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HB803 • 2026

Pedestrian crosswalk or skybridge; conduct study to determine feasibility of constructing at MVSU.

AN ACT TO REQUIRE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, IN DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LEFLORE COUNTY, TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A SAFE AND EFFICIENT ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN CROSSING OR SKYBRIDGE FOR STUDENTS AND VISITORS OF MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY AT OR NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF U.S. HIGHWAY 82 AND SUNFLOWER ROAD (COUNTY ROAD 507) IN ITTA BENA, MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
James-Jones
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.

Study for Pedestrian Crosswalk or Skybridge at MVSU

This bill requires Mississippi Valley State University to work with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Leflore County Board of Supervisors to study the feasibility of building a safe pedestrian crossing over U.S. Highway 82 near Sunflower Road in Itta Bena, Mississippi.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires MVSU to collaborate with MDOT and Leflore County on a study for an elevated pedestrian crossing or skybridge.
  • The study must look at federal funding available for such projects and the costs versus benefits of building one.
  • It examines examples from other places that have similar crossings, as well as previous efforts in this area.
  • The report should include any constraints like future road expansions or land use changes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Mississippi Department of Transportation
  • Leflore County Board of Supervisors

Terms To Know

Feasibility study
A detailed investigation to determine if a project is practical and worth pursuing.
Elevated pedestrian crossing or skybridge
A walkway that goes over roads, allowing people to cross safely without traffic.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • It is unclear how much funding will be available for such a project based on this study.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To Transportation

Official Summary Text

Pedestrian crosswalk or skybridge; conduct study to determine feasibility of constructing at MVSU.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 803 *HR26/R712* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R712
PAGE 1 (DJ\KW)

To: Transportation
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative James-Jones

HOUSE BILL NO. 803

AN ACT TO REQUIRE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, IN 1
DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF 2
TRANSPORTATION AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LEFLORE COUNTY, TO 3
CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A 4
SAFE AND EFFICIENT ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN CROSSING OR SKYBRIDGE FOR 5
STUDENTS AND VISITORS OF MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY AT OR 6
NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF U.S. HIGHWAY 82 AND SUNFLOWER ROAD 7
(COUNTY ROAD 507) IN ITTA BENA, MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED 8
PURPOSES. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 10
SECTION 1. (1) The administration of Mississippi Valley 11
State University, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees of 12
State Institutions of Higher Learning, and in direct collaboration 13
with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Board of 14
Supervisors of Leflore County, shall conduct a study to determine 15
the feasibility of establishing safe, reliable and cost effective 16
alternative for a safe and efficient elevated pedestrian crossing 17
or skybridge for faculty, staff, students and campus visitors of 18
Mississippi Valley State University at or near the intersection of 19
U.S. Highway 82 and Sunflower Road (County Road 507) located in 20
Itta Bena, Leflore County, Mississippi. 21
H. B. No. 803 *HR26/R712* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R712
PAGE 2 (DJ\KW)

(2) The commission shall, at a minimum, study and report to 22
the 2026 Regular Session of the Legislature the following: 23
(a) The total amount of federal revenue received by the 24
State of Mississippi and the total amount of state funds spent on 25
federal matching funds that can allowably be allocated for the 26
establishment, construction and maintenance of an elevated 27
pedestrian crossing or skybridge within the area designated in 28
subsection (1) of this section; 29
(b) A cost—benefit analysis examining the impact of 30
providing alternative pathways to safely traverse the roadway 31
which allows safe access to and from the university's campus; 32
(c) Examples in Mississippi and/or in other states of 33
pedestrian crosswalks or skybridges in highly traveled areas; 34
(d) Benefits to university goers and to the local 35
community to seamless connect the university with the surrounding 36
community by providing a safe and uninhibited navigation corridor 37
within the area designated in subsection (1) of this section; 38
(e) Previous efforts and key considerations to identify 39
a location and pedestrian crossing alternatives within the area 40
designated in subsection (1) of this section; and 41
(f) Any constraints associated with a proposed 42
pedestrian crossing within the area designated in subsection (1) 43
of this section, including, but not limited to: 44
(i) Plans for future expansion of U.S. Highway 82 45
and/or Sunflower Road (County Road 507); 46
H. B. No. 803 *HR26/R712* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R712
PAGE 3 (DJ\KW)
ST: Pedestrian crosswalk or skybridge; conduct
study to determine feasibility of constructing
at MVSU.
(ii) Current and projected land uses in and around 47
the area; 48
(iii) Existing pedestrian infrastructure in the 49
area; and 50
(iv) Property impacts associated with any proposed 51
U.S. Highway 82 pedestrian crossing. 52
(3) To effectuate the purposes of this section, any 53
department, division, board, bureau, committee or agency of the 54
state or any political subdivision thereof, may, at the request of 55
the Transportation Commissioner for the Central District, provide 56
such facilities, assistance, information and data which will 57
enable the study to be properly performed under the authority of 58
this section. 59
The President of Mississippi Valley State and the Executive 60
Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, shall 61
jointly prepare a report to the Legislature on the results of the 62
study not later than December 15, 2026. 63
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 64
and after July 1, 2026. 65