Consejo de Gobiernos del Condado de Madison

One of the requirements of an MPO is to maintain a Public Participation Plan that is updated every 3 years. We have recently updated this document and a draft will be available for public comment. The public comment period will begin Monday, April 19, 2021 and ends on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 4:00 pm. The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 2nd from 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm via www.GoToMeeting.com. The meeting access code is 369-736-973. Attendees may also access the meeting via phone at (312) 757-3121. Questions and public input regarding these documents will be duly noted and included in the Appendix of the final documents. The hearing will be held by electronic means only and no persons will be physically present. If any member of the public wishes to attend the meeting electronically, the meeting will be available using the information above. The Public Participation Plan is available for public review online at www.heartlandmpo.org from a link on the home page. Hard copies of this document may also be requested formally in writing to David Benefiel, 739 Main Street, Anderson, Indiana 46016 prior to May 3, 2021. Oral or written comments and suggestions regarding this document may be submitted to the Anderson MPO through Wednesday, June 2nd until 4:00 PM. Submissions may also be sent to David Benefiel, Principal Transportation Planner at dave@heartlandmpo.org or by phone at (765) 640-4201. Persons with disabilities or non-English speaking persons who wish to attend the public hearing and need assistance should contact David Benefiel at least 48 hours prior to the hearing at (765) 640-4201 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Every effort will be made to make reasonable accommodations for these persons. It is the intent of the Anderson MPO to formally approve the Public Participation Plan at its regular Policy Board meeting on June 3, 2021 with the caveat that no additional public comment is received by the June 2, 2021 deadline that would require significant changes or amendments to the document.

The Clean Air Aware initiative is part of the services provided by the Madison County Council of Governments (MCCOG). The Clean Air Aware initiative focuses on improving air quality in the Indiana communities of Madison County, Fortville, and Daleville. The initiative’s purpose is educating these communities about the benefits of clean air and highlighting simple ways residents can improve air quality to better their environment, health, and economy. MCCOG is in the process of creating an informational display in their lobby to educate visitors on the importance of the Clean Air Aware program by highlighting air pollution issues, health risks, and mitigation measures. The exhibition will include posters, informational brochures, packets, and a full-size custom-designed bicycle rack. The MCCOG design team's bicycle rack pays homage to the Heartland Bikeways program the agency also runs. The Heartland Bikeways program entails bicycle trails developed in conjunction with MCCOG’s Madison County Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Plan, 2005-2015. The trails offer bicyclists the opportunity to explore the county’s rural farmlands, historical sites, and urban downtown areas. The inverted U-shaped design incorporates custom Clean Air Aware logos cut out in the metal panels and a spoked wheel at the top of the inverted U. The design drawings and specifications were done completely in-house by our design team and then sent to MoFab in Anderson to be fabricated. For more information about the Clean Air Aware initiative and ways you can help improve Madison County’s air quality, visit https://www.cleanairaware.com/ .

We are pleased to invite you to participate in an important update of the Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Plan for our INDOT coordinated planning region (Delaware, Madison, Henry, Wells, Grant, and Jay Counties). The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires projects selected for funding under Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program to be included in a coordinated plan. Agencies providing or utilizing transportation for older adults, individuals with disabilities, people with low incomes, and the general public should participate in the plan. A coordinated plan assesses mobility needs and gaps in transportation services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, people with low incomes, and the general public, then identifies projects that will meet these needs or close the gaps. This study was recently kicked off, and consultants from RLS & Associates, Inc. will soon begin collecting information from transportation providers in the region. The planning process will involve gathering stakeholder/public input, evaluating existing human service agency/public transportation services, and identifying barriers/gaps/challenges. These activities will provide a foundation for new coordinated transportation goals and strategies to guide us through the next four to five years. To gather public input for the plan, please consider participating in a short survey located at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Indiana_Transportation Thank you in advance for your consideration and willingness to participate in this important planning effort!

Analyzing community health can provide insight to changes in quality of life. Research has shown that where you live, work, and play impacts your overall health because the built environment influences individual choices for living an active lifestyle. Shaping the built environment to encourage more people to walk or bike can positively impact both individual and community health. Acknowledging the importance of health, MCCOG conducted a Health Impact Assessment to identify major health trends and measure health disparities across the Anderson Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA). A Health Impact Assessment or HIA is a tool that considers potential positive and negative health impacts as part of the decision-making process for plans, projects, and policies. HIAs identify health trends, disparities, and impacts by relying on scientific data, expertise, and community input. Health impacts can be further analyzed within specific areas or population groups. For government organizations and agencies, HIAs are important because they provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to increase positive health effects and mitigate negative health effects within the analysis jurisdiction. Overall, HIAs are an important tool for building in a healthy, sustainable, and equitable manner.