The public had an opportunity to get hands-on with a transportation study for the corridor between Knoxville and Pella, giving a human touch to the data and mapping already on the record for this project.

The training room at the Marion County Public Health Department in Knoxville was the site for Wednesday evening’s open house. Maps and information about the scope of the project were on display, and residents were encouraged to ask questions, supply information and even draw on the maps — helping to determine how to make transportation between the two cities more efficient.

Marion County Engineer Tyler Christian tells KNIA/KRLS News the open house format allows the people who live, work and drive in the study area to get personally involved with the research process and point out issues which may not be immediately obvious.

“That is really the intent of this public scoping meeting, is to gather input in areas we may not find on a database in a computer or from looking at an aerial image on a map,” Christian says. “Trying to gather public feedback through this meeting is the initial step in moving this project forward.”

Information from this event will be complied and presented to the public again at a meeting in May; the goal is to narrow down the possible courses of action which could be taken, with final recommendations to come later in the year.