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Record of Proceedings

Columbus Area MPO Policy Board Meeting - May 11, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, May 11, 2026
BodyColumbus, Indiana
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, May 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:02

And he was like, Do you remember the place we went to and got pizza?

0:06

It was in Indianapolis and it had a big staircase.

0:10

And we're like, we're going to have to make her all these places.

0:17

And I was like, well, they don't have a staircase, I'm like, we're trying to think, we're trying to think.

0:22

My daughter needs her album.

0:24

She's home at last weeks.

0:27

She's like, oh, I'm back.

0:29

They're like, ah, the wheel.

0:31

I was like, that's not any bad plus.

0:33

That's a ball in your level.

0:35

Yeah, it's like you're thinking 20 minutes feels like 40 or whatever.

0:40

So yeah, any time we go over to Franklin meeting.

0:54

They didn't IOS in Franklin.

0:57

Have you ever been to IS?

0:59

It's an attire restaurant down from Indianapolis.

1:02

And um it's kinda hard to get in there without reservations.

1:07

But that's not one of the things.

1:10

They left a lot of their food places.

1:15

You have a quorum, so it is just great.

1:23

So Mary told me she wasn't coming.

1:26

But the other two were so.

1:40

I mean it's uh the world.

1:43

Yeah, I hate it.

1:48

They also have a really good view selection for a pair as small as that.

2:58

I don't see him.

3:08

Go for it.

3:13

Okay, good afternoon.

3:15

Welcome to the Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board meeting.

3:19

Uh today is Monday, night eleven, twenty twenty-six.

3:23

Uh welcome everyone today.

3:24

We will begin with Rome call Becky.

3:38

Dennis Browdy from the City Planning Commission.

3:40

Okay.

3:49

And you need to be gonna welcome Tom Dale to join us.

4:01

Okay, first up it'd be the minutes from our previous meeting on February 9th, 2026.

4:07

Any additions or corrections to adminutes?

4:10

They look fine to me, so I'd move for approval.

4:14

And a motion by Dennis.

4:16

Second by Tom Dell.

4:18

All those in favor of approving the minutes of February 9th say aye.

4:24

Motion carries.

4:34

Danny, would you like to begin?

4:36

Sure.

4:38

Uh we're working on the right of way of the wall bridge and 325 west intersection projects.

4:47

Um we're waiting on the uh draft fire metal to be approved.

5:00

Um that's uh kind of hold up right now, but uh we're hoping we get it moving.

5:07

And then other section of all isn't on this section, so it's a domino effect if we don't get this one moving.

5:16

Um bridge is coming along, uh still in its early stages, so it's not far enough into it to have delays, I guess.

5:29

So uh okay.

5:36

Any questions for Danny?

5:41

Andrew, uh we've gotten 42 of the 46 parcels secured and file condemnation on the other four.

5:52

Um so hopefully we get that resolved and get right away clear, and then the emergency vehicle creation project uh pre-construction meeting was today for that.

6:01

So hopefully single seat contractors out here with human board.

6:09

Any questions for Andrew?

6:13

Uh thank you both.

6:15

Uh that takes us to the MPO manager's report, Ashley.

6:19

Yeah, um, the main thing that the MPO has been working on since our last meeting is the MTP.

6:24

We've been working with our consultant Kimley Horn.

6:26

Um, that's on schedule, and here in a little bit, I'll give you kind of a project update of that.

6:31

Um, I also have as always our uh tip changes report.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████52%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████████████████35%
Procedural██████7%
Active Transportation███4%
Fiscal Sustainability██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Columbus Area MPO Policy Board Meeting - May 11, 2026

Overview

The Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Board met on Monday, May 11, 2026, at approximately 6:30 PM. The meeting covered routine approvals, project updates, several resolutions including amendments to the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and a presentation on crash data and the ongoing MTP update. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the minutes from the February 9, 2026, meeting was moved by Dennis and seconded by Tom Dell. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote.

