MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Residents will soon see more in transportation plans. The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) updated a plan that summarizes the federally funded road projects for Ingham, Clinton and Eaton Counties, as well as the communities within them. The plan is reviewed every 5 years.

"We're calling it the 2040 plan, because it covers a 25-year time span that goes out to the year 2040. Five years ago, we reviewed and updated the plan, and at that time, it was the 2035 plan," said Susan Pigg, TCRPC Executive Director.

According to this nearly 500-page plan, the Tri-County regional area is projected to grow from 464,000 to 504,000 by the year 2040. And with projected growing populations means increased modes of transportation, and they're not just talking about cars, trains or buses either.

"In this plan, and in this region, we have a large emphasis on non-motorized transportation. We plan for and try to incorporate different modes of transportation into our transportation plan," said Pigg.

Meridian Township Trustee John Veenstra serves on this year's Regional Planning Commission and says that non-motorized transportation is better for the community.

"We think it adds to the quality of life in Meridian Township if our community is both walkable and bike-able. So, we don't want to be a community where the only transportation is the motor car," said Veenstra.

Both Pigg and Veenstra expect the Planning Commission to adopt the updated plan at their next meeting on Wednesday, July 29th at 7 p.m. Pigg also says that residents are welcome to review the plan and provide their feedback at any time.