A locally developed plan for Northwest Indiana to improve how people get around, boost economic development and protect the environment over the next two decades has received honors from a state chapter of a national planning organization.
The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission recently was awarded the Outstanding Transportation Plan Award for NWI 2050 by the American Planning Association Indiana Chapter. NWI 2050 focuses on the synergies between transportation, the environment, and economic development to guide community leaders to develop strategies to benefit each sector.
“Many Northwest Indiana residents helped shape NWI 2050 through their participation in workshops and pop-up events across Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties over many months,” said Ty Warner, NIRPC’s executive director. “This plan begins a new chapter in the Region’s story, and this award helps that story to be told more widely.”
NIRPC’s commission approved NWI 2050 in May 2019.
NIRPC is the metropolitan planning organization and regional council of local governments for Northwest Indiana. The organization provides a coordinated process for Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties to institute and maintain a comprehensive planning and programming process for transportation, economic development, and environmental policy.