MCCOG

Markleville Community Park Trail Project

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 17:28:35 GMT

Markleville, IN Gets a Trail!

The Madison County Council of Governments (MCCOG) is partnering with the Town of Markleville to implement a long-awaited improvement to the town’s beloved Community Park. The town has officially launched an exciting new project aimed at transforming the park into a more inclusive, accessible, and engaging public space.

At the heart of the project is a newly designed 1/8-mile walking and biking trail, an outdoor classroom and gathering area nestled among native trees and strategically placed seating for relaxation and learning. The project is intentionally designed with children and families in mind. Construction began in July 2025 and is expected to wrap up by spring 2026.

MCCOG is proud to support the Town of Markleville in bringing this vision to life. We believe this project will enhance daily living, and we look forward to seeing this space grow into a hub for activity, learning, and connections for years to come. South Madison Community Foundation, Community Hospital, Open Hearts Open Purses, and Charlie’s Fund for Children made this project possible with their generous grants.

Hoosier Travel Counts Survey Launches

ryan@heartlandmpo.org — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:01:45 GMT

Understanding travel trends & system needs

Our regional transportation survey is underway! As travel behaviors change and technologies evolve over the next few years, transportation planners will use the survey data to guide future transportation investments and prioritize improvements for a more efficient transportation system.

At least 5,700 households in the Central Indiana region are expected to participate in the survey between now and November. Households will be randomly invited by U.S. mail to participate in the survey and are strongly encouraged to complete the survey to help Central Indiana plan for a transportation system that meets their needs.

If you’ve received an invitation to participate in the Hoosier Travel Counts Survey , please visit the survey website to learn more and complete the survey. If you haven’t received an invitation yet, please keep an eye on your mailbox!

Direct any questions to help@hoosiertravelcounts.com .

Mini Roundabout Pilot Project

ryan@heartlandmpo.org — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:40:55 GMT

Testing a temporary safety project

MCCOG, with Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is testing a mini roundabout in the town of Pendleton. The proposed undertaking is at the intersection of Pendleton Avenue and High Street. The project will install a temporary mini roundabout within the existing edge of curb. As a temporary project, it is anticipated to use modular materials rather than concrete and must be removed under the FHWA grant requirements.

The purpose of the project is to test the feasibility of a mini roundabout as an alternative intersection control tool for addressing safety and mobility issues in constrained urban locations. Mini roundabouts are designed with a low center island, which provides deflection for passenger cars while allowing large vehicles like semis and buses to drive over them when turning.

As part of the design and environmental review process, the 800.11 Documentation and Effect Finding has been prepared and is available for public comment. The document can be viewed in the link below:

Elevate Elwood 2035

john@heartlandmpo.org — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:24:53 GMT

Award Winning Plans

The award-winning Elevate Elwood 2035 Plan is now available on the Madison County Council of Governments’ (MCCOG’s) website. The plan consists of three components: a comprehensive plan, thoroughfare plan, and uptown area plan. The Elevate Elwood 2035 Plan was recognized for its cohesive components and unique public engagement strategies at the 2023 Indiana MPO Conference and was awarded both Outstanding Planning Project and Outstanding Public Engagement. Each plan is designed to guide the city’s decision makers now as well as in the future in what will best elevate the City of Elwood based on what improvements citizens want to see made.

The comprehensive plan was the first component adopted in 2022 as a part of the Elevate Elwood 2035 planning process because it was funded by an Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant, which has a specific timetable and requirements for completion. The comprehensive plan establishes a vision for the city’s overall future and a roadmap for decision-making through evaluating extensive existing conditions, analyzing public input, and providing various recommendations according to these existing conditions and public input. The uptown area and thoroughfare plans were both adopted following the comprehensive plan in 2023. The uptown area plan focuses on Uptown Elwood’s existing conditions and how they can be improved, specifically in terms of architectural design and economic development. The thoroughfare plan focuses on the city’s transportation network and provides key analyses by reviewing existing issues and projecting potential problems. The Elevate Elwood 2035 planning effort would not have been possible without the continued support of the Comprehensive Planning Committee and the citizens of Elwood.

