The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is seeking public input on Indiana’s draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan and draft Long Range Transportation Plan.

The public and stakeholders are invited to learn more about, and participate in, the short- and long-term transportation planning process at two weeks of regional open houses being held across the state.

The open houses are informal, and citizens are invited to show up at any time to speak with INDOT planners one-on-one or have public comments be included in the official record.  Open house locations and hours are listed in local times below:

• East Central Indiana: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, at INDOT’s Greenfield District Administration Building, 32 South Broadway Street, Greenfield, Ind.
• Northwest Indiana: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5 at INDOT’s LaPorte District Office, 315 East Boyd Blvd, LaPorte, Ind.
• Southeast Indiana: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, at INDOT’s Seymour District Office, 185 Agrico Lane, Seymour, Ind.
• Southwest Indiana: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 8 at INDOT’s Vincennes Sub-District Office, 3650 South U.S. Highway 41, Vincennes, Ind.
• Northeast Indiana: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, April 11 at INDOT’s Fort Wayne Sub-District Office, Conference Room A-B, 5333 Hatfield Road, Fort Wayne, Ind.
• West Central Indiana: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13 at North Montgomery High School, 5945 North U.S. Highway 231, Crawfordsville, Ind.

Citizens can also review the draft documents and submit written comments through INDOT’s website.  The draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program is posted at http://indot.IN.gov/2926.htm, while the draft Long Range Transportation Plan will be posted to http://www.in.gov/indot/div/2035LongRangePlan.htm.  A 30-day public comment period is one of several public involvement steps in developing and finalizing short- and long-range transportation plans.

INDOT is adopting a more flexible and opportunistic planning approach by identifying transportation needs in the timeframe that capital improvement projects can be developed.  Short- and long-range transportation planning is designed to support the state’s economy and environment by selecting the most context appropriate transportation solutions for moving people and freight.  Public involvement in the planning process is essential both to determine citizens’ transportation priorities and to develop an accountable, efficient transportation system.