AKRON, Ohio — What does the future look like in northeast Ohio for automated vehicles? Will electric vehicles be accommodated in our region? How will our roadways and railways handle the impact of excess stormwater and other environmental issues brought on by climate change?
These are just a few of the topics brought for discussion to Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) community input sessions, said Kerry Prater, AMATS public information coordinator.
As the area’s federally designated metropolitan planning organization, AMATS is responsible for transportation planning in Summit and Portage counties, and parts of Wayne County.
Highways, bikeways, public transportation and pedestrian walkways all fall under the AMATS umbrella.
To help the organization make key transportation-related decisions for the Greater Akron area, AMATS has relied on community input since the early 1960s.
“It has only grown in importance,” Prater said.
AMATS relies on the community to help make decisions about what projects are most worthy to receive federal funding, he said.
Emerging transportation issues the community expresses strong interest in can prompt AMATS to conduct further research.
The topic of electric and automated vehicles has become popular enough for AMATS to take the preliminary steps in launching a smart mobility study, Prater said, to take a closer look at the impact these vehicles would have on the region.
Now, AMATS is looking to the public to weigh in again.
Through March 18, AMATS will collect public input to update its Public Participation Plan known as the “3P.” The 3P helps AMATS identify strategies to better connect with the broader community during the agency's planning process.
The plan can be reviewed online on the AMATS website and residents can submit comments online. Or, a hard-copy comment form can be printed out and mailed to 1 Cascade Plaza, Suite 1300, Akron, 44308.
The agency reaches out in a number of ways, Prater said, such as through its active social media account and monthly newsletters, in addition to assorted online and in-person meetings throughout the year.
With biking a popular activity locally, AMATS also hosts several Bikeathons throughout the year, for biking enthusiasts to share ideas and concerns, Prater said.
In addition, the transportation agency recently tagged seniors as a population to keep an eye out for in regard to accessibility in various geographic areas, Prater said. It’s part of the city’s Age Friendly Akron initiative, which is working to improve daily, quality-of-life issues for seniors from housing to street design.
AMATS already specifically looks to address the needs of immigrants and low-income residents, he said.
The AMATS Citizens Involvement Committee, which is the forum for residents to weigh in, will meet several times this year at the main branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library. Participation is open to anyone who wants to attend, the agency said.