Elwood citizens were given many opportunities to make their voices heard throughout the development for each component of the Elevate Elwood 2035 Plan. During the comprehensive plan development process, citizens filled out a public survey, chatted with planning team members at public meetings, played input-gathering games, and interacted with social media posts. The primary opportunity for citizens to share their input for both the uptown area and thoroughfare plans was during a design charrette public workshop. City residents, designers, local stakeholders, and other creative thought leaders gathered in a collaborative session to propose potential solutions for improving both the city’s transportation network and Uptown Elwood, while designers sketched these solutions in real time. Special thanks to Elwood residents, city officials, and stakeholders for contributing to each component of the Elevate Elwood 2035 Plan.

Check out where the City of Elwood has been, where it is now, and where it’s going by reading the Elevate Elwood 2035 Plan Here

Public Participation Plan Update

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 20:18:47 GMT

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.

Clean Air Aware Bicycle Rack

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 01:24:27 GMT

The Clean Air Aware Initiative

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/ .

Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 18:37:21 GMT

Invitation to Participate

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!

Health + Planning

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:33:45 GMT

Considering health, planning, and equity in the Anderson MPA

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.

Step 2: Health Vulnerability Index (HVI)

Though the health trends identify county-wide health concerns, there is little to no data available at smaller geographies. The HVI was developed to highlight potentially high-risk health areas at the census tract level. The index combines socio-economic attributes that research indicates represent populations who are typically linked to higher rates of health issues like persons over 65, minorities, and persons below the poverty threshold. Generally, the HVI highlights areas in downtown and west Anderson, as well as north Madison County.

Step 3: Combining Access & Vulnerability

Overlaying the HVI with the Walk-Access Tool reveals areas that could potentially provide the greatest health improvements from investment in active infrastructure (ie sidewalks, bike lanes, & trails) or efforts to attract under-represented destination types.

For example, the following map highlights poor grocery access in the highly vulnerable area of Anderson located west of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and south of SR 32. In this case, it is due to both the unavailability of a store and poor sidewalk connectivity along Raible Avenue. What this illustrates is that concentrating sidewalk connections and efforts to attract a new grocery in that area could have significant impacts to improving community health.

This HIA represents our first step toward more formally integrating health, and specifically health equity, into the planning process. Though it has been overlooked in the past, community health is a vital component that should be considered to ensure plans, projects, policies, and programs are equitable. By focusing on the most vulnerable locations first, the overall level of community health can be greatly improved. Through this process, MCCOG has seen that using tools like an HIA should be more routine at all levels of planning and is working to expand our partnerships with public and private health professionals to continue building on this initial effort.

To see the full HIA, visit our Transportation Planning Team's resources .

Best Practices IN Planning

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 19:01:17 GMT

Nuisance Laws

Welcome back to the Land Use & Design team’s #BestPracticesINPlanning series! In this post, we will be discussing where nuisance laws originated from and why they are important in community planning.

Community planning is based on public interests, so citizens engage in planning processes to ensure the needs of their whole community are considered, and not just those that benefit individuals. There is some flexibility when the use of individual land is given up in exchange for creating a community where all citizens’ interests are considered.

Emphasizing public interests in community planning is underpinned in English tort law whose main tenet states that “a man shall not use his property so as to harm another.” This law remained within the United States through the American Revolution and evolved over time into the concept of nuisance laws.

Early common laws classified a person as causing a “nuisance” to a neighbor when one’s ownership and enjoyment of their property caused unwarranted interference with another’s ownership and enjoyment of their property. Nuisances could be common, private, or a mix of the two depending on the scope of the issues. Early examples include operating smokestacks or dust emerging from factories harming all citizens of a community.

Eventually, this loosely defined concept of nuisance law became what we now know as zoning. The concept of single-use zoning, otherwise known as Euclidean Zoning, was established in New York City as a constitutional use of the government’s police powers in 1926. Since then, Euclidean Zoning has been the dominant system for establishing land uses in much of the United States.

Since zoning affects all members of a community, it is our job at MCCOG to serve the public’s interests and represent their will to decision makers so both the interests of individuals and the needs of the community at large are taken into account.

2045 inMotion - Regional Exhibition

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 19:17:19 GMT

Join the conversation from your couch!

MCCOG is excited to announce the draft release of 2045 inMotion, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) for the Anderson Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA). This document is the culmination of over 18-months gathering public input and analyzing data to create a framework for investing in the transportation system over the next 25 years.

Community members are invited to join the online Regional Exhibition to provide input virtually through the process website. Participants can review a brief version of the action list, including infrastructure projects and non-infrastructure programs, policies, and plans. Feedback on the actions, the draft, and the process can be provided directly on the Regional Exhibition page to be reviewed and incorporated into the final document.

