TUPELO,Ms. -(WTVA) Tupelo's city council will meet tonight in its regularly scheduled meeting to discuss among other things its "Complete Streets" program designed they say to make the City a more "walkable friendly" enviornment.
Tonight Board members will be asked to study for the next two weeks the benefits of the "Complete Streets" program . It's part of the City's 2025 comprehensive plan.
If City leaders adopt the Complete Streets program , Tupelo would become the first in the State to do so. It's a national movement that promotes the liveablity around streets..where all too often speeding traffic has taken the place of what might have been sidewalks and bicycle lanes. This morning city planners handed out maps detailing each board member's ward and where sidewalks are or are not. They'll be asked to inventory where they are.
"In the past sidewalks for example have been kind of helter skelter in fact, they're more in the older parts of town than they are in the newer parts of town, and this is just a way to rededicate ourselves to more sidewalks more safe walking paths , biking paths, trails."says Mayor Jack Reed.
The board will be asked to study the idea tonight, and endorse a policy that would encourage developers and realtors to think sidewalks and bicycyle lanes in their building plans.
"Anytime we plan a street a new street to do a major change to a street here in town we will look and make sure that we try to include a bike lane ,a sidewalk, a place so that the average citizen can get out and enjoy their community."according to Zoning Administrator Marilyn Vail.
Ward Seven Alderman Willie Jennings says he would like to see plans enacted soon to coincide with Highway six construciton that basically cuts through the heart of his ward.
"As they finish that highway those roads are gonna be redone I would like to see that put in as to widen thar road enough to put bike trails and walking trails and we won't have to come back later and spend a lot of money trying to add it on."
Jennings says he believes the board will adopt the complete streets program, after it studies the plan beginning in tonight's board meeting.
