Cape residents favor maintenance projects with transportation funds

Results from the two Transportation Trust Fund 5 public meetings in Cape Girardeau show residents favor a focus on maintenance projects.

The meetings in late February and early March allowed the public to weigh in on projects funded by the next installment of the half-cent, pay-as-you-go transportation sales tax, which will appear on the August ballot.

City staff used an interactive, "put your money where your mouth is" approach, handing each person at the meeting an envelope with $20 million in "Cape Cash" to be distributed among eight proposed projects and four maintenance categories. Combined cost of the projects was about $24 million.

The city reported 38 residents participated in the meetings, not counting employees and city council members. Of the total Cape Cash spent, 51.5 percent went toward specific projects and 48.5 percent was spent on repair or maintenance items.

Maintaining infrastructure is a key theme in TTF 5. At the behest of the city council, the committee formed to review and suggest a project list focused on repair projects, rather than creating new roads as with past transportation trust funds.

The only "new" project calls for building an extension of Fountain Street from William Street to Independence Street. The additional 36 feet of concrete is estimated to cost $1 million.

Based on the amount of Cape Cash spent on each project and weighing for the cost of each, rankings calculated by the city showed new sidewalks were the top priority.

It was followed by street, curb and gutter concrete repair and the Sprigg Street project, which focuses on an area between William Street and Broadway. Expanded paving overlay and new streetlights tied for fourth in the rankings.

Assistant city manager Molly Hood said this information will help the city council determine the final TTF 5 list.

"We'll present a couple of different pieces of information to the council for them to make a final determination of what goes on the list," she said.

Also under consideration will be information presented earlier by the committee that created the recommended project list and accounting for possible future additions to the city, such as the new sports complex that still has an undetermined location.

One of the council's top priorities will be to determine what percentage of funds should be dedicated to maintenance projects and how much revenue will be available for specific projects. The tax is conservatively estimated to bring in $22.5 million over five years.

"I think the council will have to drop a few items on the list, simply because we don't have enough money to complete all of them," Hood said.

The total cost for the recommended project list is $14.5 million. General maintenance projects have a $6 million price tag, although city staffers have recommended setting aside a larger portion -- a measure seemingly backed by the results of the public meetings.

As traditional with each TTF, funds also are set aside for contingencies and safety improvements. The latest installment calls for $2 million.

Hood said the city is taking a deeper look at some of the proposals, specifically the Independence Street and Lexington Avenue projects, which are two of the most costly projects. To get "the most bang for our buck," the city could opt to move forward with asphalt overlays or other options that would "give additional life" to the roadways under consideration but postpone large-scale reconstruction.

Results from the public meetings also give the council an idea of the public's stance on the Armstrong Drive extension project. It was a TTF 3 proposal that never was completed because a Century Farm in the area would lead to high right-of-way costs.

Along with the Cape Cash, meeting attendees received an Armstrong Drive voucher that could be deposited in a box to continue with the project, or exchanged for $3 million -- the approximate cost of the project -- to spend on other TTF 5 projects.

Hood said 17 voted to complete the Armstrong Drive project. Those who cashed in the vouchers primarily spent the funds on concrete repairs. She said the council also can allocate the project's money to transportation needs identified in TTF 5.

Discussion of the public meetings and how to move forward with the project list likely will take place at the council's annual retreat April 10.

Overall, Hood said the city was pleased with the interactive experience and plans to use it again in the future.

"The feedback and comments we got from people attending were extremely positive," she said. "They seemed to enjoy the exercise, and it helped them understand the process we go through for allocating funds for projects."

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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TTF 5 project rankings

1. New sidewalks

2. Concrete repair -- streets, curb, gutter

3. Sprigg Street project -- William Street to Broadway

4. (tie) Expanded paving overlay

4. (tie) New streetlights

6. Fountain Street project -- William Street to Independence

7. (tie) Independence Street project - Gordonville/East Rodney to Caruthers Avenue

7. (tie) West End Boulevard -- New Madrid Street to Bertling Street

9. Sloan Creek Bridge replacement

10. (tie) Lexington Avenue project -- Sherwood Drive to West Cape Rock Drive

10. (tie) New Madrid Street project -- Clark Avenue to Perry Avenue

12. Main Street project -- Roberts Street to East Cape Rock Drive

Rankings were based on the amount of Cape Cash spent on each project and weighted for the cost of each project

Source: city of Cape Girardeau