Recommendations will be made concerning the future of public transportation in Starkville and Mississippi State at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Greensboro Center.
The recommendations stem from a transit feasibility study recently concluded by the Carl Small Town Center in the College of Architecture.
The study assessed the needs of a public transportation system in Starkville versus the cost of such a venture.
Sigrid Ostlund, a principal investigator in the study, said Starkville has been growing at a rate of about 20 percent every 10 years. If the trend continues, the need for public transportation would need to be addressed, she said.
Starkville Mayor Mack Rutledge said it is important for the city to provide ways for its citizens to travel within city limits.
“There are many people who aren’t able to drive a vehicle for one reason or another,” Rutledge said. “It is important for them to be able to move around the city.”
Ostlund said a public transportation system would also reduce the number of vehicles on city streets, creating easier travel and a safer environment.
Judy Phillips, interim program director at the Stennis Institute of Government, helped conduct a student survey in liaison with the Carl Center study, which sought to provide information such as how often students would use public transportation and how much they would be willing to pay for it.
“Public transportation is a critical need,” Phillips said. “The problem is the cost.”
One proposal being discussed to fund public transit is to use a portion of the revenue from the 2 percent restaurant and beverage tax, which citizens will vote on for renewal later this year.
If the tax is renewed, Rutledge said he hoped it would result in improvements in city and university transportation.
“We hope and expect that the [university’s] first priority would be to expand the transportation and shuttle system,” Rutledge said.
The study focused on the feasibility of providing a transportation system and improving the city’s streets and sidewalks, Ostlund said.
“If people don’t feel comfortable walking to the bus stop, what are you doing?” Ostlund asked.
Ostlund said the issues addressed by the study are vital to the future of Starkville, during a critical growth period.
“We see the study as developing building blocks of analysis for future city-planning efforts for the city of Starkville,” Ostlund said.
Ostlund said public ideas and discussion are welcome at the meeting on Thursday.
The Greensboro Center is located at the corner of Louisville and Greensboro Street. City and university officials will attend.