House Bill 723

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE AIRPORT PARKWAY COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING SAFE, RELIABLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE BUS, RAIL AND LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SERVICES FOR THE AREAS LOCATED BETWEEN DOWNTOWN JACKSON, HINDS COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AND THE JACKSON-MEDGAR WILEY EVERS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LOCATED IN RANKIN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STUDY SHALL PROVIDE A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF SUCH SERVICES FOR THE STATE TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The Airport Parkway Commission, is hereby authorized to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing safe, reliable and cost effective bus, rail and light rail transit services for the areas located between downtown Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, and the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport located in Rankin County, Mississippi.

(2) The commission shall, at a minimum, study and report to the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature the following:

(a) The total amount of federal revenue received by the State of Mississippi and the total amount of state funds spent on federal matching funds that can allowably be allocated for the establishment, implementation and operation of bus, rail and light rail transit services within the areas designated in subsection (1) of this section;

(b) A cost—benefit analysis examining the impact of providing bus, rail and light rail transit services through reprioritizing current expenditures of certain federal and state funds;

(c) The approximate total annual funding required to serve the areas situated between downtown Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, and the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport located in Rankin County, Mississippi, that may benefit from the transportation services provided by bus, rail and light rail transit services within those designated areas;

(d) Examples in Mississippi and/or in other states of public transportation such as bus, rail and light rail transit services within the areas designated in subsection (1) of this section;

(e) Benefits to employers of employee access to bus, rail and light rail transit services within the areas designated in subsection (1) of this section; and

(f) Recommendations for increasing the amount of federal revenue and state funds spent on bus, rail and light rail transit services within the areas designated in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) To effectuate the purposes of this section, any department, division, board, bureau, committee or agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof, may, at the request of the commission, provide such facilities, assistance, information and data as will enable the commission to properly carry out its duties under the authority of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.