August 12, 2024

Good Works Columbus: August 12, 2024

Bike Plus Open House, LinkUS Town Hall, Short North Mobility Survey, Columbus E-Bikes

Intro

Hi everyone, happy Monday! I’m in Seattle this week on a work trip so I’ll keep it short.

Good news! The city’s popular e-bike subsidy program is back. Applications will open today, Monday, August 12 at 7:00 PM until Monday, August 19.

If you have an upcoming event or a link you’d like to share for the newsletter, feel free to send suggestions.

Things you can do in person

• Transit Columbus meeting/Bike Lane Uprising meet and greet (August 13th)

  

• COTA Service Change Public Meetings (8/13) 🚍
  (in-person at COTA’s Downtown Boardroom, 33 North High Street or on COTA’s Facebook page)
  
  The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) will host two public information meetings regarding COTA service improvements that will be effective Monday, September 2, 2024. The meetings will be held on Thursday, August 8 at 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday, August 13 at noon. COTA changes its service three times a year, on the first Monday of January, May, and September. This includes schedule adjustments to improve travel times, modify service, and construction-related route changes.

• Columbus Youth Climate Action Fund (Extended deadline - now 8/16) 🌎
  This new micro grant program is now accepting applications for youth-led climate projects that support environmental justice and meeting our Columbus Climate Action Plan goals. A project can receive up to $5,000 from the grant and applications will be accepted through 8/16. For more details on the program, including how to apply, check the link here.

• MORPC/GOhio commute Summer Commute Challenge (July 1-August 31) 🚍
  
  Do you ever carpool or vanpool, take transit, bike, walk, or ride an e-scooter to work? Have you thought about trying one of these sustainable transportation modes? With Gohio Commute's Make Your Miles Matter: Summer Challenge, you can earn rewards for simply logging the trips that you already take!

  
  Join our July-August Commuting Challenge by logging trips between July 1 – August 31, 2024 and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $50 gift cards. Registration & contest details can be found at GohioCommute.com/MORPC. Please contact the Gohio Commute team at Gohio@morpc.org with any questions you may have.
  
  
  

Things you can do online

• Short North Arts District Mobility Survey 🚲
  SNAD (Is that a thing?) is conducting a mobility survey for the Short North. Go tell them to create better options for bikes and buses. Honestly, it would be a lot better if cars were banned.

• LinkUS unveils proposed map for sidewalks, bikeways, and trails; seeks public feedback.
  
  Central Ohio residents are encouraged to provide input on the 83 proposed projects representing more than 150 miles of new sidewalks, bikeways, and trails during the public comment period from July 25 to August 23.

  Residents can view an interactive map displaying the proposed projects and comment directly on the map at https://morpc.org/moresidewalks. All comments must be submitted directly on the interactive map, by e-mail to tsi@morpc.org or in writing to Shelby Oldroyd, Re: Transit-Supportive Infrastructure, 111 Liberty Street, Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43215. The deadline to submit feedback is by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 23, 2024.
  
  

  

Save the Date

Bike Plus Open House (Various dates in August) 🚲
Join us at one of the Open House events in August! You will have the opportunity to share your thoughts on the Bike Plus planning process, the Vision Network, the Near Term Connections map, and recommended policies and programs. Each event is drop-in style and will feature the same content. Hear from city leadership at the top of every hour. We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your feedback!

• LinkUS Town Hall Events (Various dates) 🚍
  Join us for a town hall meeting to learn how COTA’s investment in the region will benefit you, your community and all of Central Ohio. We’ll share more about LinkUS and how COTA will modernize and expand our transit system, answer questions and collect feedback about the project.
  
  TOWN HALL DATES

  Thursday, Aug. 8

  6-7:30 p.m.

  IMPACT Community Action

  711 Southwood Ave, Columbus, OH 43207

  
  Saturday, Aug. 17

  10-11:30 a.m.

  Columbus Urban League

  788 Mt Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43203

  
  Thursday, Sept. 12

  6-7:30 p.m.

  Carriage Place Community Center

  4900 Sawmill Rd, Columbus, OH 43235

  
  Monday, Sept. 23

  5:30-7 p.m.

  Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Northern Lights Branch

  4093 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH 43224

  
  Saturday, Oct. 5

  10-11:30 a.m.

  Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main Branch

  96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, OH 43215

  
  Wednesday, Oct. 9

  6-7:30 p.m.

  Reynoldsburg High School

  699 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

• Neighborhood Clean-Up on 161 (8/17 - 9am) 🚮
  Please join us to pick up trash and litter along 161 and make our community look inviting and clean!

  All supplies will be provided, including safety vests, trash grabbers, garbage bags and latex gloves.

  If you prefer heavy duty gloves, please bring some with you.

  Meet at the volunteer car in the parking lot behind the Jiffy Lube. (Look for yellow safety vests!)
  

In Case You Missed It

• LinkUS Engagement Survey (2 minutes)

  We invite you to share your thoughts on LinkUS and public transportation's impact on your life and community. Your answers will be shared as part of a social media initiative to spread awareness about LinkUS and what it means for the Central Ohio region. Thank you for your participation!

• Mark up the Vision Zero Columbus map. Have a close call walking, biking, or getting around town? Do you know a dangerous intersection that can be improved? Help identify these spots on the Vision Zero map.

Have a great day everyone!