ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -- A grassroots effort is underway to get the St. Louis County Council to place a half-cent sales tax referendum on the April ballot--- a referendum to fund public transit.

Linda Dopuch of the Metropolitan Congregrations United group says the failure of Proposition M last year has produced drastic results for those who depend on bus routes, "Their no vote hurt our community. It hurt families. It hurt business. And it divided our city and county more than ever before."

Dopuch and M-C-U held a kickoff rally Saturday at the Millennium Hotel.

St. Louis County councilwoman Barbara Fraser attended, and pledged her support, "Im so eager to vote yes on the proposal to put this on the ballot."

After the rally, MCU and Greater St. Louis Transit Alliance members boarded MetroLink trains to spread the word about their initiative.

The above article was written by Brad Choat and originally appeared in the CBS affiliate KMOX News and is available by clicking here.