CAPE COUNTY HIRES TRANSIT CONSULTANT

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau County Commission has hired a transit consultant to assist the county's new transit authority in improving transportation services.

The consultant, Cornelius Henry of Cape Girardeau, will be paid a maximum of $7,500 over the next six months. He will be paid a consulting fee of $20 an hour.

Commissioners said the contract could be renewed for another six months, if necessary.

"We'll see how it works the first six months," Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said.

Henry, who has handled transit projects in a number of major cities from Dallas to Detroit, has been working since last year as transportation project coordinator for Southeast Missouri State University. In that job, he has helped to coordinate grant-funded transportation as part of a welfare-to-work program in Southeast Missouri.

Henry will continue to do that job while taking on the added duties of transit consultant for the county.

"This is a side deal," said Jones.

Under the county contract, Henry will work 10 to 15 hours a week for the transit authority.

The written contract details the duties Henry will perform, including identifying potential funding sources to support the authority's activities as well as all transit funds being received by transportation services in the county.

Fixed route sought

Henry also will research the feasibility of establishing a fixed-route transit system in the county and a centralized dispatching operation.

Doug Richards, who chairs the transit authority, said a fixed-route system might be established as a pilot project within the next six months.

Henry also will be asked to develop a reporting process so people can lodge complaints about transit services.

Richards said one of Henry's major duties will be to help determine the exact kind of transit services needed.