STUDY SUGGESTS EXPANSION OF CITY'S TAXI COUPON PLAN

A study of Cape Girardeau transit needs recommends the city consider expanding its current taxi coupon program to provide public transportation for a larger segment of the population.

Tom Tucker, director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, reported to the city council Monday that the present taxi coupon system meets about 60 percent of the transportation needs of the city's elderly population.

"The city has an opportunity to expand that, and we think it would be an excellent way to meet the door-to-door needs of residents," Tucker said.

The commission, based in Perryville, was hired last year to study public transportation needs and alternatives in Cape Girardeau.

Tucker said one possibility the city might consider is a "fixed route, mini-bus" public transportation system in conjunction with the taxi coupon program.

Through the taxi coupon program, Kelley Transportation Co. provides taxi service at no additional charge for coupon-bearing residents. Coupon books, comprised of eight coupons, are sold for $8 each to the elderly and disabled, and $16 per book to other members of the public.

Tucker said the taxi coupon program is an effective way to provide "door-to-door" transit for the elderly, but doesn't adequately provide the transit needs of the general public.

He said a fixed-route system would help, but likely would cost nearly $300,000 annually. The commission recommended the city consider a half-cent transportation sales tax to help fund transportation services.

In a letter to City Manager J. Ronald Fischer, Tucker said: "The combined proposal to either continue and expand the taxi coupon program, or to initiate a fixed-route or flexible fixed-route system in conjunction with the taxi coupon program could assist the city in garnering support for the half-cent transportation tax."

He said the tax could generate nearly $2.4 million annually.

"This could go a long way to assist the city in its needs for a variety of transportation related issues, including street improvements and extensions, construction of inter-connecting streets, and provision of public transportation."

The council took no action on the matter.

Also at Monday's meeting, the city administrative staff agreed to study traffic needs and concerns on Henderson Street where it runs adjacent to the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

Three students of the university urged the council to study traffic congestion along the street between Broadway and New Madrid streets.

They said it's difficult to safely enter Henderson from the many commuter parking lots and side streets in the area.

In other business, the council gave first reading to a law banning parking along a 172-foot section of the 400 block of Good Hope Street.

Police Chief Howard Boyd Jr. said the ban would further curb illicit drug sales in that area, which law enforcement officials have identified as an "open air" drug market.

The no-parking ordinance would take effect in an area adjacent to the site where several buildings recently were razed as a deterrent to drug activity.

Boyd said that the driveways for the buildings formerly took all but about two parking spaces in the area that's now being proposed for the parking ban.

"It actually amounts to about two parking spaces being denied when you take into account the driveways," he said. "(But) since we instituted an emergency (no parking) order, we've seen a noticeable decrease in drug activity."

The parking ban would be for that part of the south side of Good Hope Street from its intersection with rear South Fountain, east 172 feet. "It goes from the alley at rear South Fountain to the bridge over the old railroad right of way," Boyd said.

In February, the "Chicken Shack" and three other dilapidated buildings in the block were torn down. The area outside and around the Chicken Shack was considered by law enforcement officials a "staging area" for illegal drug sales particularly crack cocaine.

In other action Monday the council:

Adopted the city's $27 million, five-year capital improvements program.

Heard a plea from businessman Charles Blattner to extend Minnesota Avenue slated for a southward extension to Southern Expressway north across Cape LaCroix Creek.

20Approved plans to extend the city's water system to Randol Farms Sixth and Seventh Subdivisions, and the Senior Nutrition Center site on Clark Street at New Madrid.

Gave initial approval to an ordinance authorizing easements to the state for construction of the interchange of Interstate 55 and a relocated Highway 74 (bridge route).

Gave initial approval to an ordinance authorizing the city's fire and public works departments to assist other public safety agencies in emergencies.

Approved the record plats of Foundation Park Subdivision, Cape West Fourth Subdivision, and Mt. Auburn Subdivision No. 4.

Approved a resolution to adopt a new Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program for the city.