Tupelo Voters Decide Fate Of Major Thoroughfare Program

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Voters in Tupelo are deciding whether to renew a program that sets aside money for street construction and repairs.

The Major Thoroughfare program began thirty years ago and every five years, Tupelo residents decide whether they will renew the special tax levy that funds the program.

Rhawinder Kaur has owned “Sam’s corner” convenience store for more than ten years. During that time traffic has increased on the stretch of West Jackson Street where the store is located.

Under Phase Seven of the Major Thoroughfare Program,  West Jackson Street would be widened, making it easier for customers to get in and out of the parking lot at the store.

“Sometimes people try to turn, come inside and we have to wait, two or three minutes, to get out, especially lunchtime and after three o clock, it would be a big help if they had another line, easy to make a turn,” Kaur said.

It is just one of the projects in the next phase of the Major Thoroughfare Program. Other projects include widening Eason Boulevard from Veterans Boulevard to Briar Ridge Road and widening Veterans from Main Street to Hamm Street.

The Major Thoroughfare Program sets aside a 10 mill tax levy. That money goes to repairing streets and building new roads. One-quarter of that ten mill tax levy goes to road maintenance.

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton says the program has played a big role in economic development throughout the city.

“This is a true citizen-led program, not a tax increase, but a continuation of the same amount of tax we have right now. We have about thirty private citizens who oversee this program, so it’s just a great citizen-led, public private partnership, that really has paid tremendous dividends for the city of Tupelo the past thirty years,” Mayor Shelton said.

Traditionally, the major thoroughfare program passes by a big margin every five years, though voter turnout is usually low.

Tupelo’s Major Thoroughfare Program is the only one of its kind in the state.