St.
Louis Countians get on board with transit and PASS PROP. A!
4/13/10
Whether they used transit or not, St. Louis County voters made the
right choice and decided they needed it! With strong backing from
a diverse group of community groups, employers, local leaders, labor,
universities, healthcare organizations and more, Proposition A, a
½-cent sales tax in St. Louis County, passed on April 6!
It will provide revenue needed for continued operation and expansion
of the transit system including MetroLink, Metrobus and Call-A-Ride
services for the disabled. The margin of victory was 63% to 37%, despite
the lingering effects of the national recession and voter concerns
about the economy. The County tax will raise approximately $75 million
annually – and now triggers a matching quarter cent sales tax that
was passed in the City of St. Louis in 1997 which will add an additional
$8 million a year to the program.
“The passage of Prop. A could not have come at a more critical time
for public transit in this region. It truly was a make or break moment
for the region. This time we had support from a diverse group of individuals,
employers and organizations, support from the St. Clair County Transit
District, the endorsement of more than 230 organizations and individuals,
and the foresight of the CMT Board of Directors to lay the groundwork
to change public perception about public transit with an education
campaign that I believe moved people to rethink their vision of transit.
The future looks bright, and CMT will be working very hard to ensure
that the right choices are made to move transit in the right direction
in the region,” said Thomas Shrout, executive director of CMT.
Advance St. Louis, the campaign committee, was led by a Steering
Committee of local business, academic, and community leaders chaired
by Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton.
In addition, the Greater St. Louis Transit Alliance comprised of
more than 50 local organizations provided constant outreach to their
members in support of Prop. A.
“The amount of effort put forth by members of the Transit Alliance
provided for a depth and breadth of outreach that would have required
thousands and thousands of dollars had this group not stepped up to
the plate for transit. Their efforts must be applauded by the St.
Louis region as a truly successful grassroots campaign to bring about
change for transit,” Said Nancy Cross, chair of the Greater St. Louis
Transit Alliance and CMT Board member.
“The Cardinals tip our caps to each of you [Campaign Committee members].
This was a team effort from top to bottom. You should feel proud about
your championship performance! The region is a better place because
of your tireless efforts and leadership,” said Ron Watermon, Director
of Public Relations and Civic Affairs, St. Louis Cardinals, LLC in
a letter to Tom Shrout following April 6.
The new half cent sales tax will go into effect in the fourth quarter
of this year.
What Passing Proposition A means for you and St.Louis: