The Marion County Board of County Commissioners held a workshop on June 9, 2025, to discuss updates to the Comprehensive Plan, focusing on transportation and scenic roadways. A key topic was the proposed change in level of service standards for scenic roads, which currently differ between urban and rural areas.

The discussion highlighted that the existing level of service for scenic roads in urban areas is set at a "B" standard, while rural scenic roads operate at a "C" standard. The proposal aims to unify these standards by changing the urban scenic roads to a "C" level of service. This adjustment is intended to promote growth in urban areas, which is seen as counterintuitive given the current lower standards for scenic roads in those regions.

During the meeting, officials presented a map detailing the 45 designated scenic roads in Marion County, noting that some roads are not maintained by the county but are still included in the scenic road ordinance. The map also indicated that 22 of these roads are urban, while 17 are rural, with six roads having portions in both categories.

The workshop addressed concerns about the operational status of these roads, revealing that many scenic roads do not have traffic data collected, complicating the assessment of their performance against the proposed standards. Currently, most rural scenic roads operate at or above the "C" standard, while some urban roads are falling short of the proposed new standard.

The commissioners emphasized the importance of this change, as it would allow several urban roadways currently operating below the "B" standard to meet the new "C" standard, thereby improving overall traffic management in the area. The meeting concluded with a commitment to update the Comprehensive Plan accordingly, ensuring that the scenic roads reflect the growth and development goals of Marion County.