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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 105%;">CITY OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI<br />P.O. BOX 6015 COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<h2 style="font-size: 200%;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h2>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">April 13, 2017</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 75px; font-size: 120%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Drew Brooks
<br />Transit & Parking Manager
<br />(573) 874-2489</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:200%;"><h3 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 170%;">COMO Connect to hold open house and bus stop Meetings on April 20</h3>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The City of Columbia invites the public to attend a public open house and bus stop meetings on Thursday, April 20 for the</span><a href="https://www.comoconnect.org/get-involved/public-transit-consultants/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">COMO Bus Service Evaluation Project</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. During the meetings, the public will be able to review and comment on exhibits that describe a series of transit improvement scenarios for the community. Anyone with an interest in the City's transit system is encouraged to attend. There will be no fare charges for all fixed routes and para-transit rides. Shuttles will be available to take remaining attendees home after bus service ends at 8 p.m. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Staff from the City and consultant team will be present to listen to comments and answer questions. Due to the open house structure of the event, attendees do not have to stay for the entire duration. No formal presentations will be provided, so community members are welcome to stop by during any of the scheduled meetings described below.<br /><br /></span></p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>MEETING SCHEDULE</strong></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Public Open House</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Thursday, April 20</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>6 to 8 p.m.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">City Hall, Conference Room 1A</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">701 E. Broadway</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bus Stop Meetings</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Meetings will be held at the bus shelters near the indicated locations.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Thursday, April 20</strong></div>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>8 to 9:20 a.m.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia/Boone County</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Public Health and Human</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Services Department</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1005 W. Broadway</span></p>
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<p><strong><br />8:15 to 9:45 a.m.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Resource Center</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">1500 Vandiver Drive</span></p>
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<p><strong>10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MU Student Center</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">911 E. Rollins Street</span></p>
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<p><strong> 2:45 to 4:15 p.m.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hy-Vee</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 25 Conley Road (Trimble Road bus shelter)</span></p>
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<p><strong>3 to 4 p.m.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daniel Boone Regional</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Public Library</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">100 W. Broadway</span></p>
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<p><strong>4:15 to 5:15 p.m.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Walmart</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">3001 W. Broadway <br />(Park De Ville Road bus shelter)</span></p>
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<p><strong><br />Background</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The City is developing the</span><a href="https://www.comoconnect.org/get-involved/public-transit-consultants/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">COMO Bus Service Evaluation Project</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to ensure that the bus system provides efficient service and meets the needs of community members. The evaluation began during the winter of 2016 and will continue through this spring. During the process, the evaluation team studied the steps taken to implement the recommendations of the 2014 COMO Connect Project. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The current COMO Connect system relies on two core connector routes (1 Black and 2 Gold) with high frequency service and buses traveling in both directions. It also offers nine smaller neighborhood routes (3-11) with lower frequency and a bus traveling in only one direction. The City is coordinating the April 20 meetings, so community members may share thoughts, questions or concerns about transit improvement scenarios.</span></p>
<p><strong>Additional Information</strong></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">For more information about the</span><a href="https://www.comoconnect.org/get-involved/public-transit-consultants/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">COMO Bus Service Evaluation Project</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, contact Drew Brooks, Transit & Parking Manager, City of Columbia, at </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drew.Brooks@CoMo.gov </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">or 573-874-2489</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. You may also visit the</span><a href="https://www.comoconnect.org/get-involved/public-transit-consultants/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Get Involved</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> page of</span><a href="https://www.comoconnect.org/get-involved/public-transit-consultants/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">COMOConnect.org</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Follow the project on Twitter</span><a href="https://twitter.com/COMOConnect"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">@
COMOConnect</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/COMO-Bus-Service-Evaluation-1523732664307371/?fref=ts"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> at</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/COMO-Bus-Service-Evaluation-1523732664307371/?fref=ts"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">COMO Bus Service Evaluation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and use our hashtag: COMOConnect.</span></div>
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