Butler County Engineer
Greg Wilkens presented an updated model of the Butler County
Thoroughfare Plan to County Commissioners at a public hearing
this morning. The Plan, which is still officially in draft form,
is a master plan for the County's rapidly expanding roadway grid.
Designed to provide Butler County citizens with a safe, diversified,
and more efficient transportation system, this comprehensive
countywide Thoroughfare Plan will be a long-range project planning
and development tool for BCEO engineers as well as all County,
city, and township planners.
"The plan strives
for a united, orderly approach to improving our transportation
infrastructure," Wilkens said. "We have identified
and prioritized road projects in Butler County through the next
twenty plus years. While there may be a few dream projects, most
of what's in this Plan is realistic and very attainable as long
as the appropriate funding falls into place. Of course, the timelines
are approximate and subject to modification based on changing
needs, shifting traffic patterns, and available revenue. This
will be a dynamic and working document, not something that will
sit on the shelf collecting dust."
To help oversee and
provide direction for the huge task of updating the Plan, Wilkens
assembled a team of community leaders to serve on an advisory
committee. This diverse group was comprised of various County,
city, and township officials as well as representatives from
OKI (Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments) and
the private sector. They would eventually be assigned to subcommittees
that were responsible for development of proposed projects, technical
counsel, and integration of bikeway and pedestrian facilities.
Once adopted, the revised
Thoroughfare Plan will replace the 1994 version which Wilkens
was also instrumental in developing while with the County Engineer's
Office. A second public hearing will be held by the Butler County
Commissioners on Monday, December 18, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. After
that, any necessary adjustments will be made and the document
will be finalized. Wilkens said he hopes to see the Thoroughfare
Plan update officially adopted in early 2007.
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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
