August 19, 2024

Good Works Columbus: August 19, 2024

LinkUS survey, Sidewalk Refresh, Transit Advocacy Training, Tree Giveaway

Intro

Hi everyone, happy Monday! A few things to cover before we get to actions:

The city of Columbus is offering free credit monitoring after a massive data leak that affected employees and citizens. If you attended a city hall event in the past decade you’re affected by the data leak.

Also, be sure to check your voter registration and update if needed. The state of Ohio purged thousands of voters, so be sure to check that you’re not one of those affected.

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

Be sure to get your LinkUS feedback in for the trails. August 23rd is the final day for feedback!

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

• Strong Towns Columbus Sidewalk Refresh (Saturday August 24th 10am-5pm)
  Strong Towns Columbus is doing a beautification project at the intersection of 4th and 5th this weekend. Check out the event link for more details.

• Green Columbus is doing a free tree giveaway in September and October. You can reserve a tree here starting now.

  

  
  
  

• 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, 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

• Transit Advocacy Training Series
  
  Transit Columbus is hosting a series of trainings over the next few months. Come learn how to get involved in local transit advocacy! You can attend any or all events, you don’t need to attend one in order to attend the other. More event details here.

  

• Get out the vote training (Saturday, Sept. 14 11am-12:30pm Main Library Columbus, OH)
  

  

  
  2024 is a big election year. Among other important issues on the ballot, central Ohio residents will be deciding whether or not to increase the COTA sales tax levy from 0.5% to 1% in order to fund major transit and mobility improvements like Bus Rapid Transit, more (and improved) pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and a 45% increase in overall COTA service hours.

  Transit Columbus member Matt Caffrey will lead this training, which will give volunteers the tools they need to get out the vote.
  
  

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!