COUNTY ADDRESSES ARRAY OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones couldn't believe that with all the vans and buses operated by various agencies in Cape Girardeau County, a handful of senior citizens in Delta had trouble getting to doctors' appointments in Cape Girardeau.

After some checking, the county commissioners found the seniors a ride and also discovered a complicated maze of agencies and vehicles all trying to do essentially the same thing: get people where they need to go.

"Why can't we get somebody to the doctor? Why can't we get somebody to work?" Jones wondered.

So the County Commission contracted with Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission in Perryville to do a study of transportation needs in Cape Girardeau County.

"We are not trying to develop another level of county government; we're not interested in a county transportation department," Jones said. "But we have to look at the big picture."

Tom Tucker, executive director of the planning commission, said the report, including some recommendations, should be available in December.

The study will cost $34,000: The county is paying $2,000. The planning commission is paying $5,000 and a federal grant will pay the remaining amount.

Jones said: "Cape County is not interested in developing a transportation department. We feel like the private sector can do a better job of meeting transportation needs."

But someone must get the ball rolling.

"What the County Commission would like to see is an ideal transportation system for the county," Jones said. "The end of this study is the start of the solution."

Eventually, Jones and Tucker agreed, transportation issues will be forced to the front.

Welfare to Work is moving more people into the workplace, but a stumbling block for some to hold jobs is a lack of reliable transportation to and from work.

"Some people aren't working because they don't have reliable transportation," Tucker said. "We might as well address it now," Jones said.

In addition, Jones said, the county is home to 13,000 senior citizens. "Not every one is totally mobile," he said. "Some don't drive. Some can't afford a car."

Procter and Gamble plans to nearly double its workforce. "We may need to think about transportation, buses or something, instead of all the vehicles driving out there," Jones said.

Tucker and his staff are collecting information from various transit providers in the county about what clients and geographical areas each provider serves.

For example, Kelley Transportation operates a private cab company and also provides transportation for Cape Girardeau city's taxi coupon system. Southeast Missouri State University operates a transportation system for students on campus.

VIP Industries has a large transportation system to take employees to and from work at its sheltered workshops. Cape County Transit receives both county and federal funds for urban mass transit, primarily serving senior citizens. School districts run school bus routes twice a day. Some churches provide services.

"We will see if there are overlap or gaps," Tucker said.

Tucker said many of the existing systems don't operate on weekends or in the evening. Regulations limit access to specific groups of people.

Jones said, "Maybe we need to think creatively or think differently."

If regulations or laws prohibit certain uses of vehicles, perhaps the regulations or laws need to be changed, he said.

Said Tucker, "The end result, we hope, is to begin to put together some type of scenario for cooperation."