CITY GEARS UP FOR VOTE ON ROAD TAX IN AUGUST

Cape Girardeau officials have learned that putting a priority to major street repairs isn't always the simplest route to getting the work done.

Instead of suggesting a priority order to an extension of the Transportation Trust Fund program, city officials are suggesting specific projects that would be completed under the plan.

City staff Wednesday outlined the projects proposed in the Transportation Trust Fund extension program during an interview. More than 30 similar presentations have been scheduled with civic clubs and organizations as well as public meetings to be held in July.

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday night unanimously approved 13 projects in the 2001-2005 Transportation Trust Fund program. Earlier the council set an election for Aug. 8 so that voters can consider a five-year extension of the half-cent sales tax.

The revenue from the tax extension estimated at $20.6 million over the five years would solely fund road improvements and related projects.

With a 68 percent majority, voters first adopted the Transportation Trust Fund in 1995 to help pay for 20 street improvement projects. That pay-as-you-go program expires Dec. 31.

Of those 20 projects:

* Seven already have been completed. They are Perryville Road, completed in 1998; Bloomfield Road and Silver Springs Road, both completed this year; Siemers Drive, completed in 1997; extension of Mount Auburn Road, completed last month; New Madrid-Henderson intersection, completed in 1997; and Hopper-Kage roads intersection, completed in 1999.

* Four are currently under construction. They are Bloomfield Road from Christine Street east; Silver Springs Road extension from Independence to William Street; Broadway widening from Clark to Perry avenues; and Hopper Road from Mount Auburn to Kage Road

* Three are awaiting bids. They are Hopper Road from Kage to Interstate 55 and Mount Auburn widening from Independence to William, including installation of a traffic signal. Mount Auburn would be done in two phases.

* Five are under design: William Street from Sprigg to Main streets; New Madrid Street from the Show Me Center to Perry Avenue; Rodney Street from the National Guard Armory to Hawthorne; Independence from Pacific to Sprigg streets; and Southern Expressway extensions.

* Three projects are pending: new Route 74 connections; Perryville Road outside the city limits; and Kage Road from Mount Auburn to Hopper.

"Projects have been kept on the current program," said City Manager Michael Miller. "We've completed what's on the list, and we're completing what we said we would do."

The 15-minute presentation explains what work already has been done under the current Transportation Trust Fund program and what work still needs to be completed.

Much of the information was presented during a slate of public meetings held in April when the city and Vision 2000 sought input on the projects being suggested for the program. Few people attended those meetings, however.

While the existing program included 20 projects, "this program has larger projects and so it is less specific," Miller said.

There is no planned order to the 13 projects being suggested, but city officials admit that the construction of Silver Springs Road near the new Career and Technology Center and high school and widening of Siemers Drive would likely take precedence.