On Monday, Sept. 23, Springfield City Council unanimously approved a proposed list of projects and programs to be funded by the voter-approved 1/4-cent Capital Improvement and 1/8-cent Transportation sales taxes over the next four years.
The 1/4-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax was originally approved by Springfield voters in 1989 and renewed in 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016 with a three year “sunset” provision. The 1/8-cent Transportation Sales Tax was first approved in 1996 and renewed in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 with a four-year sunset. In 2019, both taxes were renewed by voters with a twenty-year sunset and a commitment to continue the City’s “Completed as Promised” process of community engagement and accountability measures to identify and track progress on projects and programs funded within a four-year cycle.
Projects funded by the 1/4- and 1/8-cent taxes have typically included street improvements and resurfacing, stormwater projects, signal system improvements, traffic-calming, turn lane safety, railroad crossing improvements, bridge repair and replacement, neighborhood programs, safety signs and markings, reforestation and landscaping, walkability projects including sidewalks, bike routes, trails, bus stop improvements, economic development and quality of life enhancement projects through shared funding, and other high-priority street, intersection, transportation and capital improvement projects.
“One of the elements that have made the ¼ and 1/8-cent taxes so successful over the years is the input of the citizens to help determine both the projects and the programs chosen,” explained Public Works Director Dan Smith. “We received 1,500 responses to our transportation and infrastructure survey conducted in fall of 2023. Public input is one of several factors we consider including safety, infrastructure condition, economic development, flood mitigation, and geographic location when bringing forward a list of priorities for funding.”
Fourteen projects and programs are included in the 1/4-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax Program, estimated to total $63,250,000 in revenue during the 2024-2028 cycle. Thirteen projects and programs are included in the 1/8-cent Transportation Sales Tax Program, estimated at $32,250,000 for 2025-2029.
Approved improvement projects include ($38,250,000 budgeted):
- Fremont Avenue – Erie Street to Independence Street (Construction)
- Kansas Avenue – Maplewood Street to Walnut Lawn (Construction)
- Campbell Avenue – Westview Street to Republic Road (Construction)
- Scenic Avenue – Olive Street to Sunshine Street (Construction)
- Jefferson Avenue Footbridge Improvements (Debt Service)
- Campbell Avenue – Primrose Street to Powell Street (Design and Partial Right-of-way)
- Sunshine Street – Grant Avenue to Glenstone Avenue (Corridor Study)
- Division Street – Glenstone Avenue to U.S. Highway 65 (Design and Corridor Study)
- Stormwater Permit Compliance and Flood Control Projects
- Art Museum Improvements (Debt Service)
Approved city-wide programs include ($37,250,000 budgeted):
- Public/private shared cost and economic development
- Sidewalk/Curb/Gutter and Ramp Construction (including school sidewalks)
- Neighborhood Initiative Program
- Metro/Safety Signs and Markings (including bike routes)
- Major street resurfacing/rehabilitation
- Traffic signal/traffic calming program
- Minor Neighborhood Improvements (Pothole Funds)
- Center City Development
- Reforestation and landscaping improvements
- Intelligent Transportation System and signal system improvements
- Turn lane and safety improvements
- Bridge repair and replacement
- Walkability program.