The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has begun the process of updating its Public Involvement Plan (PIP).
A public involvement plan – sometimes referred to as a participation plan or engagement plan – lays out how a federally-designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO), like MORPC, reaches out to members of the public for their input as it carries out the region’s transportation planning process.
As an MPO, MORPC conducts a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning process. That process’s primary products are the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the Transportation Improvement Program.
The PIP is designed to provide the public opportunity to participate in, review, and comment on the formulation of transportation policies, plans, and programs. MORPC’s plan includes a structured committee process, a project-specific process, and a public outreach/information dissemination effort tailored to meet specific needs.
The transportation planning area for the MORPC MPO includes: Delaware and Franklin counties; Bloom and Violet townships in Fairfield County; New Albany, Pataskala and Etna Township in Licking County; and Jerome Township in Union County. The MPO boundaries are updated every 10 years based on the results of the federal decennial census.
MORPC is not expecting to overhaul its current public involvement process, but its staff does expect to make changes to structures and processes where needed – especially as it relates to new or emerging technologies and strategies to ensure we are effectively reaching diverse populations.
A formal public comment period on the draft PIP will begin in July, but those with suggestions for the plan are welcome to provide input beforehand by e-mailing info@morpc.org.
The PIP is reviewed by the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration to ensure that full and open access is provided by MORPC, COTA and Delaware County Transit in the transportation decision-making process.
MORPC’s update to the Public Involvement Plan is expected to be completed in September, and the current plan is available to view here.