The Northwest Butler Transportation
Study (NBTS) grew out of early discussions to address transportation
problems across northern Butler County. The original corridor
stretched from east to west, with a Trenton sub-area and an Oxford
sub-area. The western portion of the project is called the NBTS.
The NBTS local advisory committee began meeting in the Fall of
2000.
The NBTS advisory committee continues
to work hard and meet monthly at a location within the study
area. The public is welcome to attend these meetings. Committee
meeting times and locations are posted on the Butler County Engineer's
Web site at www.bceo.org.
The Purpose of the NBTS
• Identify transportation
problems that affect the safe and efficient movement of people
and goods in northwest Butler County.
• Determine an effective, comprehensive, implementable transportation
solution that is consistent with the area's land use planning
goals.
NBTS Project Goals
• Improve the movement of
people and goods.
• Improve vehicular and pedestrian safety.
• Improve access and connectivity between the study area
and regional neighbors.
• Ensure that recommended transportation solutions are compatible
with and support land use plans and goals.
Public Workshop - April
2nd
- Photo at Public Workshop - April
2, 2003
On April 2, the NBTS public meeting
workshop was held at Marshall Elementary School. More than 180
people attended the workshop to view the study in progress and
submit comments on a long-range transportation plan for the area.
Several potential components/strategies meant to address the
goals of the study were on display.
NO ALTERNATIVES
HAVE BEEN SELECTED AT THIS POINT. The
purpose of the public workshop was to measure public opinion
in light of the NBTS advisory committee's work to date. And
because many of the guests that attended the workshop completed
comment sheets, the committee was able to do just that. Some
guests took comment sheets home with them or took extras to provide
to their neighbors or community organizations. Overall, we received
approximately 200 comment sheets, letters and e-mails.
The advisory committee is pleased
to have received such a wealth of input from the community. The
public's input has been reviewed and will be integrated into
the study.
Some of the displays from the
workshop have been posted on the Butler County Engineer's web
site. Please visit www.bceo.org/nbts.html
for more information.
Advisory Committee Meeting
- April 16th
A summary of the comments received
at the April 2 Public Workshop were presented to the NBTS Advisory
Committee on April 16. Based on consideration of these comments,
the committee directed the study team to package several strategies
and evaluate each in more detail. This includes application of
the OKI Travel Forecasting Model.
The strategies to be analyzed
are:
- "No Build" (defined
as maintenance of the existing system plus any previously committed
improvement projects).
- Transportation System Management
(TSM) includes relatively low cost improvements consisting of
safety and operational upgrades of critical intersections, plus
the realignment of U.S. 27 in Millville.
- TSM plus providing 4-lane capacity
for U.S. 27 from Ross to Oxford.
- TSM plus providing 4-lane capacity
for U.S. 27 from Ross to Oxford, plus two variations of a western
U.S. 27 realignment option around Oxford connecting U.S. 27 north
and U.S. 27 south.
- TSM plus providing 4-lane capacity
for U.S. 27 from Ross to Oxford, plus two variations of a eastern
U.S. 27 realignment option around Oxford connecting U.S. 27 north
and U.S. 27 south.
When the travel forecast models
are complete, the NBTS advisory committee will be able to compare
the potential benefits and impacts of these options against each
other and against the "No Build" strategy.
Study to Wrap-up this
Summer
NO ALTERNATIVES
HAVE BEEN SELECTED AT THIS POINT.
The last public workshop is planned for July 15, 2003 at Talawanda
Middle School. At this workshop, the committee will present
to the public the NBTS strategic plan with final recommendations
for selected alternatives.
Selected alternatives may include
a combination of short-term and long-term solutions. Long-term
solutions, such as one of the build options, may not be implemented
for some time. The implementation of build options requires many
additional steps including preliminary and final engineering,
as well as environmental impact assessment. In each of these
and other steps, there will be additional opportunities for public
input.
For more information or
to provide comments regarding the NBTS please contact:
Robert Koehler, P.E. - Transportation
Planning Manager
Ohio•Kentucky•Indiana Regional Council of Governments
801-B West Eighth Street, Suite 400
Cincinnati, Ohio 45203-1607
(513) 621-6300 • Fax (513) 621-9325
TTY/TDD (513) 621-7063
e-mail: rkoehler@oki.org
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