The much-promoted “Public Scoping Meeting” offered residents the opportunity to share thoughts about the future of the I-84/Aetna Viaduct, but little in the way of new information.

Easels lined a room in the Hartford Public Library, showing the interstate’s current state, environmental concerns, goals of the project, and preliminary alternatives to what now acts as a visual and physical barrier between north and south neighborhoods.

For those following this endless conversation, the possible changes offered at Wednesday’s meeting by the I-84 Hartford Project were not completely fresh. To overview:

One plan has been dubbed “No Build,” though the documentation and reps present were both careful to say that this does not mean it is a “‘Do Nothing’ scenario.” The footprint of the viaduct would not change; lanes would not be narrowed or widened. This possibility would only cover making major bridge repairs. This is essentially a souped up version of what has been happening in recent memory, and it is the very least that will be required happen to the highway.

Another alternative is what they call the “elevated highway.” This would mean elevating I-84 from Sigourney Street to High Street — a shorter portion of what is already raised. Shoulders would be widened and interchanges would be reduced. The main highway’s width would be reduced while there would be an increase in vertical clearance. This is something of a compromise option.

Lowering the highway was presented as a third alternative. Portions of the busway and railroad would be relocated, placing I-84 at or below ground level from the area of Park Street to Trumbull Street. There would mean fewer interchanges, wider shoulders, and a narrowing main segment of highway. One rep said this could potentially allow for Flower Street to be raised up and over. Flower Street is the quiet north-south passage between Capitol and Farmington which is no longer a through-street for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

A tunneled highway is an alternative that would mean relocating a portion of the busway and railroad. The tunnel, as presented on Wednesday, would be from Myrtle Street to Laurel Street. There would be bridges over the railroad tracks to allow for local street crossing. Additionally, there would be a reduction in width of the highway and fewer interchanges.

Three of those four possibilities include reducing the width of the main segment of the highway and eliminating some of the interchanges.

This Public Scoping Meeting was well attended, but most of the faces were familiar — those who have been involved in various organizations and boards.

If you did not attend the meeting or have not already weighed in on what you would like to see happen to the stretch of I-84 from approximately Flatbush Avenue to the I-91 interchange, you have until February 20, 2015 to get your comments in. This is an opportunity to let those in charge know what they should take into consideration and what is most helpful to the general community, including those who use other means of transportation and may never personally drive on I-84. Comments can be submitted via the website, called in, or mailed so long as the postmark is before that deadline.