Good Works Columbus: February 19, 2024
LinkUS survey, ODOT public comment, city park surveys, Citizens Not Politicians, and more
Intro
Hi everyone, happy Monday! Thank you to everyone that donated a set of bike lights for the Columbus Bike Lane Uprising donation drive. They are now completely funded! I’ll provide more details on how to get involved with distribution later this spring.
Reminder to register to vote or update your registration by the February 20th (tomorrow) deadline. You can also sign up to be a poll worker in Franklin County here.
If you have an upcoming event or a link you’d like to share for the newsletter, feel free to send suggestions. Please let me know if I missed something!
Things you can do in person
Sign up to gather signatures for the “Citizens Not Politicians” Amendment and help end gerrymandering in the state of Ohio through this ballot initiative. Link to become a signature gatherer.
Things you can do online
LinkUS Engagement Survey (2 minutes)
“The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) has approved the 2024 draft list of projects to receive funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation's Major New Capacity Program. It includes $127.3 million in new funding commitments for 18 projects over the next four years.
The public can comment on the draft list by emailing trac@dot.ohio.gov until February 23, 2024. TRAC will vote on the final list at their February 28 meeting.”
The draft list of projects includes a lot of bad, including lane widening projects, and some good like LinkUS’ West Broad BRT project.
“Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is redeveloping McCoy Park (Southwest Columbus), which will support and complement other parks in the southwest quadrant of the city. As the master plan for the park is taking shape, please share your feedback.” (Both park surveys are through 2/23.)
“Two new bills—from Senators Ed Markey and John Fetterman respectively—set Complete Streets as a minimum design mandate, taking a step towards safer streets for all road users. With over 40,000 pedestrian deaths on our roadways in the last decade, there’s no time to lose. Tell your senator to cosponsor the Building Better Streets Act and Complete Streets Act!”
“The City of Gahanna is working to develop an Active Transportation Plan to improve walking and biking in the community. The Plan will include infrastructure and program and policy recommendations.
We are in the information gathering phase and interested in learning from you about opportunities and barriers to walking and biking in the City of Gahanna. Please take this survey to share your input.”
MORPC Complete Streets
“The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is currently seeking public comment and review on drafts of two critical regional transportation funding policies: the Policies for Managing MORPC-Attributable Transportation Funding and the MORPC Complete Streets Policy. Public comments on both policy drafts will be accepted through Friday, February 23, 2024…For more information or to review the draft policies and provide comments, visit www.morpc.org/funding. Comments may be submitted via email to tip@morpc.org or in writing to Nick Gill, Transportation Study Director, 111 Liberty Street, Suite 100, Columbus, OH, 43215, by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024”
Save the Date
(Saturday 3/2/2024 11:00am-1:00pm) Eastland Community Plan feedback opportunity: “Join us to continue the conversation on the Eastland Community Plan by attending our second Public Meeting on Saturday, March 2nd. Now is the time to envision a new future for the Eastland area, one that is equitable and prosperous for everyone. We need your voice and your ideas to make that happen. Be part of the planning process to create the roadmap for the future of your community.”
(3/9/24 9am-12pm) It's time to kick butt, Columbus! Cigarette butt, that is!
In Case You Missed It
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.
Upper Arlington Public Library workers are forming a union. Tell the UA Library board to recognize their union!
(Climate Survey: 5-10 minutes) “We would like to hear your thoughts!! Recently, the EPA provided funding through a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to improve energy security and decrease climate air pollution in the Central Ohio Region. Based on your area's initial feedback and others throughout the region we have developed some potential climate pollution reduction strategies to reduce the effects of emissions on our climate.”
(Housing Survey: 5-10 minutes) “The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has launched its latest survey in the “Leaders Listen” series, in partnership with Measurement Resources Company and The Columbus Dispatch, to gauge Central Ohio residents’ opinions on experiences and services related to housing in the region.”
(2 minutes) Tell your elected officials to stop highway expansions! “A coalition of 200 organizations nationwide is calling on elected leaders to adopt a moratorium on expanding highways and a pause on existing projects until climate, equity, and maintenance goals are met. Tell your elected leaders to end the destructive, unsustainable practice of highway building and set a responsible course toward a cleaner and more equitable future.”
Have a great day everyone, hopefully I’ll see some of you tomorrow at the Transit Columbus meeting!