Time is running out for city residents to have their say on how Marysville addresses future road and traffic concerns.
Marysville is updating its thoroughfare plan and is asking for public input about roads, traffic and transportation in and around the city.
The city has created an online survey for residents and other stakeholders. The survey, on the city website, is designed to be completed in three to five minutes. Participants are asked to think about traveling not only in but near the actual city limits, but not to include U.S. 33, as it is included in other planning projects.
Once participants submit the survey, a link will be provided to access a second portion of the survey which allows for location-based comments.
City Engineer Jeremy Hoyt said the survey is an opportunity for community members to tell city officials where problems exist and list priorities for fixing those problems.
“If you are passionate about a project you would like to see completed, this is the way to tell us,” Hoyt said.
He added that not only does the survey allow residents to have their voice heard, it helps city officials make sure they are on the right track.
“It helps us do our job better and make sure we are focused on the same things the residents are,” Hoyt said.
Officials said they will use the survey results to create the city’s thoroughfare plan.
A thoroughfare plan is a formal document that identifies the needs and nature of the city’s future road and other transportation network. Hoyt said the plan “maps out where there are deficiencies in the transportation network and maps out new roads and new projects as solutions to those deficiencies.”
Once created, the plan will be taken to the public safety/public service committee and then city council for approval. Hoyt says having the plan formalized “gives it more authority and more strength to enforce it.”
Hoyt said the document helps city approach developers about adding infrastructure to development. He specifically mentioned the completion of Professional Parkway. He said for years developers in the area resisted completing the road. Because the project was identified in the 2010 thoroughfare plan, however, the city was able to mandate that developers include that completion as part of their project.
Additionally, the formal plan helps the city as it requests state and federal grants.
Hoyt said the city has already received more than 700 survey responses, which he called, “many, many more responses than I anticipated.”
He added, “but we always want more.”
Hoyt stressed that time is running out. The survey closes at 11:59 p.m. July 31.
The engineer said actual street projects already underway “seem to be on schedule.”
Hoyt said the Route 31 improvements project to address traffic concerns between U.S. 33 and Mill Road going well and on schedule.
The project includes extending Northwoods Drive to Route 31 and signalizing the exit ramp for U.S. 33 Westbound. Hoyt said that even when roads look completed, they will remain closed until signals are installed. He said there has been some difficulty getting traffic lights, but he expects them to be in and installed by the end of October.
The city is also targeting the end of October for the completion of the repaving projects in the city.
Through all of the projects, the city will resurface or repave 1.7 miles of streets in 2020. That represents about 1.66% of the city’s streets.
Through the 2020 paving season, the city will repave all or portions or all of Millstone Drive, Millington Way, Mill Park Drive, White Oak Court, Quail Hollow Drive, Pearl Court, Carmel Drive, Claudia Lane, Springwood Lane, North Plum Street and Route 31.
The 2020 city budget includes $500,000 for the paving program.