The web page and comment period will remain open from September 1 through September 30, 2020. The draft will be up for adoption by the Anderson MPO Policy Board at the October 1 meeting following the official public hearing scheduled from 7 to 8 pm on Wednesday, September 30.

2045 inMotion has included robust regional public engagement since March 2019 to inform the final plan. This plan will act as a guide for the future of roadways, bridges, sidewalks, trails, bike lanes, transit, and freight facilities across the Anderson MPA and how they function as an integrated transportation system.

Prior to COVID-19, Destination 2045: a community summit on the region’s future was held to test the initial direction and discuss local and regional transportation issues. Participants reflected on a series of survey questions related to land use, growth, development, and transportation (derived from earlier rounds of engagement—the Mobility Conversations—held in communities throughout the MPA) to help define what community members desire the transportation system to look like in the future. Although plans to continue seeking input from the community were slowed during the pandemic, MCCOG and regional leaders are continuing the process through the Regional Exhibition online survey.

This is an important final step in gathering ideas and perspectives from community members, key stakeholders, and elected officials on how we can improve our communities. We want as many people as possible to be heard and to participate in the long-term blueprint and investment strategy for our region.

More Than Mapping - Parcel Soil Assessment

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:56:45 GMT

In this week’s #MorethanMapping post, we will explore one of the many ways GIS is utilized in parcel assessment. One of the many factors that determines the value of farmland is the Soil type. Depending the quality of the soil, each soil classification carries a different valuation rate.

In the past, Assessors used paper maps to determine the area of each soil type within a parcel. GIS has not only simplified the process, but also made it much more accurate. Soil acreage can be calculated to the millionth decimal place. The Soil Survey data is downloaded from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Services-Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) and intersected with the most current parcel information. A new ‘Soils by Parcel’ layer is created and references the Parcel database, using the State PIN number. In order to streamline this process, a Model containing all the steps was created in GIS. Once changes are made to the parcels, the Model will ‘run’ the intersecting process again and recalculate the sum of soil acres within each parcel.

The parcel and related soil data are then uploaded to an online map.

The Assessor enters the PIN # and a table of soil types and acreage for that parcel is displayed below. This soil breakdown is then calculated and used for the assessed value of farmland. The Soil Value computation is available on the Property Card for each agricultural parcel.

Parcels within Madison County can be viewed by clicking the GIS Mapping link on the Home page of this website

To find out more information about soil types, go to the NRCS Soil Survey website: HERE

USGS.gov

Best Practices in Planning

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 12:01:19 GMT

Jeffersonville, Indiana

Welcome to our new ongoing series #BestPracticesINPlanning! The Land Use & Design team will be discussing different best practices in community planning specific to Madison County and Indiana based on the Indiana Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Citizens’ Planning Guide. Thoughtful planning is important for fostering and sustaining prosperous communities.

Communities all over the United States have been laid out according to plans since the earliest settlements, including Jeffersonville, Indiana. Even though Jeffersonville is outside Madison County near the Kentucky border, its history demonstrates how planning for communities’ specific needs is important.

Jeffersonville was originally laid out by Thomas Jefferson in 1802. The plan contained a checkerboard pattern of undeveloped and subdivided squares to create permanent open spaces. Permanent open spaces were important to Thomas Jefferson, because they would help deter the spread of Yellow Fever. Jefferson’s plan allowed for large commercial uses along the Ohio River that helped Indiana assert trade dominance in the region. However, land speculators found the plan inhibiting, so the Indiana legislature authorized replatting the land in 1816. The replatting allowed for selling more housing to settlers moving west, creating better access to the Ohio River, and establishing the Indiana Canal Company. The original grid pattern is still fundamental to Jeffersonville, but the replatting suited its practical realistic needs and allowed the city to grow organically.

Madison County has also grown organically since its founding in 1823. The county was named after James Madison, even though the fourth president was not directly involved in planning it like Thomas Jefferson was in planning Jeffersonville. Madison County’s growth is attributed to reactions to various events in its history.

The City of Anderson was formed into a small village when a trading post was established in the early 1830’s. Anderson remained a small village until the early 1850’s when the Indianapolis Bellefontaine Railroad arrived, which prompted the village to expand. Anderson expanded even more when natural gas was discovered in 1887, leading to the Gas Boom and following Gas Bust in 1912. General Motors (GM) and other automobile manufacturers arrived in the 1920’s following the Gas Bust, which provided many employment opportunities for county residents until the early 2000’s. However, relying so heavily on this single industry led to a sharp economic decline when GM ceased all operations in 2008.

