NIRPC to hold public comment period on new documents & amendments
The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) will hold a 30-day public comment period on the Greenways + Blueways 2020 Plan, and amending safety performance measure targets into the 2018-2021 Transportation Improvement Program and the 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan. The comment period begins today and will end March 2, 2018.
Greenways + Blueways 2020 combines the 2007 Greenways + Blueways Plan, the 2010 Ped & Pedal Plan, and environmental elements of the 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan. It is the first time that the areas of conservation, recreation, and transportation have been combined into a single document for Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. The plan sought input from public listening sessions and stakeholders with an interest in conservation of natural areas and open lands, hiking and paddling, and non-motorized transportation such as biking and walking.
The safety performance measure targets being amended into the TIP and 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan are required by the federal 2015 FAST Act transportation bill. The targets adopted were set by the Indiana Department of Transportation, and the NIRPC board supported the targets at their January 18, 2018 meeting.
NIRPC will host a public comment open house to gather comments on the Greenways + Blueways 2020 Plan and the proposed 2018-2021 TIP and 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan amendments. The meeting will be on February 15, 2018 at NIRPC, 6100 Southport Road, Portage, IN from 5:00-7:00 pm. The meeting will be an open house format and attendees are welcome to come anytime during the meeting time. Comments may also be submitted until March 2, 2018 in the following ways:
- Email: comments@nirpc.org
- Phone: 219-763-6060, ext. 160
- United States Postal Service: NIRPC, 6100 Southport Road, Portage, IN 46368
All comments received during the 30-day public comment period will be compiled into a public comment report and responded to. This report will be made available to the public and distributed to the relevant NIRPC committees prior to any action on these items. It is anticipated that action will be taken at the March 13, 2018 meeting of the Technical Planning Committee, followed by the March 15, 2018 meeting of the NIRPC Commission.
Documents and information will be available for review at the public meeting, and can be accessed by using the links provided below. Requests for alternative formats may be directed to Mary Thorne by calling 219-763-6060, ext. 131, or by email at mthorne@nirpc.org. TTY users may use the Relay Indiana service by calling 711 or 800-743-3333.
Greenways + Blueways 2020 Plan
TIP Amendment #9, adding safety performance measure targets: PDF
2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan Amendment, adding safety performance measure targets: PDF