CAMPO’s primary purpose is the local coordination and distribution of federal transportation funds. To be eligible for these funds, CAMPO must prepare, adopt, and maintain a Metropolitan Transportation Plan (otherwise known as the MTP or the long-range plan). The MTP forecasts changes in the Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA), sets goals for the future, identifies and prioritizes transportation needs, and establishes a financial plan to pay for those needs. Projects that are identified in the MTP are eligible for federal funding, usually for 80 percent of costs. The remaining 20 percent is the responsibility of the local government of jurisdiction (City of Columbus or Bartholomew County). The MTP is updated every five years to ensure it reflects ever-changing community conditions and transportation needs. The MTP is also occasionally amended to include regional projects of significance.

2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (under development)

Over the past year, the Planning Department, as the staff for CAMPO, has been working on the 2050 MTP with the assistance of Kimley-Horn. The proposed plan includes an analysis of the current transportation network and future transportation projects throughout the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County including focuses on streets, safety, transit, bicycle and pedestrian system, bridges, and freight. This update included stakeholder meetings, public engagement survey (available Nov 2025 through Jan 2026), and open houses (Nov 2025 and April 2026) where we gathered input on community goals and priorities related to transportation. Thank you to everyone who has already provided feedback throughout this development process.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Notice is hereby given that a 30-day public comment period is available for the new CAMPO 2050 MTP. Click here for Draft MTP for Public Comment. Please email comments to ashleybeckort@columbus.in.gov or drop them off at the Planning Department at City Hall (123 Washington Street). The CAMPO Policy Board will review and adopt the final 2050 MTP at their meeting on July 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (current)

Original Approval: CAMPO’s 2045 MTP was adopted by the Policy Board on November 8, 2021.

Amendments:

  • Resolution 2025-01 (approved February 10, 2025): Adds two projects to the priority Projects list (page 125), DES# 2401748 Bear Lane Traffic Light at US 31 and DES# 1401742 County Rd 350 West (from SR 46 to Goeller Rd).
  • Resolution 2026-02 (approved May 11, 2026): Amends current project developer from INDOT to City of Columbus for SR 11 Alternative and updating project name to West Side Connector.
  • Resolution 2026-03 (approved May 11, 2026): Adds I-65/SR-46 Gateway Arch Bridge Replacement and Intersection Improvements by INDOT.