02.26.10 - The Regional Chamber and Growth Association's Board ofDirectors announced today that it has approved a resolution supporting Proposition A, thetransit sales tax proposal that will be on St. Louis County's April 6th ballot.
The half-cent sales tax proposal would raise money for Metro, the regional transit authority thatoperates MetroLink, MetroBus, and the Call-A-Ride program. After county voters rejected asimilar tax increase measure in November 2008, Metro made dramatic trims in service.The St. Louis County rejection had broad financial implications because city voters did approvethe sales-tax increase, but the city portion goes into effect only if county voters approve theincrease as well.
In a statement, the RCGA said its support "is based on the fact that a strong transit system isvital to the economic growth, sustainability and competitiveness of the St. Louis region. TheRCGA has a long-standing policy of increasing support for Metro, and is a member of theGreater St. Louis Transit Alliance to improve and expand transit throughout the region."The association points out that Metro's ridership had increased by 18 percent over the fiveyears prior to the cuts. And until those cuts, it adds, "97 percent of all jobs in St. Louis city andcounty could be reached by riding Metro transit."
RCGA's support likely signals that more corporate money will follow to help pay for the pro-PropA campaign. An "informational" TV ad campaign already has been underway, in which majorregional civic leaders praise public transit and emphasize the need for it.
Area colleges and universities already have weighed in on the need for Metro, noting thatstudents make up about 10 percent of the agency's bus passengers and 7 percent of those whotake Metrolink. |
