It was a smooth ride.

Voters on Tuesday handily approved a three-tenths of a percent sales tax primarily designed to improve city street maintenance.

“People will feel the difference in the streets,” City Manager David Corliss said as he watched the sales tax roll to a convincing victory where nearly 73 percent of city voters approved the measure.

The city has proposed to use $22 million of the new sales tax dollars to rebuild portions of four major streets – Bob Billings Parkway, Kasold Drive, 19th Street and Wakarusa Drive – over the next 10 years.

The tax, though, also will fund several other major projects. They include:

¢ $5 million to build a stormwater pump station at North Fifth and Maple streets in North Lawrence.

¢ $500,000 a year for 10 years for residential street maintenance and sidewalk repair.

¢ $500,000 a year for 10 years to purchase new fire trucks.

Supporters of the sales tax said they had expected a victory, in part, because a recent city survey showed that improved street maintenance was by far the public’s top city concern. But the margin of victory did take supporters by surprise.

“I can’t thank the public enough for believing in their community,” City Commissioner Mike Amyx said.

The sales tax did face formal opposition from the local branch of the Americans for Prosperity organization, which argued government hadn’t done enough to control spending. Jim Mullins, the group’s leader, said the new sales taxes will be problematic for the low income and elderly – especially as the national economy worsens.

“It is amazing to me that with the state of the economy – both national and state – people are willing to spend all this extra money in taxes,” Mullins said.

Supporters of the sales tax were urged on by a citizens group – Yes for Lawrence – that campaigned for passage of the infrastructure and transit sales tax questions.

Sales tax proponents hammered on the results of a city study that found 35 percent of all city streets have deteriorated to the point that they need to be rebuilt. The new sales tax won’t provide enough funding to fix all those streets, but supporters said it would allow the city to start catching up.

The sales tax – which will amount to 30 cents for every $100 spent in Lawrence – will begin being charged in April. It is expected to generate $2.25 million in 2009, and $3.94 million in 2010. By law, the tax will expire in 10 years. The only way it can be renewed is if voters approve it again as part of a citywide election.