Jeffersonville demonstrates there is a distinction between idealized planning like Jefferson’s plan, and the practical realistic planning like the speculators’ replatting. Madison County demonstrates that planners must find balances to better and sustain their communities. Practical realistic planning is essential for giving community residents what they want, fostering efficient land uses, and promoting economic development. Today, we still face similar pressures and problems with planning communities as we did 200 years ago. Planners understand our communities and their histories, so they are here to propel us into the future, including MCCOG’s Land Use & Design team!

More Than Mapping - Dashboards

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 00:50:15 GMT

Content Delivery

In this week’s #MoreThanMapping post we will be looking at new dynamic ways to deliver data with maps, charts, gauges, and other visual tools. Within our mapping platform, we can create on-demand, real-time data dashboards that help monitor your organization’s activities and indicators. Our dashboards offer a comprehensive, engaging view of data to provide key insights for quick decision-making.

We are leveraging dashboards at MCCOG for:

- Utility Data

- Demographics

- Asset Management

- Election Results

- Health Data

- COVID Tracking

- Permit Tracking

- Crime Tracking

- And more!

These dashboards are fully customizable and used for many other data sources. Make sure to check out our examples of dashboards on the Projects & Resources page. If you have any questions or ideas about how to use a dashboard for your own business or organization, then reach out to our GIS & Mapping team to get started!

More Than Mapping - 3D Photos & Tours

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 22:43:42 GMT

For this week’s #MorethanMapping post we will be exploring 3D Photos and Tours, the newest imaging technology available at MCCOG. Using the Matterport platform allows us to use our 3D camera system to scan and create replicas of any physical space.

The Matterport platform creates digital assets as well as automatically stitches, makes color adjustments, and makes exposure adjustments, and more! With each scan you get:

• 3D Digital Twins

• 4K Photos

• Guided Video Tours

• 3D Point Cloud Files/PDF Floor Plans

Matterport also easily integrates with other platforms. After completing scans, you can choose to upload them to Google Streetview, Realtor.com, and other online 3D-consuming platforms. Each scanned space allows you to perform 3D measurements, extract floor plans, and create individual 4K images from the 3D photos.

Matterport offers us the possibilities to work with both private and public sectors of industries like:

• Real Estate

• Photography

• Insurance

• Restoration

• Architecture/Engineering/Construction

• Facilities Management

• Tourism & Hospitality

• Marketing

For more information about Matterport or project demos contact MCCOG’S GIS & Mapping team for more information or to set up a time that we can get you started!

For a look at our MCCOG office as an example, follow this link . Thanks!

More Than Mapping - Street View

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 00:35:47 GMT

Street Level Photography

In this week’s #MorethanMapping post, we will be covering how street-level imagery can help communities collect, manage, and analyze assets. GPS-enabled cameras mounted to vehicles allows teams to drive down roads, alleys, and other paths to capture high resolution images from all angles.

After capturing these images, they are uploaded to an online platform called Mapillary . The software stitches the images together to create a user experience similar to Google Earth or Streetview. Once the images are stitched together, they can be analyzed using AI to inventory signs, fire hydrants, curb conditions, pavement conditions, housing data, and other ground-based assets.

This technology allows local businesses, government entities, and safety personnel access to regularly updated street-level imagery in a world where technology is constantly changing and developing!

More Than Madison County

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 17:11:42 GMT

The Madison County Government Center

MCCOG’s Land Use & Design team designed some much-needed improvements to the Madison County Government Center. The government center had a failing rail system that was not up to code, which caused water to leak into the underground parking garage. Therefore, the project had two goals: redesign the railing system and make the site’s exterior more inviting.

People usually dread going to the government center, because they most likely have to go there for some reason instead of wanting to go there. Plus, the building’s exterior was extremely uninviting because its architectural style was a remnant of the brutalist style that plagued government buildings from the 1950s-1980s. MCCOG designed a more inviting exterior and solved the underground garage issues.

