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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">November 8, 2023</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: John Ogan
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />Public Works
<br />City of Columbia
<br />John.Ogan@CoMo.gov
<br />573.239.1837</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Transit study open house scheduled for Nov. 14 at Wabash Bus Station</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - A comprehensive study is currently underway to identify ways to improve Go COMO, Columbia's transit provider. Conducted by Olsson, consultants for the City of Columbia Public Works department, the study began in August 2023 and is expected to be completed in September 2024. Opportunities for residents to provide input will be available throughout the study.<br /><br />The first public open house where residents can provide input will take place Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wabash Bus Station, 126 N. Tenth St. The meeting will be an opportunity for the public to give feedback on the challenges facing transit in Columbia and will help to further define the project's priorities. <br /><br />This meeting will be an open house format with no formal presentation, allowing attendees to come and go from the meeting as their schedule allows. The project team will walk participants through
the study approach and facilitate interactive exercises to obtain input and ideas from participants.<br /><br />Goals of the study include:<br /><br />
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<li>Determining ways to increase transit service and ridership</li>
<li>The evaluation of funding mechanisms and partnership opportunities</li>
<li>Conducting a comprehensive operations analysis to identify ways to improve service efficiency, technology, staffing, facilities and other aspects of transit operations</li>
<li>Through community engagement, establishing the goals for public transit and metrics to track progress toward these goals over time</li>
<li>A review of policies and opportunities for transit-oriented development and integration with other modes of transportation, both locally and regionally</li>
<li>Addressing the potential for flexible, on-demand micro-transit services as a potential method for growth. Micro-transit refers to on-demand, flexible transportation services that typically use small vehicles to transport passengers within a localized area, often bridging the gap between public transit and personal transportation options.</li>
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Comments received at the public open house and at the BeHeardCoMo website at <a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://beheard.como.gov/columbia-transit-study">BeHeard.CoMo.gov/Columbia-transit-study</a> will guide the development of plans to improve existing routes and expand services in the future. <br /><br />Multiple modes of transit will be reviewed for applicability, including fixed-route bus service, micro-transit and regional commuter services. Evaluation of potential alternatives will consider the numerous benefits and drawbacks of each and will rely heavily on feedback from stakeholders and the Columbia community.<br /><br />Additional public meetings will be held in the spring and summer of 2024 as the study progresses. These future meetings will be focused on reviewing study materials as they are being developed by the project team to ensure the plan meets public needs and expectations. <br /><br />Comments resulting from this first round of public eng
agement will be accepted on BeHeardCoMo through the end of the day Tuesday, Nov. 28. Comments or questions can also be submitted to the project manager with Olsson, Shawn Strate, Senior Transportation Planner, at <a style="white-space:nowrap" href="mailto:sstrate@olsson.com">sstrate@olsson.com</a>.<br /><br />Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to disability, please call 573.874.CITY (2489) or email <a style="white-space:nowrap" href="mailto:City@CoMo.gov">City@CoMo.gov</a>. In order to assist staff in making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in advance of the posted meeting date as possible.</div>
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<div class="content"><strong>Location:</strong> <a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://gocolumbiamo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=62b0c3219184457b88d19cf44ce1f4a3&find=126 N 10th St" target="_blank">126 N 10th St</a></div>
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<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
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<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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