Street funding

Plans for Cape Girardeau's Transportation Trust Fund 4 are moving ahead. The planning and zoning commission approved the five-year plan of street projects estimated to cost $21.5 million.

The package needs final approval from the city council before voters are asked next year to extend a half-cent sales tax.

For nearly 15 years Cape Girardeau has funded major street improvements with the TTF tax, which has a sunset clause that give voters an opportunity to support the program every five years. Voters have indicated they like knowing which specific projects are targeted for each five-year plan.

The new plan has taken nearly a year to put together. A great deal of thought has already gone into developing the list of projects. As with any issue of this magnitude that requires voter approval, taxpayers need to be fully informed. They also need to let their elected officials on the city council know what they like or don't like about the plan.

The TTF concept has worked well for Cape Girardeau. If voters think the next five-year plan continues the focus on needed city street improvements, they will likely favor this plan.