The MATS staff of the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission is opening the public comment period for the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (2050 MTP) and the Air Quality Conformity Determination Report Update.  These plans are consistent with the existing MATS FY 2021 – 2024 Transportation Improvement Program, and therefore do not require additional adjustments to, or re-adoption of, that document. The draft plans will be available on the MATS website (www.MaconMPO.com) for public review & comment from February 15 through March 17, 2022.  

The 2050 MTP includes approximately a billion dollars of transportation projects over the next 30 years and public input is vitally important to help set priorities. This plan guides future transportation improvements in Macon-Bibb County & a portion of Jones and Monroe Counties and includes new roadways, new pedestrian and bike facilities, new transit opportunities, as well as upgrades of existing transportation infrastructure. The MTP is updated every four years and its impact can be seen around the Macon area in road projects that are currently underway like the Bass Rd. widening, and planned projects like the I-75/I-16 interchange expansion, new roundabouts, and new bridges over rail lines and waterways. The MTP also feeds into the Macon-Bibb and Jones County Comprehensive Plans, which are state mandated plans required by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The Comprehensive Plan is a 20-Year plan which, in addition to transportation, outlines the vision of a community in areas of community development, land use, recreation, and housing which is updated every 10 years. 

The update of both the 2050 MTP and the Comprehensive Plan process relies heavily on input from the public. In November and early December 2021, MATS staff conducted public listening sessions at various locations in Macon-Bibb & Jones Counties. The 2050 MTP incorporates the results of those listening sessions. Your opinions helped shape the future of Macon – Bibb County; determine the character, scale and quality of development and redevelopment of our area; formulate the goals and objectives of our future transportation systems; prioritize a list of currently proposed transportation projects; and propose transportation projects that you would like to see in the MATS study area. Your involvement will impact planning policies for Macon – Bibb County and together we will create a blueprint for the future of our community.  

Everyone is encouraged to share ideas and provide comments on the 2050 MTP draft. For more information regarding MATS, the MTP process, the list of current transportation projects in the area, and a summary of the listening sessions completed in November/December 2021, please visit our website regularly for any changes / updates at www.maconmpo.com. Submit comments to Gregory L. Brown, Assistant Planning Director, 200 Cherry St., Suite 300, Macon, Georgia 31201 or via email at[email protected].