Local residents will have an opportunity this week to learn more about potential transportation improvements and give feedback.
The City of Columbus — Bartholomew County Planning Department is inviting members of the public to attend an open house Thursday at the Columbus Fire Department’s Evolution Training Center at 2670 Verhulst St. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. According to metropolitan planning organization director Laura Thayer, the event is drop-in, and members of the public can come at any time during that period.
The open house is an opportunity to review future development and transportation scenarios, comment and help prioritize future transportation improvement projects.
More specifically, the open house will feature information and discussion about an update to the Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s long-range transportation plan, also known as the Metropolitan Transportation Plan. CAMPO receives staff support from the planning department and is responsible for receiving and distribution federal transportation improvement funds.
The Metropolitan Transportation Plan is a “road map” for how local government will plan, build, operate, maintain and partner on transportation improvements over the next 25 years, city officials said. It examines all types of vehicular travel, as well as bicycle and pedestrian facilities and the bus transit system.
Comments could include items such as closing sidewalk gaps, adding new trails and other bicycle facilities, addressing unsafe intersections, increasing bus service or improving local streets and state highways.
The Metropolitan Transportation Plan is a federally required document that must be updated at least once every five years in order for the Columbus area to remain eligible for federal transportation funding.
The plan also guides prioritization of projects and use of federal funds.
The plan update will include information on:
Existing transportation conditions
Weaknesses in the current transportation system
Possible future development and transportation scenarios
Projections of available funding for future transportation improvements
Prioritized improvement projects
Planning department staff will also be at the open house to collect feedback on draft materials for a related project, the Columbus Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Update.
Attendees will have the opportunity to provide input on the short-term bicycle and pedestrian improvements they believe are “most needed to improve safety, increase connectivity, and enhance transportation and recreational opportunities.” More information is available at columbus.in.gov/bikewalk.
