The results of a train impact study will be discussed next month during a meeting hosted by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
The May 5 program, “Preparing for Increased Train Traffic in Columbus,” will be held from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Columbus Area Visitors Center, 506 Fifth St.
Heather Pope, redevelopment director for the city, and Dave Hayward, executive director of public works/city engineer, will be sharing data from the impact study with people in attendance.
An impact study performed by American StructurePoint shows that the city will have as many as 22 trains a day traveling through the State Road 46 intersection with State Road 11 on Columbus’ west side starting next year, compared to eight now. The trains’ length will be longer, from 5,100 feet now to 7,500 feet in the future.
In addition, the trains will feature double-stacked cars compared to the single-stacked cars that are currently used.
The city has proposed that the Indiana Department of Transportation pay $20 million toward the cost of a State Road 46 overpass, with the city coming up with the remainder of the funding.
