DESOTO COUNTY, MS -- DeSoto County is the fastest growing county in the Mid-South. About 160,000 people live there right now and that number is expected to almost double in the next 20 years.
But, the only way to get around is by car. No city in DeSoto County has public transportation, but there is a plan in place that would change that. And it's not your typical bus system.
"Public transportation is not something that is very popular around the Memphis area, but I think it'd be very helpful," says Kelly Velasquez.
And probably popular too, if the county's vision for a new state of the art public transportation system becomes a reality.
"The seating in it is cushioned, it has Wi-Fi connections," says Jim McDougal, Director of the DeSoto County Planning office. "The system is always geared toward the vehicle having a dedicated lane or having the ability to go through lanes quicker than ordinary traffic would."
McDougal says these are the buses of the future, high tech and a cross between a bus and subway system. He'd like to see them running down Interstate 69 from Memphis to Hernando and on to Tunica.
"Fast enough to where you can really move along. Trips would take 15 to 30 minutes," McDougal says.
"It would be easier for people to get to work or transportation to work," says Renee Thomas a DeSoto County driver.
Congestion is a major problem in DeSoto County. McDougal says the solution: build more roads, or take cars off the current ones. Drivers just want relief.
"This intersection right at Airways is terrible, it really is, some relief for that would be great," says Velasquez.
The buses would also go straight to the Memphis airport.
"I'd love that myself," says Ginger Harden. "That way if I was flying out and didn't want to take my car, I could go and they'd put me off there. That'd be great."
"No one likes to pay the $20 parking fees for the garages so that would really help," adds Velasquez.
They'd also go into downtown, something McDougal thinks everyone would use.
"Those who are getting off work and want to go to a Grizzlies game can get on out here locally, ride into downtown, attend the game and when it's over come back."
The county has been studying the plan for a year and a half. Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran earmarked $70 million to pay for public transportation, but each of DeSoto County's cities would have to cover the rest of the building and operating costs.
So far Hernando is the only city to commit. Horn Lake will make a decision in July.
Southaven and Walls have both said it's too expensive. If everything is approved, the first buses could hit the roads in the next five years. Cities would also have to develop a feeder system to take people to I-69.
