

An average family would pay around $50 extra each year through the tax.

Because of a pending lawsuit against the original contractors of the Shrewsberry Line and because federal subsidies will soon start to be phased out, Metro will face a $45 million per year deficit by July 2009.

The tax is predicted to raise $80 million dollars per year and allow Metro to maintain all current services and expand. Expansion plans may include Bus Rapid Transit lines, high capacity, quick and efficient vehicles and a new MetroLink line running through the Daniel Boone Corridor, from Clayton to I-44.

So far Metro has brought in more than $15 billion of economic development to areas near its stations and expansion is predicted to bring in more.
 
MetroLink produces zero pounds of emissions annually. If public transportation is reduced, more people will be forced to use cars, creating more congestion and pollution.

Without additional funding Metro will begin to reduce services. Possible cuts include buses and elimination of MetroLink service after 8 p.m., elimination of WUSTL Gold stops at the Galleria, Maplewood and Brentwood Promenade, higher ticket prices, and the elimination of special events service to events such as Cardinals’ baseball games.

Chancellor Wrighton sent the students and faculty an e-mail advocating on behalf of Proposition M and its impact on the Wash. U. community.


Sources:
http://moremetrolink.com/index.html
http://www.metrostlouis.org/crossroads/default.asp

Comments

1 comments

Metro Pass Holder

Fri Oct 31 2008 19:27

MetroLink produces zero pounds of emissions annually? So they pay AmerenUE a premium rate to get only electricity generated from hydroelectric, wind, and solar sources? I seriously doubt that's the case. And this tax raises revenue for all Metro operations, including the buses, which are certainly produce more than zero pounds of emissions (though at least some is from a biodiesel source). I support Metro enormously, but please -- get your facts straight & don't make such absurd claims.

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