TUPELO – The city has decided to scrap a plan to run public buses by Christmas and will instead study its long-term transportation needs.

The City Council deleted from its agenda this week a potential contract with Northeast Mississippi Community Services to run two buses in Tupelo. It would have cost $68,000 a year and provided rides to the public for $1 fares.

It could have been operational by Christmas.

But Council President Fred Pitts said the city would rather pursue the $25,000 transit study pitched earlier this year by the citizen-based Tupelo Public Transportation Committee.

The five-member committee had recommended the study to determine the community’s need for public bus service and define the kind of system necessary to support it. It also would estimate its cost.

Council members had approved $12,500 to fund the study, with another $12,500 coming from an Appalachian Regional Commission grant.

But the committee also recommended a short-term contract with NMCS to provide immediate bus service while awaiting the study results, which could take a year to receive.

Committee member David Puckett said Wednesday he was disappointed to learn of the council’s decision. He said people need public transit, and they need it now.

“If we leave it up to them and don’t get the public involved,” Puckett said, “they’ll sit on their blooming hands and do nothing like they did last time and the time before that.”

Tupelo has been without public transportation since Lift Inc. stopped its limited bus service several years ago. In the meantime, those who cannot drive must rely on taxis or friends and families for rides.

Puckett, who is blind, says he spends $10 daily on cab fare to get to work.

It’s unclear when the committee will select a consulting firm to handle the transportation study. Members have been in contact with different firms during the past months and could select one shortly.

Contact Emily Le Coz at (662) 678-1588 or emily.lecoz@djournal.com.