Columbus City Council Considers Reviving Dormant Transportation and Pedestrian Commission
The proposed ordinance would modernize the advisory panel to complement Vision Zero efforts and review municipal complete streets policy.
Columbus City Council is scheduled to hold a second reading on Monday, Nov. 2, on legislation to revive and restructure the municipal Transportation and Pedestrian Commission after years of vacancy. According to city legislative records, the proposal amends municipal code to clarify and modernize the enabling provisions of the advisory panel.
The proposal advanced after being introduced on Aug. 25 and completing an initial reading on Oct. 26. Council members affirmed in the legislation that the commission will serve as a useful complement to the city's Vision Zero traffic safety efforts.
Under the legislation, the commission will also evaluate municipal infrastructure standards. The code revisions require commissioner involvement in reviewing the city's Complete Streets policy, which governs roadway designs accommodating pedestrians, transit users and bicyclists alongside motor vehicles.
The advisory body has a history dating back more than two decades. Columbus officials originally established the Transportation and Pedestrian Commission in 2002, and the panel became active in 2003. Historically, the commission was designed to provide technical critiques of city project proposals and facilitate productive conversations between municipal staff and transportation advocates.
However, the commission lapsed into extended disuse after municipal leaders stopped filling vacancies. City officials have not appointed members to the panel since 2015, meaning the terms of the last remaining commissioners expired in 2018.
To prevent future dormancy, the restructuring measure establishes ongoing operational mandates. The amendments require the commission to meet no less than quarterly and direct the Department of Public Service's administrative head of Mobility and Parking Services to provide regular staff support.
The ordinance also establishes clear standards for future commission appointments. The measure specifies the professional and advocacy-related viewpoints that must constitute the panel's membership, while removing antiquated language regarding initial appointee term lengths and updating administrative duties across city code.
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According to city legislative records, the proposal amends municipal code to clarify and modernize the enabling provisions of the advisory panel.
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The purpose of this ordinance is to amend Chapter 2103 of the Columbus City Codes to clarify and modernize enabling provisions of the Transportation and Pedestrian Commission.
Council members affirmed in the legislation that the commission will serve as a useful complement to the city's Vision Zero traffic safety efforts.
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WHEREAS, Columbus City Council is confident that the Commission will prove to be a useful complement to the City's Vision Zero efforts; NOW, THEREFORE,
The code revisions require commissioner involvement in reviewing the city's Complete Streets policy, which governs roadway designs accommodating pedestrians, transit users and bicyclists alongside motor vehicles.
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Furthermore, this code change specifies the professional and advocacy-related viewpoints that should constitute the members of the Commission and requires their involvement in the review of the City's complete streets policy.
Columbus officials originally established the Transportation and Pedestrian Commission in 2002, and the panel became active in 2003.
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WHEREAS, the Transportation and Pedestrian Commission was established under Ordinance 1878-02 in 2002 and became active in 2003; and
Historically, the commission was designed to provide technical critiques of city project proposals and facilitate productive conversations between municipal staff and transportation advocates.
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WHEREAS, historically, the Commission was intended to offer technical critiques of the City’s project proposals and facilitate productive conversations between City staff and advocates; and
City officials have not appointed members to the panel since 2015, meaning the terms of the last remaining commissioners expired in 2018.
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WHEREAS, members have not been appointed to the Commission since 2015, meaning the last members' terms expired in 2018; and
The amendments require the commission to meet no less than quarterly and direct the Department of Public Service's administrative head of Mobility and Parking Services to provide regular staff support.
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The attachment requires the Commission to meet no less than quarterly and requires the Dept. of Public Service's administrative head of Mobility and Parking Services to provide staff support to the Commission.
The measure specifies the professional and advocacy-related viewpoints that must constitute the panel's membership, while removing antiquated language regarding initial appointee term lengths and updating administrative duties across city code.
Read supporting passage
Furthermore, this code change specifies the professional and advocacy-related viewpoints that should constitute the members of the Commission and requires their involvement in the review of the City's complete streets policy.
The measure specifies the professional and advocacy-related viewpoints that must constitute the panel's membership, while removing antiquated language regarding initial appointee term lengths and updating administrative duties across city code.
Read supporting passage
Finally, the code change cleans up antiquated language in the relevant provisions, such as the term lengths of its original appointees, and adds Commission support to the duties of the enabling provision of the Dept.'s Division of Mobility and Parking Services.