Transportation planners seek public input

What would it take for Macon-Bibb County to be an easier community to travel by car, foot, bicycle, train or airplane? 

That’s what the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission and its hired consultants want to know as they draft the latest Comprehensive Plan that lays out the vision for the next 20 to 30 years. 

Thursday, from 6-8 p.m., the public is invited to a Community Transportation Meeting at Middle Georgia Regional Airport where light refreshments will be served.   

The State of Georgia requires a plan update every five years to be eligible for state funding, loans and permits. 

The public portion of the nearly two-year process of the “Macon It Happen” plan development began in January with a kick-off at Macon Mall and will end with a final plan summit early next year before the plan is drafted, finalized and adopted by fall of 2027.

“This is our community’s big-picture plan for the future — how we want to grow, get around, and keep Macon-Bibb County a great place to live, work, and visit,” Gregory Brown, P&Z’s planning director said in a news release about the first meeting. “The Comprehensive Plan process is a chance for everyone to share ideas and help shape what comes next. Public participation is essential to creating a plan that truly reflects the community’s needs and aspirations.”

In addition to the transportation meeting, people are invited to attend other gatherings that will be scheduled throughout the year on economic development, quality of life, housing and land use which will be covered in multiple gatherings.

A steering committee of local stakeholders will work with consultants from TSW who are working on pedestrian and bicycle planning, and land use and development; RS&H will lead discussions on roadway and freight transportation planning; and Arnett Muldrow & Associates will conduct market analysis and economic development recommendations. 

Beginning last September, the consultants took inventory of Macon-Bibb’s evolution since 2022 and will help create the specific strategy for the county’s land development.

Public meetings include hands-on interactivity to gather input on the topic, such as Thursday’s transportation network and policy discussion.

“We want to make sure they hear as many voices as possible,” TSW’s Allison Sinyard said at the January launch. 

Additional goals of the process are to diversify outreach especially to underrepresented groups and develop accessible engagement activities. 

Meetings include a Junior Planning Academy for ages 5 to 17 to get involved in the process that plots their future.

“We think the youth opinion is just as important as the adults in the room,” Sinyard said. 

The family-friendly meetings will have kids’ passports available for young people to earn stamps as they complete “missions” at each event with an opportunity to win a prize at the end of year.

A pad of “MadLibs” asks Junior Planners to fill in the blanks about what they would like to see in the future as a means to gather their suggestions.  

At the kickoff, 13-year-old Alonah Glenn took advantage of the drawing table to sketch “what my future community looks like” as adults flagged a large map of Bibb County with suggestions and concerns, such as “dilapidated houses,” or “need increased bus route and sidewalks.”

While the date and times for the rest of the community meetings will be announced later this spring, summer and fall, an online survey is available at www.maconithappenplan.com/engage. 

The organizers also offer a “meeting in a box” designed for local organizations or neighborhoods to gather ideas in a comfortable setting that suits their schedule. 

“The ‘meeting in a box’ is really a great way to bring it to you at the grassroots level and get feedback,” Sinyard said.        

Promotional materials for the meetings state:  “The Comprehensive Plan is a chance for everyone to share ideas and shape what comes next. Because when it comes to our future, it only works if we’re ‘Macon it Happen’ together.”

Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities for The Macon Newsroom and can be reached at [email protected]or 478-301-2976.