Ocala/Marion County TPO request public input

File photo: Motorists drive on Southwest College Road near the Heath Brook Commons shopping center in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

A kick-off meeting to outline the Ocala Marion County Long-Range Transportation Plan for 2050 took place April 23 with a variety of local representatives, county staff, elected officials and TPO speakers.  A public survey webpage is now live online, and TPO staffers encourage people to voice their opinions and offer input into the transportation needs for the area.

The survey asks for basic demographic information, transportation habits and then asks for input on areas that need improvement.

A key element in long-rang planning, said William Roll, a senior project manager with Kimley-Horn and Associates, is the forecast for a big population increase in Marion County. The group uses population estimates, and they reported a projected population of 422,00 in 2025.

For 2050, its “medium-high” estimate is 559,000.

Transportation is not just roads and cars, the organization reminded attendees. Plans for bike paths, public transportation/buses, multi-modal paths and pedestrian walkways are some of the elements that affect an area’s transit efficiencies.

Representatives from various county municipalities included City of Dunnellon Tim Inskeep; City of Ocala Councilmember Ira Bethea; Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano; Marion County Commissioners Matt McClain, Craig Curry and Chair Michelle Stone; and the meeting was led by TPO Board Chair and City Councilmember Kristen Dreyer.

Curry asked about the impact of tourists and visitors to the estimates and planning. Roll replied that seasonal residents and resulting traffic changes are included in the group’s plans.

Stone encouraged public participation in the survey and upcoming public meetings. “We need your feedback as we plan our future,” she said.

The TPO staff is available to speak at group meetings. A community open house meeting is slated for September and details will be published when they are available.

According to the TPO website, “The Ocala Marion County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is a federally mandated agency responsible for coordinating transportation projects, including highway, transit, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, aviation and paratransit, throughout the county. The TPO allocates federal transportation funds and works to improve the region’s transportation system by developing a variety of plans and programs.”

The main TPO website is at: ocalamariontpo.org

Additionally, a focused webpage about this project is at storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c88b20f1d8e74c5f96dd7fdc9f98a5c3 and includes an interactive map for input on specific intersections or areas of concern. The public is encouraged to offer feedback.