Plan outlines where expanded or new roadways, transit will be located . . .
The way we get around today – driving, biking, walking or taking transit – has a lot to do with infrastructure that was planned years ago. Roadways, transit lines and bridges often are conceived decades before any concrete is poured.
In other words, if residents want to have a say in future infrastructure, they need to speak up long before the traffic cones come out — and now is their chance.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is at work on Central Indiana’s 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan and it is seeking community input.
“The Long-Range Transportation Plan, or ‘LRTP,’ is updated every four years,” said Anna M. Gremling, executive director of the Indianapolis MPO. “It’s the regional vision for investments in major transportation projects, and we use it to guide decisions on how the region spends its transportation dollars.”
While projects submitted for inclusion in the LRTP are assessed based on a scoring process that includes performance measures, community input is also considered, Gremling said.
To that end, a series of community meetings are set in Marion County and seven surrounding counties, including Hamilton County, so the public can learn what’s being planned in each area and suggest improvements. Residents can find a meeting that’s convenient for them by checking the following list of times, dates and locations:
- 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sept. 21, Noblesville City Hall – Second floor meeting room, 16 S. 10th St., Noblesville
- 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sept. 25, Westfield Trustee Office, 1549 E. Greyhound Pass, Carmel
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is responsible for planning and programming federal transportation funds in Central Indiana. Federal law requires MPOs to complete a stringent planning process in order to apply for and receive federal funds for transit, active transportation, and roadway improvements. The Indianapolis MPO encompasses 1,520 square miles and includes eight counties and 31 cities and towns.