Branson to conduct two-year study to address traffic congestion

Finding a solution to traffic snarls in downtown Branson and along Highway 76 is the main objective behind a two-year Branson Transportation Analysis Study the city launched in February, said Cheryl Ford, Branson's administrative assistant in engineering.

Branson's tourism industry and employment base is inhibited by traffic problems within a road network "that lacks any public transit options and that is not pedestrian friendly along West Highway 76," according to a Branson news release.

Jacobs Civil Inc., a St. Louis-based firm, has been selected to conduct the study, which is being funded by a $450,000 federal grant, Ford said.

Collecting information to assess what the problem is will be fundamental, said Denise Zerillo, public involvement officer for Jacobs Civil. This is done through gathering both technical information regarding the road network, as well as taking information from people living in the area and using the road system everyday, she added.

"You marry information that you get from the community" with the technical information to hone in on offering alternatives, Zerillo said. Evaluation will also involve the "economic feasibility of the construction, how it would operate, potential transportation impacts," she said.

A Project Oversight Committee has been established to provide input on the issue. The committee is comprises members of Branson's Transportation Advisory Committee, Branson's hospitality industry, the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau, Downtown Branson Main Street Association, property owners and developers, the release said.

An open meeting to solicit community input will be held 4-7 p.m. June 29 in the Municipal Courtroom at Branson City Hall.