This site is maintained by Missourians for Transportation Investment, P.O. Box 772, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702
Increasing State Investment in All Modes
Transit
There are 34 transit providers in Missouri that collectively spend $675 million each year on operations, capital improvements and labor compensation. They also provide an annual average of 60.1 million rides. In conjunction with these trips, transit riders are spending $600 million on goods and services, translating into a direct economic impact of $1.28 billion each year in Missouri.
The direct transit industry spending triggers another $2.4 billion in statewide economic activity, including $1.03 billion in added household earnings for Missourians. These indirect, or multiplier effects, further support another 24,680 jobs in the state that pay an average of $30,200 per year. The direct and indirect economic output supported by public transit’s annual operations exceeds $3.67 billion in Missouri.
Missouri ranks last in the 9-state region in per capita spending on transit and 47th in the nation in state funding for transit.
Ports
Ports are the on/off ramps for commerce on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Each loaded barge can carry 1,500 tons of bulk products such as fertilizer, grain, aggregate, steel and timber on the rivers in lieu of 58 or more semi trucks on congested roadways.
Ports leverage capital improvement funds with private and federal funding to respond to business needs. This combination of funding increases freight commerce moved through the ports in Missouri, improving connections between transportation modes, and spurring economic growth and jobs. Strategic investments made at Missouri ports create new jobs at the port itself as well as help businesses located 150 miles or more away stay competitive in domestic and global
markets.
According to the 2017 Economic Impact Study for Missouri Ports, the public ports support 290,000 jobs and 34 percent of Missouri's economy resulting in $2.4 billion in state and local tax revenue.
Airports
Millions of passengers use commercial service airports, including St. Louis Lambert International and Kansas City International as well as Springfield-Branson National Airport, Joplin Regional Airport, Branson Airport, Columbia Regional Airport, Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, Kirksville Regional Airport and Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport. More than 190,000 tons of cargo are transported by air in Missouri each year.
Annually, funds from MoDOT, the FAA, and Missouri airports are used to help implement various improvement and maintenance projects for airports in Missouri. Historically, about $32 million in funds has been available to meet the average annual investment needs that have been estimated at $140 million per year.
MoDOT conducted an airport economic impact study in 2012. This study showed the state’s general aviation and commercial airports contribute an estimated $1.5 billion in economic benefit annually to state and local economies throughout Missouri. This annual economic impact excludes the impacts of St. Louis Lambert and Kansas City International airports. The annual benefit of $1.5 billion is significantly greater than the annual financial need for the system, estimated on a conservative basis to be approximately $140 million. As shown, Missouri airports are providing an economic benefit that far exceeds the anticipated financial need to maintain and develop the state airport system.
The Missouri General Assembly should increase state investment in all modes of transportation, including transit, ports, and airports.