20-year transportation plan for Somerton to be presented Wednesday

The public can find out Wednesday what improvements the city and state propose to make to Somerton's transportation system to handle anticipated traffic growth over the next two decades.

The city's proposed 20-year transportation plan will be presented at a public hearing that begins at 5:30 p.m. in the city's Public Safety Building, 445 E. Main St.

The plan, based on a traffic study done by the city and the state Department of Transportation, recommends upgrades to make travel in and around the city easier for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Residents will have a chance Wednesday to offer their views about the plans as well as the city's future transportation needs. Those comments will be used in finalizing the plan in early 2013.

The improvements would take place between 2013 and 2033, a period in which the plan assumes Somerton's population will reach 25,000. The current population is slightly more than 14,000.

The list of transportation projects has not been made public, and Wednesday's meeting will be residents' first chance to see them.