Photo: Dan Goldblatt/Indiana Public Media News
The Monroe County MPO has been meeting consistently regarding different aspects of I-69.
Several cities, towns and counties along section five of the I-69 corridor are being asked for their input, but not everyone is convinced the offer from state and federal officials means anything.
Indiana Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration officals met with members of the Bloomington, Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s I-69 subcommittee Friday, to formally invite the cities of Bloomington and Martinsville, the town of Elletsville, and the counties of Morgan and Monroe to weigh in on the Environmental Impact Statement for the section of I-69 that runs from Bloomington to Martinsville.
According to INDOT Deputy Commissioner of Major Programs Samuel Sarvis, this offer will give local governments a chance to contribute to the planning of the road.
“They get to bring their technical, and their regional expertise to the project,” he says.
However, Bloomington City Councilman Andy Ruff says local input on section five is moot at this point.
“I just don’t think section five provides the concerned public with anywhere near the critical opportunities for influencing the project.”
According to Sarvis, the ‘Participating Agency’ meetings will take place about once a month. The governmental bodies have until early March to either accept or decline the invitations.
