Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MORPC asks Fairfield County to adopt 2026–2030 Regional Mobility Plan to strengthen transit access
Summary
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission presented the 2026–2030 Regional Mobility Plan and requested Fairfield County adopt the plan to improve transit access for older adults, people with disabilities and low-income residents and protect federal funding eligibility.
Liz Webb, a planner with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, told the Fairfield County Board of Commissioners on June 23 that MORPC is seeking formal adoption of its 2026–2030 Regional Mobility Plan for ODOT Region 6, which includes Fairfield County and eight surrounding counties.
The plan identifies four primary goals for Fairfield County: increase awareness of available transportation programs and services; improve coordination and expansion of transportation services; maximize existing funding and secure new funding sources; and enhance transportation options that better connect residents to employment, medical services and regional destinations. Webb said the plan emphasizes access for older adults, individuals with disabilities and low-income residents and is designed to maintain local eligibility for federal transit funding programs.
"The plan focuses on improving transportation access for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and low-income residents, while maintaining eligibility for federal transit funding programs," Webb said during the presentation. She added that MORPC can provide resolution language for county consideration if the Board wants to move toward adoption.
Commissioner Jeff Fix asked whether Fairfield County Transit had been included during plan development; Webb confirmed that the agency had been consulted. Commissioner David Levacy raised questions about handicap parking and whether the plan addresses local enforcement and education. Webb said MORPC can collaborate with Fairfield County on outreach and education to address misuse of handicap parking and to promote consistent local policies.
County Transit Director Aaron Kennedy said county staff "support the transportation plan" and praised regional collaboration with MORPC and community partners. Kennedy noted that connections to employment and health-care services are a priority for local transit planning.
Why it matters: The plan links regional transportation priorities to local services and federal funding streams. Adoption by county jurisdictions is often a prerequisite for coordination with regional and state transportation programs, and the plan’s focus on equity and access could guide local decisions about marketing, service coordination and grant applications.
What’s next: Webb said MORPC can supply resolution language for Fairfield County to consider at a future meeting. The Board did not vote on adoption during the June 23 meeting; next procedural steps were not scheduled at that time.
