Butler County Engineer
Greg Wilkens submitted a proposal for traffic Access Management
to County Commissioners this morning. The proposed Access Management
Regulations document outlines a system for managing access to
the public roadway system. This includes controlling the number
and spacing of new commercial and residential driveways tying
into public roads. Reducing the number of direct accesses onto
public roads is an important component of the plan. "As
Butler County grows and traffic increases, a mechanism for managing
access to our roadways will provide for greater public safety
and help reduce congestion," Wilkens said.
Ohio law states that
counties and townships may establish regulations to manage access
to the public roadway system. Butler is only the second county
to establish such a plan. An Access Management Advisory Committee
was organized by Wilkens and the first official meeting was held
last April. Comprised of various elected and public officials
as well as local business and community leaders from the private
sector, the Committee was organized for the purpose of review
and consideration of the proposed access management guidelines
developed by the County Engineer.
"Many of the rules
and regulations submitted in the document are already in practice
by the Butler County Engineer's Office," Wilkens noted.
"We believe they represent a strong but fair approach to
access management on our public road system." If approved,
the document will make the proposed regulations law and give
validity to current BCEO access management practices. Today's
proposal to the County Commissioners begins the next phase of
the review process, which will involve two public hearings next
summer and final adoption by the Commissioners pending any modifications.
Wilkens said he hopes to see the plan implemented by January
2005.
# # #
For more information contact:
- Chris
Petrocy, BCEO Public
Information Supervisor
- Greg
Wilkens, P.E., P.S.,
Butler County Engineer
Phone 513.867.5744 • Fax 513.867.5849
