In January, Governor Kehoe proposed cutting $5 million in transit funding from General Revenue in his FY2027 budget recommendations. This came on the heels of a 42% reduction in state funding last year.  If enacted, the additional cut would leave just $1.7 million to be split among 30 transit providers statewide for operating assistance. Per capita spending has already dropped from $1.89 to $1.08 in the last year — which is among the lowest in the nation — and would drop to 27 cents under the governor’s proposal.  The House Budget Committee supported this stance in their budget released in March.

“Kudos to the Senate and the the bipartisan leadership within the Senate Appropriations Committee for supporting public transit,” said Kimberly Cella, Executive Director of the Missouri Public Transit Association.   “Public transit providers deliver nearly 40 million rides each year across rural and urban Missouri, while also stimulating $4 billion in economic activity statewide. Restoration of the $5 million will ensure that countless Missourians maintain access to reliable transportation. Without this funding, the impending service cuts or loss of service altogether would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including seniors, individuals with disabilities and those living in rural and underserved areas. It means losing access to jobs, dialysis appointments, essential health care services, necessary medications and groceries. It is critical now for riders, advocates and supporters to reach out Conference Committee members and especially the Governor’s office to ensure this $5 million remains in the budget.”

May 8 is the deadline for approval of the Missouri budget.  The Missouri Public Transit Association, Citizens for Modern Transit, riders, providers, stakeholders and advocates have been reaching out to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on the dire impacts of reducing transit assistance to zero from General Revenue.  Now is the time to reach out to the Governor’s office to support this funding.

 Please take 5 minutes to  ask the Governor  to support the $6.7 million in public transit investment in HB 2004 requested by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for Missouri transit, maintaining the public transit funding levels of 2025.  Contact to the Governor’s office can be made here: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us/mo-governor or calls can be made to: 573.751.3222.

MPTA thanks you for your time and effort in sending emails and making phone calls in support of public transit funding for the state of Missouri.