Traffic in east Columbia to be topic of public meeting

COLUMBIA — A public meeting to discuss transportation in rapidly-growing east Columbia will be held next week.

The meeting will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Elk’s Lodge, 4747 E. Elk Park Drive. The Missouri Department of Transportation and Columbia and Boone County officials will discuss the East Columbia Environmental Impact Statement, a study to develop options for improving transportation in the rapidly-growing areas between Interstate 70 and New Haven Road, and U.S. 63 and Route Z.

“The existing infrastructure is lacking for the amount of traffic being generated,” said Mike Dusenberg, district planning manager. “We have four reasonable alternatives that meet our purpose and need.”

At a public meeting held last November, nine alternatives were presented, and those have been weeded down, Dusenberg said. The goal is to find one final plausible solution to present to the city. The new high school will be considered in plans for improvement, he said.

“Better connectivity in general is much needed,” Dusenberg said.