FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In April 2016, Springfield voters will be asked to approve the renewal of the 1/8-cent transportation sales tax (with no tax increase) and the 1/4-cent capital improvements sales tax (with no tax increase) to fund high-priority capital improvement and transportation improvement projects in Springfield.
The revenue from both taxes is reviewed and monitored by the Citizens’ Sales Tax Oversight Committee.
The City is seeking feedback from citizens in the form of a survey on the proposed list of new roadway construction projects to be included in the next cycles of the 1/4-cent and 1/8-cent sales tax programs.
The survey is available online at springfieldmo.gov/election. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Citizen Resource Center, which is inside the Busch Municipal Building lobby.
The survey includes short descriptions of the full list of projects. It asks citizens to prioritize the projects and programs they think are most beneficial to the community and to offer any additional comments they might have. The survey is open to anyone who lives, works or visits Springfield and frequents City roadways.
Public Works engineers identified 25 proposed projects and 11 programs designed to not only make streets safer, but also more user-friendly for all modes of transportation.
The list was created using the following criteria:
• Increased safety for all users
• Support of economic development
• Protection and enhancement of the environment and quality of life
• Intermodal connectivity
• Condition of the infrastructure
• Opportunity for public and private partnerships
• Efficiency & effectiveness of the system
• Neighborhood Health Indicators.
The results from the survey will help guide the City as it sets priorities for projects funded by the 1/4-cent and 1/8-cent sales taxes.
About the 1/4-cent tax
The 1/4-cent capital improvement projects sales tax has a three-year sunset, was first approved in 1989 and was renewed in 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013.
The current 1/4-cent capital improvement sales tax, renewed by Springfield voters for the eighth time in 2013, is estimated to generate approximately $30 million, which is being invested in high-priority projects such as intersection improvements, school sidewalks and traffic signals.
When possible, funding is leveraged with other partners including county, state, federal, and developer funding to increase the investment return to the citizens of Springfield.
About the 1/8-cent tax
The 1/8-cent transportation sales tax has a four-year sunset, was first approved in 1996 and renewed in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.
The current 1/8-cent transportation sales tax, renewed by Springfield voters for the fourth time in 2012, is estimated to generate approximately $20 million, which is being invested in high-priority projects such as intersection improvements, street and bridge widening, signal system improvements, turn lane improvements, alternative transportation projects such as sidewalks and trails and street resurfacing.
When possible, funding is leveraged with other partners including county, state, federal, and developer funding to increase the investment return to the citizens of Springfield.
Projects that have been completed with revenues collected from the 1/8-cent and 1/4-cent taxes include:
• Republic Road & National Avenue intersection improvements.
• South Glenstone & Independence intersection improvements.
• Republic Road and James River Freeway bridge and LINK connection.
• I-44 and Kansas Expressway diverging diamond intersection.
• James River Freeway at National Avenue diverging diamond intersection.
• James River Freeway at Campbell Avenue intersection improvement.
• National Avenue at Kearney Street intersection improvement.
• Widening of U.S. Route 65 to six lanes, in two phases, from Chestnut Expressway to Sunshine Street, and from Sunshine to Battlefield Road.
• Turn lane improvements for safety and capacity at various locations, such as Glenstone at Battlefield and Chestnut Expressway at Sherman Avenue.
• Bridge and pavement preservation, including bridge rehabilitation on Kansas Expressway viaduct.
• Design priority intermodal connectivity improvements to enhance pedestrian, bicycle, and transit mobility.
• Construct pedestrian connections to transit stops along Glenstone Avenue.
• Enhancements to the Ozarks Traffic Intelligent Transportation System including variable message signs.
• Cost-share projects for economic development working with MoDOT, Greene County and private developers.
For more information, please contact City of Springfield Principal Engineer Paula Brookshire at 417-864-1989 or [email protected]