PERRYSBURG – More bike paths, mass transit to other cities and a focus on safety were on residents’
transportation wish list prepared Monday.
About 50 people shared their thoughts on how the region’s transportation systems should change over the
next 30 years. The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments conducted another in a series of
public forums at Way Public Library to garner suggestions of where improvements should be targeted in
the next few decades.
"I think your participation and your interest is vital to the plan and the future of transportation
in Northwest Ohio," said Pemberville Mayor Gordon Bowman, a member of TMACOG’s transportation
planning committee.
TMACOG planners hosted a handful of small group discussions, with each generating similar ideas of
prioritizing safety while expanding access to public transit, bike paths and other modes like rail and
flight.
Once a plan is complete next spring, "it will be the blueprint for Lucas, Wood and southern Monroe
(Michigan) counties," Bowman said.
"The ‘On the Move’ plan will set priorities on how we spend millions of federal transportation funds
and identify important policies and initiatives and will build on our strengths and move us toward our
vision of the future."
Some people said more bike paths should be worked into a cohesive system connecting communities, while
others thought expanding safety on existing roadside paths should be a focus. One man said he was
disappointed Perrysburg hasn’t done more to expand its own paths.
Some thought bike paths were met with opposition in the Perrysburg area because residents did not want
them near their land. Dick Currie said many people oppose paths at first but later come to accept them.
When asked to prioritize eight goals of the plan, all groups ranked safety as their paramount concern.
Currie said more must be done to prevent crashes caused by wrong-way drivers, such as improving dividers
between entrances and exits, adding more lighting and signage, and installing a way for someone to
retreat once they notice they’ve entered an exit ramp.
"I’m sure they can do more," he said.
Compared to other areas, Northwest Ohio has a "car culture" that involves heavy use of personal
vehicles, several people said. One commented that the availability of public transportation in the
city’s Ride Right program served as a good backup when his own vehicle was out of service.
Several said they were hopeful that widening of Interstate 75 would help relieve congestion related to
truck traffic.
While commuters here lean heavily on their own vehicles, some people Monday thought there was room for
more mass transit in helping travelers reach other cities.
A few mentioned that Toledo’s airport should offer more flights to connect with major hubs in Chicago and
New York, rather than prompting most air passengers to drive an hour to fly out of Detroit. Others
thought more trains should be available for people to "park and ride" to other cities.
Rather than expanding existing roadways, ideas centered around better care of the infrastructure already
in place. After a rough winter, there is plenty of work to be done to correct potholes and other road
hazards.
Those present were also asked to complete TMACOG’s transportation survey, which similarly asks
respondents to rank priorities and express levels of support for various goals.
To complete the survey, visit http://www.tmacog.org/onthemove.htm. For more information, call
419-241-9155 ext. 117 or email [email protected].