BROADWAY WORK TOPS FRIDAY COFFEE LIST

The Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee meeting provided Vision 2000 transportation public meeting director Melvin Gateley with the most robust survey numbers yet.

Those participating in the public meetings are asked to list the top five projects that deserve the most urgent attention.

The 75 people who took the survey Friday said Broadway Street and Perryville Road were projects they most wanted to see done. Broadway received 156 points and Perryville 151.

Gateley and Pauline Fox tally the points after each meeting.

The projects that receive the top votes will be announced at a town hall meeting May 22 at 7 p.m. at the West Park Mall.

Gateley said he is close to realizing his goal of reaching out to 250 to 300 survey participants, saying the survey is at 200 with four meetings to go.

It is too soon to form an opinion about what the people want, Gateley said, but several projects continue to become hot topics at the public meetings.

"People are concerned with the condition of some of the major roads and it seems that public transportation keeps coming up," Gateley said. "It seems like we're getting a good representation of people throughout the city."

Hopper, Mount Auburn and Bloomfield roads were projects First Friday coffee participants listed behind Broadway and Perryville. Other streets listed include Independence, New Madrid, William, Kingshighway and Cape Rock.

Gateley said he is still interested in hearing what people think are projects that deserve a high priority.

The next meeting is this morning at 9 at May Greene.

Today's topic is how to fund transportation projects.