Input sought on city’s long-range transportation plan

Local residents may give input on the future of the city’s transportation system at the Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s public open house.

Representatives from CAMPO will discuss their plans and goals for the city’s long-range transportation plan at a 6 p.m. Tuesday open house. The long-range plan is used to help CAMPO secure federal funding for transportation projects throughout Columbus and Bartholomew County.

The open house will begin with a presentation by CAMPO consultants who will discuss the goals and policies of the long-term plan, said Laura Thayer, CAMPO director. Those goals includes issues such as safety and developing a cohesive transportation network, Thayer said.

Then, the open house will move into a public discussion, where residents will be encouraged to share comments and concerns about the city’s current transportation system and to provide ideas on how that system could look in the future.

Thayer said she expects to hear about a wide range of topics, such as road conditions, sidewalks, bicycle routes and bus routes.

Residents will also be encouraged to share their ideas for new city-wide transportation projects, such as road improvements, street diets or new east-west connections.

The open house also will include displays of proposed transportation changes that residents will be asked to review. The displays will show areas throughout Bartholomew County where CAMPO consultants think transportation improvements are possibly needed, and residents will be asked to provide their feedback on those ideas.

One of the biggest issues involving transportation being discussed in the city is the possibility of improving local intersections that travel over Louisville & Indiana railroad lines as the railroad company prepares to increase the number of trains it runs through the city each day.

While that issue will likely be brought up for discussion at the open house, Thayer said CAMPO does not want to duplicate the efforts of the city’s redevelopment office, so most of the conversation surrounding the railroad will be redirected back to redevelopment.

The presentation portion of the evening will last about 30 minutes, and the remainder of the two-hour open house will be open to public comment and discussion.

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What: CAMPO long-range transportation plan public open house

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Cal Brand meeting room at Columbus City Hall, 123 Washington St.

Subject: Public discussion and feedback about CAMPO’s long-range transportation plan for Columbus

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