The Transportation Simulation, organized by the Public Transit Advisory Commission (PTAC) and Central Missouri Community Action, aims to provide citizens an opportunity to discuss the transportation barriers they face in their community.
Attendees will be invited to participate in role-playing situations designed to replicate different transportation obstacles, particularly those experienced by low-income residents.
Volunteers who have personally experienced income-related transportation difficulties will run the role-playing scenarios by giving participants cards that describe different situations, Cheryl Price, the chair of the Public Transit Advisory Commission, said. It is her hope that the scenarios help lawmakers and decision-makers in the community understand the difficulties that everyday people face when using public transportation and when using transportation on a fixed-income.
After the role-playing scenarios, there will be an opportunity for attendees to talk about what they learned and to discuss personal transportation concerns. Head of Transportation Drew Brooks and Fourth Ward Councilman Ian Thomas will also speak at the event.
Price hopes that a mix of residents and decision-makers attend so that residents can broach a range of transportation concerns to city leaders.
"All of us hope it opens the eyes of people as to how people try to get around in this city and how difficult it is," Price said.
The simulation will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church, 204 South Ninth St.