Discussion Items

  • Project Updates: City engineers Danny and Andrew provided updates. Danny reported on the right-of-way work for the Wall Bridge and 325 West intersection projects, noting delays due to pending approval of a fire metal (likely a typo for 'federal' or 'final' document) that is causing a domino effect. Andrew updated on the Tally Road project: 42 of 46 parcels have been secured, with condemnation filed on the remaining four. The pre-construction meeting for the Emergency Vehicle Creation Project occurred that same day.
  • MPO Manager Report: Ashley presented the TIP changes report, noting administrative modifications including clearer listing of transit maintenance projects and funding adjustments for the Tally Road right-of-way project due to receiving more funds than anticipated.
  • Resolution 2026-02 – Amendment to 2045 MTP (West Side Connector): Ashley explained the change renames the existing State Road 11 Alternate project to West Side Connector because INDOT will not build it; the city intends to pursue it via a BUILD grant. The road connection remains desired by the MPO and is in the city's comprehensive plan. The resolution passed with a motion by Tom Dill and second.
  • Resolutions 2026-03 and 2026-04 – I-65 Bridge Project: Representatives from INDOT (a project manager and Nicole Bredding) presented. The project involves widening the I-65 bridge over State Road 46 to six lanes, reconfiguring the interchange, addressing flooding, and replacing the current cantilevered structure. The exact design is undetermined; a consultant will be hired to analyze options, with an alternative delivery method likely. The estimated costs are conservative and may evolve. The city requested a working group to coordinate with INDOT, which was agreed to. Resolution 2026-03 adds the project to the MTP, and 2026-04 adds funding phases to the TIP. Both passed by voice vote.
  • Crash Data and MTP Update: Ashley presented crash data from 2025 and a trend analysis (2020-2024). Total crashes were about 1,400, with four fatalities (down from 11 the prior year). Crash locations and severity were mapped, with US 31 intersections and city locations like Central and Rocky Ford identified as high-crash areas. The Safe Roads for All (SS4A) plan, adopted by the city, contributed to the analysis. Ashley then previewed the draft MTP, which separates projects into roadway, bike/ped, safety, bridge, and transit categories. A scoring system was used to prioritize projects into short-term (TIP), mid-term (2031-2040), and long-term (2041-2050) bands. The draft is due that day, with staff review, a 30-day comment period in June, and a proposed adoption at the July 13 meeting. Board members asked about school bus accidents, effects of newer vehicle safety features, classification of fatal crashes, and the awkward bike crossing button at 7th Street and Central. One member also inquired about the impact of the potential gas tax holiday on INDOT budgets; the INDOT representatives confirmed they have examined it and there will likely be an effect.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous approval of the February 9, 2026, meeting minutes.
  • Unanimous adoption of Resolution 2026-02, amending the MTP to rename State Road 11 Alternate to West Side Connector.
  • Unanimous adoption of Resolution 2026-03, adding the I-65 bridge project to the MTP.
  • Unanimous adoption of Resolution 2026-04, adding the I-65 bridge project funding phases to the TIP.
  • The MTP draft is expected to be completed internally by staff in May, followed by a public comment period in June, with a vote on adoption at the July 13, 2026, meeting.

Meeting Transcript

And he was like, Do you remember the place we went to and got pizza? It was in Indianapolis and it had a big staircase. And we're like, we're going to have to make her all these places. And I was like, well, they don't have a staircase, I'm like, we're trying to think, we're trying to think. My daughter needs her album. She's home at last weeks. She's like, oh, I'm back. They're like, ah, the wheel. I was like, that's not any bad plus. That's a ball in your level. Yeah, it's like you're thinking 20 minutes feels like 40 or whatever. So yeah, any time we go over to Franklin meeting. They didn't IOS in Franklin. Have you ever been to IS? It's an attire restaurant down from Indianapolis. And um it's kinda hard to get in there without reservations. But that's not one of the things. They left a lot of their food places. You have a quorum, so it is just great. So Mary told me she wasn't coming. But the other two were so. I mean it's uh the world. Yeah, I hate it. They also have a really good view selection for a pair as small as that. I don't see him. Go for it. Okay, good afternoon. Welcome to the Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board meeting. Uh today is Monday, night eleven, twenty twenty-six. Uh welcome everyone today. We will begin with Rome call Becky. Dennis Browdy from the City Planning Commission. Okay. And you need to be gonna welcome Tom Dale to join us. Okay, first up it'd be the minutes from our previous meeting on February 9th, 2026. Any additions or corrections to adminutes? They look fine to me, so I'd move for approval. And a motion by Dennis. Second by Tom Dell. All those in favor of approving the minutes of February 9th say aye. Motion carries. Danny, would you like to begin? Sure. Uh we're working on the right of way of the wall bridge and 325 west intersection projects. Um we're waiting on the uh draft fire metal to be approved. Um that's uh kind of hold up right now, but uh we're hoping we get it moving. And then other section of all isn't on this section, so it's a domino effect if we don't get this one moving. Um bridge is coming along, uh still in its early stages, so it's not far enough into it to have delays, I guess. So uh okay. Any questions for Danny?

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