Based upon these studies, it is our conclusion that federal and state transportation funding policies have not unfairly benefited the outlying counties within the St. Louis Region. Our studies show that user fees collected from these outlying counties (Franklin, Jefferson and St. Charles County) during the past eleven years represented 29% of the total fees collected in the St. Louis region (reference Table 6). The projected funding for transportation improvements for the time period from 1987 to the Year 2000 indicates 29% of the expenditures will be for projects in these three outlying counties (reference Tables 1 & 3); i.e., the geographical dispersion of funds within the region will be in the same proportion as the income collected. The Transportation Improvement Plan (Year 1998 - Year 2000) also seems to indicate that the core area of the region will particularly benefit from this funding program (reference Table 4).

In closing I would like to emphasize that funding policies should not be based solely upon the distribution of population within the region or the political jurisdiction within which the funds are collected. It is equally important for these monies to be invested in a manner which creates a transportation system capable of enhancing the overall economic health of the region thereby allowing our metropolitan area to remain competitive with other regions throughout the country. One of the important components of such a system is the ability to link the various geographical areas within the region with a high-capacity highway system to accommodate goods movement. We believe studies of this issue, such as those currently underway by the Regional Commerce and Growth Association, will further document the importance of facilities such as the extension of Page Avenue into St. Charles County to facilitate commerce.