Republican gubernatorial candidates Kenny Hulshof and Sarah Steelman both pledged Tuesday to play a key role in finding a solution to Missouri’s looming road funding crisis.

However, the two sidestepped endorsing any particular ideas at a business gathering in St. Charles County, an area where stemming traffic congestion has long been a top local priority. Each did say they oppose increasing the state gasoline tax, in keeping with their previous pledges to fight any tax boosts.

There appeared to be a bit of difference between the two on toll roads expressed in brief interviews after the event. Hulshof, a U.S. representative from Columbia, said that should be one of various options considered. Steelman, the state treasurer, said “I don’t think Missourians are ready for toll roads yet” but added that “we need to talk about those kinds of things.”

Speaking more generally, Hulshof told the crowd that “this is going to be leadership that’s required and I’m up to the challenge.”
Implying that the subject could be fraught with controversy, he said the issue “is going to be one that as your next governor, it may mean I’m a one-term governor.”

Steelman put it this way: “It’s going to take leadership from the top, it’s going to take hard work, it’s going to take making sure that we put the right people in the room to get the job done.’

The road funding issue came up during a brief question-and-answer session at a lunch sponsored by the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce at Old Hickory Golf Club in St. Peters. About 150 people attended.

Both said bond issues and forming public-private partnerships are among the ideas that could be studied.

One idea in the latter category, Hulshof suggested, could be to allow the state to lease new trucks-only lanes that would be built along interstate highways by private companies.