CAPE, JACKSON SEEK ACCORD ON ROAD PLANS; MAYORS DISCUSS PRIORITIES AT ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION DINNER

Cape Girardeau and Jackson still haven't come to any agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation on local highway projects, but any agreement should benefit both cities, the mayors say.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III and Jackson Mayor Paul Sander talked about their respective city's transportation needs Thursday at the annual Transportation Dinner sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. About 150 people attended the meeting at Drury Lodge.

Widening the Center Junction intersection of Interstate 55 and U.S. 61 where the two city limits meet is a local priority as are an I-55 interchange at East Main Street in Jackson and realignment of Route K with the new I-55-Highway 74 interchange in Cape Girardeau.

But MoDOT officials think differently about which area project is most important. Their list of improvements next scheduled for completion includes widening highways 34-72 in west Jackson, improving Route AB (Nash Road) and I-55 south of Cape Girardeau, and improving U.S. 61 at Fruitland.

Despite expressing their discontent, the cities are not arguing with MoDOT. Instead, they are having "healthy discussions" about the priorities and funding amounts of the proposed projects, Sander said.

MoDOT officials from the District 10 office in Sikeston and the state headquarters in Jefferson City attended the dinner.

Sander and Spradling agreed that presenting the transportation needs as a united effort of the two cities and Cape Girardeau County is important.

"The spirit of cooperation resounds," Spradling said. "We don't agree on everything, but we come to an agreement on many things."

Because both cities are experiencing commercial and industrial growth, transportation issues are key. "We are the commercial hub of Southeast Missouri," Spradling said.

But focusing on a few sole projects isn't the answer. MoDOT needs to realize that an east-west corridor is needed as well, he said.

Getting the local projects completed faster than proposed in the current schedule will still take some work. Construction on the Center Junction project isn't planned until 2005 or later.

But MoDOT said local funding support could move up the construction dates. Sander said Jackson is "willing to participate in the costs and will come to a solution that will benefit the area."

However, no amounts of local money have been discussed.

Center Junction likely will be the first project that Cape Girardeau, Jackson and MoDOT will reach agreement on. But that isn't expected until the first of the year, Sander said.

For the first time in its nearly 17 years of operation, the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority's profit and investments have exceeded the operating costs, said Larry Payne, chairman of the chamber's transportation committee.

Investments and private developments exceeded $21 million this year while costs were $17 million.