JEFFERSON CITY – Calling the cuts to St. Louis public transportation a “crisis,” Metro transit CEO Bob Baer pleaded his case to a Missouri House committee Wednesday for $35 million in emergency funding.

For the past month, Baer has been quietly working the halls of the Capitol, trying to drum up support for a proposal that the Legislature dedicate $35 million in federal stimulus money to balance Metro’s books and reverse the massive cuts in service that went into effect last month.

Now he and other public transportation advocates are putting on the full-court press. On Tuesday, Baer appeared along with Bob Kohler, the director of transportation for Kansas City’s mass transit system, and asked the House to consider emergency funding for both cities.

“This is a crisis,” Baer said. “There are people who can’t get to work. Any number of people are going to lose their jobs because of our cuts in service.”
Metro faces an operating deficit of about $45 million this year, and on March 30 started implementing cuts that will reduce its service area by about a third and staff by about 25 percent.

Baer is banking on the fact that the Republicans who control the Legislature have been talking about using stimulus funds for one-time uses that save or produce jobs.

“The connection between the economy, tourism and transit is inextricably linked,” Baer said.

While the St. Louis public transportation system is asking for $35 million for one year, Kohler is requesting $14 million for the Kansas City mass transit system. He said the funding would stem cuts for two years.

Baer said his hope is that St. Louis County will put a sales tax measure on the ballot next April similar to the one that failed earlier this year. He told House members he believed that with a better campaign the measure would pass this time.

“I believe that if it were on the ballot yesterday, it would pass,” Baer said. “People now understand that we were serious about the cuts.”

Rep. Charlie Schlottach, R-Owensville, told Baer that getting the Legislature behind the funding request would be an uphill battle. Schlottach is the chairman of the committee that heard from Baer on Wednesday.

“It won’t be an easy task,” he said.

Baer and Kohler said the two largest Missouri cities are supportive of each others’ requests for emergency funding.

Kansas City’s transit system first made its request in a letter to House budget chairman Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, last week.

Baer provided the House with letters supporting the $35 million request from Civic Progress, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Regional Chamber and Growth Association and other business and government officials.