Council looks at transportation tax funding

With the August renewal of the city of Springfield's 1/8-cent transportation sales tax, the city is ready to start spending its money.

Springfield City Council considered a bill Monday night that lays out projects funded with an estimated $20 million in transportation tax revenue over the next four years.

The tax money will be combined with county, state and federal funds as well as private assistance to fund a number of projects, including:

• the widening of U.S. Highway 65 to six lanes between Battlefield Road and Chestnut Expressway;

• interchange improvements at James River Freeway and National Avenue;

• Phase I of work at James River Freeway and Campbell Avenue;

• a diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 44 and Kansas Expressway;

• improvements to the intersection of Kearney Street and National;

• turn-lane improvements at both Chestnut Expressway and Sherman Avenue, in front of Ozarks Technical Community College, and South Glenstone Avenue near Battlefield Road; and

• improvements on Blackman Road and on Republic Road between Scenic and Golden avenues.

"The success of the 1/8-cent sales tax is that we have been able to leverage that money with county, state and federal funds as well as private contributions to accelerate these improvement projects," said Public Works Director Marc Thornsberry. The city estimates that the city money can be leveraged to fund $60 million worth of roadwork.

Council is expected to vote on the bill at its Oct. 27 meeting.

See SBJ's Oct. 20 issue for more City Council news.[[In-content Ad]]