COUNTY TRANSIT PANEL SAYS IT NEEDS MONEY TO OPERATE

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority says it needs money to operate and improve transportation services.

The authority met with transit consultant Cornelius Henry Thursday at the Cape Girardeau County Administrative Building.

The five-member board instructed Henry to secure grant funds from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Henry said the board must apply to MoDOT this spring if it hopes to secure grant money.

Doug Richards, who chairs the transit board, said the board and Henry must decide how much money to request from the state.

Henry, hired this week to assist the board, presented a 14-point plan of action.

Among other things, Henry and the board plan to look at the feasibility of establishing a fixed-route bus system.

Henry said a study should look at "major corridors" in the city and "travel corridors" in the county.

Henry, who has 18 years of experience in transit operations, said MoDOT provides funding for fixed-route systems in other cities.

He also suggested the board set up a shuttle bus transfer center in the West Park Mall parking lot that might serve as a "feeder station" for residents to catch transit rides.

Richards said it's important to involve transit providers, such as Kelley's taxi service, in the authority's transit plans.

He said existing transit companies could benefit by contracting for new services.

"There's clearly a market for the private sector in terms of providing transit services at a cost-effective price," Henry said, but there also is a market for not-for-profit and public transit services.