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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;">April 23, 2024</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%;">Second transit study open house scheduled for April 23 at Wabash Bus Station</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - Olsson, consultants for the City of Columbia Public Works department, are continuing to conduct a comprehensive study to identify ways to improve Go COMO, Columbia's transit provider. As part of that study, representatives from Olsson will hold a second open house meeting Tuesday, April 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wabash Bus Station, 126 N. Tenth St. <br /><br />This meeting provides the public with an opportunity to explore various alternatives for the future of Go COMO transit service, as presented by the consultants. A previous open house meeting was held Nov. 14, 2024, when consultants had presented an initial assessment of the system and collected feedback on opportunities, challenges and preferences for public transit service in Columbia. The presentation from the previous open house is available for download at <a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://beheard.como.gov/columbia-transi
t-study">BeHeard.CoMo.gov/Columbia-transit-study</a>.<br /><br />Like the previous meeting, this open house will have no formal presentation, allowing attendees to come and go as their schedule allows. The project team will walk participants through project materials 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>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>Determining ways to increase transit service and ridership</li>
<li>The evaluation of funding mechanisms and partnership opportunities</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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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 />Public comments will be accepted through the end of the day Tuesday, May 7, and can be submitted at the public open house, through the BeHeardCoMo website at <a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://beheard.como.gov/columbia-transit-study">BeHeard.CoMo.gov/Columbia-transit-study</a> and by email to Shawn Strate, senior transportation planner with Olsson, at sstrate@olsson.com.<br /><br />Olsson plans to hold a final public meeting during the summer of 2024. The transit study is expected to conclude in September.<br /><br /><em>Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to disability, please call 573.874
.CITY (2489) or email City@CoMo.gov. 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.</em></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. Tenth St." target="_blank">126 N. Tenth St.</a></div>
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