While inventorying the site, the design team noticed there was a temporary Christmas tree on display each year that high winds would knock over. This presented the opportunity for establishing a permanent location for the tree, providing a seating wall for people to wait for their rides, and displaying a symbol of the county’s natural resilience. The design team ensured the seat wall would drain towards the street with a ¾" crush stone pit diverting water from the underground garage and including a thick waterproofing membrane (in the garage?). Making the tree a permanent fixture was challenging because it was on top of the underground garage, but MCCOG made it happen!

The design team made both functional and aesthetic improvements to the railing outside the government center. They attached the railing to the front of the walls so it’s nearly impossible for water to penetrate unlike the previous top mount system. MCCOG wanted to give the railing some character, so the design team through multiple iterations developed the custom MC design constructed and installed by MoFab—a local fabrication shop in Anderson.

All these changes have created a much more inviting Madison County Government Center, but the site is still unfinished. Eventually, additional items will be installed such as a custom bike rack, colorful plants in containers, IPE wood covering the existing concrete benches, and a blue inlaid terrazzo path representing the White River guiding people to the building’s main entrance. MCCOG made these improvements for #MorethanMadisonCounty, because anyone who visits the government center should feel welcome in our county.

More Than Mapping - Drones

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 16:02:56 GMT

Content Collection

This week we dive into how MCCOG uses drones for video and photography to create 3D products.

Camera resolutions have advanced to 4K and beyond, so using drones for video collection has revolutionized how we capture data from above the ground.

Here are the ways we are using video from drones.

- Corridor Analysis

- Marketing Content

- Live Video Feeds

We can now fly over a corridor and render high megapixel images from anywhere throughout the flight. Rendering high quality images makes the remote image collection and post image data collection more efficient. Once these images are rendered, then the Transportation Planning and Land Use & Design Teams can use them for analysis and document creation.

Collecting videos from drones also allows MCCOG to capture unique perspectives for marketing content to attract people’s attention. We use drones to visually highlight projects, community assets, and landscapes in Madison County.

Finally, videos also give us the option to use live feeds through social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook. We can broadcast construction, community, and business events live to viewers through whatever platform they use.

Photography from a drone’s perspective is not groundbreaking technology; however, the technology is advancing in how the photos are used. MCCOG can create 3D products from gathering images and using our GIS platform through ESRI like 3D point clouds for surface analysis and 3D building models. Combining drone photography with GIS technology generates images with accurate elevation, vegetation, and change detection.

Drones allow MCCOG to do #MorethanMapping for Madison County through videos and photography. Be sure to come back next Monday for more about what the GIS & Mapping team can do!

New Paragraph

Landscape Design at MCCOG

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 11:50:20 GMT

Frankton, Indiana Emergency Drainage Issue

Enough is enough. There is an area in Frankton containing dramatic topography with a valley in the center where substantial runoff collects during rainstorms. This runoff floods adjacent property owners’ homes as a result. These property owners are stuck with standing water in their basements for several days after significant rainstorms.

These property owners and the Town of Frankton are fed up with this issue. Despite high expenses, Frankton met with an excavator about the project. Some of the affected property owners were concerned because they wanted to ensure the project would be done correctly. Larry Shively of the Frankton Town Council met with John Lavine MLA, the Land Use & Design Team manager from MCCOG, to find a solution. Lavine is a Graduate Landscape Architect who has dealt with stormwater management since 2007. He gained experience with stormwater management by constructing French drain systems, bioswales, and detention basins in New Mexico.

Thus, he drew plans for Frankton based on current best practices and stormwater runoff calculations. The design comprises a large water detention basin with a four-foot tall clay berm as well as an emergency spillway, large-diameter underground drain culverts, and above-ground swales. The system mitigates runoff by temporarily storing it then releasing it slowly, so it is diverted from the adjacent properties. Most of the time, the basin is an empty, large, grassy field until significant rainstorms when it functions as storage volume for the stormwater runoff. The Frankton Emergency Drainage Project is currently in progress and construction is underway!

MCCOG’s Land Use & Design Team offers design services for downtown revitalization, land use development, and stormwater management.

More Than Mapping

Mon, 18 May 2020 14:55:03 GMT

Series Introduction

We are thrilled to introduce a new blog series called More than Mapping launching over the next few weeks! Follow along as we look at the imaging products and services provided by the MCCOG GIS & Mapping team. More than Mapping will focus on 3 topics:

• Drone photography, video, and 3D products

• Street view photography and remote asset collection using AI

• 3D Photography and virtual tours

The first post will kick off next Monday, May 25th, so watch out for more imaging content every Monday until the series ends! For more information about MCCOG or the GIS & Mapping team, please visit our website here . #MorethanMapping

The Forward Madison County 2035 Comprehensive Plan is Wrapping Up

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 19:11:00 GMT

Stay up-to-date with the Plan @ www.forwardmadisoncounty.com !

