A city official is scheduled to be on hand at the next Forest Park Civic Association meeting to discuss what the organization's president referred to as a "seismic shift" in the traffic pattern for Tamarack Circle.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Epworth United Methodist Church, 5100 Karl Road.

Nick Popa, bikeways and community mobility manager with the Columbus Department of Public Service, will be the guest speaker, according to Mike Stone, civic association president.

"He will present information, listen to feedback and take some questions," Stone wrote in an email announcing that Popa had accepted an invitation to city officials to address confusion resulting from the changes to Tamarack Circle. "I would encourage any resident with questions or concerns to attend."

As part of a repaving project at one of the main arteries in the Forest Park area, bike paths were added to the circle, as anticipated. What had not been foreseen was the addition of striping for parking spaces on the outer lane of Tamarack Circle. Parking apparently had never been prohibited there but, by past practice of motorists, the lane was used as for travel.

Since the lane markings were added a few weeks ago, some drivers have expressed frustration at the lack of any forewarning, confusion about the wisdom of forcing vehicular traffic into the inside lane and concerns about the safety of bicyclists, whose lane is now between the parked cars and any vehicles turning onto streets leading away from Tamarack Circle.

"No one was prepared for that and, quite frankly we don't feel we got any kind of notice about it," Stone told ThisWeek Northland News for a story that ran Aug. 23.

The elimination of parking spaces would have automatically triggered a public meeting, according to Department of Public Service spokesman Steve Cordetti, "but this time, we're adding parking, which is an improvement to the area."

Cordetti also indicated that traffic counts showed an insufficient number of vehicles use Tamarack Circle to justify two travel lanes.

"While there is much frustration surrounding the new traffic pattern, we ask that all attendees maintain a respectful discourse," Stone wrote in his email. "Our community has a great reputation with the city and we only want to enhance that."