By William Murdock
Published in ThisWeek Community News
With a new year upon us, there is no better time to reflect on the changes that have shaped our region over the past year and helped us to prepare for the future.
As 2022 began, we started to see glimpses of an end to the pandemic, and here, at home, we began preparing for major development projects like Intel, Hyperion, Honda, OSU’s Innovation District, and much more.
We live in a growing, world-class region, one expected to have 3 million people by 2050, or possibly sooner. New businesses are looking to call Central Ohio home and it is incumbent upon us to create communities with a lifestyle and culture that draws and retains the best talent and raises the bar our region’s overall quality of life.
With growth brings opportunities and challenges. And as the wins keep coming, there’s more urgency to invest today to provide the critical transportation and housing options we need to thrive for tomorrow.
Our team is working hard to prepare our region to support this growth by investing in planning. We know as Central Ohio grows, it can become an even better place to live, work, and travel the region.
Alongside our more than 80 member communities and partners, MORPC is tackling some of the most pressing issues that impact our communities every day, including housing, sustainability, and transportation.
The good news: our region’s been planning for growth. Insight2050 and the Insight2050 Corridor Concepts are plans to address the region’s needs by ensuring people can age in place, have more equitable access to transportation, and that we have enough housing units to meet the demand. Eight years in the making, the Insight2050 project is a tool that provides key data for Franklin County and the six surrounding counties for decision makers to inform local decision-making.
Even better: there are once-in-a-generation resources like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to turn plans into projects.
This is a moment where Central Ohio can really hit its stride.
Whether through collaborative efforts linking housing, jobs, and transit or making the case for passenger rail, trails, or clean air and water, MORPC works to prepare our region for the future with practical action and direct impact.
AT MORPC, we want to create an environment for prosperity for everyone in Central Ohio.
We’re paying it forward through public service and collaboration, driving investment in our region, and building value for our member communities by providing the tools and data we need to plan for our growing region.
Lastly, we believe strongly that the success of the region has depended on collaboration and leadership. Urban, suburban, rural, big, or small, MORPC is committed to continuing to work together with the diverse communities in our region.
To learn more about us, visit www.morpc.org.
William Murdock is executive director at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. MORPC’s purpose is to bring communities of all sizes and interests together to collaborate on best practices and planning for the future of the region.