The "Forward Madison County 2035" Comprehensive Plan public engagement and drafting processes are currently wrapping up. The plan is turning into action now! The Madison County Plan Commission unanimously recommended the plan to the Board of County Commissioners. This process has been a one-and-a-half year effort led by the Madison County Council of Governments in coordination with a Steering Committee as well as the public. The comprehensive plan will guide the county's growth and development for the next 15 years. It is our job to keep the plan alive and ensure its implementation. To find out more, please check out www.forwardmadisoncounty.com .

Destination 2045 Hosted at Anderson University

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:26:05 GMT

Keynote & Mobility Expert Gabe Klein Sets the Stage for Thinking About Region's Future

Over 75 community members gathered in early March at Destination 2045 Summit to establish a community-defined vision and mission for the Anderson Metropolitan Planning Area's long-range transportation plan. Participants at the Summit reflected on survey questions related to land use, growth, development, and transportation to define the region's present and desired future conditions. These questions were derived from the initial phase of public engagement including the inMotion Community Conversations, interceptor events at local organizations, interceptor events at local businesses, focus group discussions, and online activities. Previous community engagement included the “inMotion Community Conversations”, interceptor events at local organizations and businesses, focus group discussions, and online activities.

“It doesn’t matter what size your town or city is, what matters is the quality of life” – Keynote Speaker Gabe Klein

All input from the initial phase of the inMotion process was gathered in a master database. It was then categorized, analyzed, and summarized by the planning team and compiled into Part I of the Vision and Values Report. This input will serve as the foundation for the Metropolitan Transportation Plan.

The next phase will begin to more directly inform the Metropolitan Transportation Plan with input from both the Summit and previous engagement activities. The phase will focus on summarizing goals, summarizing priorities, selecting discrete actions, drafting the plan, and revising the plan until it is finalized.

Continue to check 2045inMotion.com to stay involved and up-to-date on the planning process!

MCCOG Releases New Website

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 19:52:50 GMT

The Madison County Council of Governments has released a new website! The new website was built with the end-user in mind and was optimized for the desktop, tablet, and smartphone. Featured resources are still on the home page while additional information is organized into Team pages or the Document Archive. While most of the resources on the old website found a home on the new one, this site is still technically under construction. So check back for updates or use the contact form for assistance.

Interim MTP Released

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Project Description: Per the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 23, Chapter I, Subchapter E, Part 450, Subpart C, Section 450.324: “The metropolitan transportation planning process shall include the development of a transportation plan addressing no less than a 20-year planning horizon as of the effective date.” The 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan is an incremental update replacing the MPO’s existing 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to incorporate the latest analytical tools and planning assumptions MCCOG has developed and public feedback received through other planning efforts.

Additional Public Comments: Additional comments regarding the 2045 MTP may be submitted to Ryan Phelps by email at ryan@heartlandmpo.org, by phone at 765.641.9482, or by regular mail addressed to:

Ryan Phelps, AICP, PTP

Principal Transportation Planner

Madison County Council of Governments

739 Main Street Anderson, IN 46016

Plan Adoption:

A public meeting will be hosted on February 11th, 2019 from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the Delaware Room of the Anderson Public Library located at 111 12th Street, Anderson, IN 46016.

Formal adoption of the 2045 MTP will be presented at the MCCOG Policy & Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) meeting on February 14, 2019 at 10:00 AM in the board room of the Madison County Council of Governments office located at 739 Main Street, Anderson, IN 46016.

Copies of the 2045 MTP and all plans and exhibits pertaining thereto are on file and available for examination at 739 Main Street, Anderson, IN 46016 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday through Friday or on the MCCOG website: www.mccog.net . Written objection to a proposal may be filed to the Administrative Assistant of MCCOG prior to 10:00 AM, February 14, 2019 or by e-mail to ryan@heartlandmpo.org.

Special Accommodations: Persons with disabilities or non-English speaking persons who wish to attend the public hearing during the Policy & TAC meeting and need assistance or special accommodations should contact Ryan Phelps between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday via the contact information provided above.