RegionalPlanningCorps

Context NYMTCANDITSPLANNINGAREA

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Alarge,complexmulti-stateregion...

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PLANNINGAREA

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A“metropolitanplanningorganization”forNewYorkCity,LongIsland&theLowerHudsonValley

Aregionalcouncilofgovernmentsconsistingofninevoting&sevenadvisorymembers

AnorganizationrequiredbyFederallegislationwhichauthorizesfundingfortransportation

Anorganizationresponsibleforthemandatedmetropolitantransportationplanningprocess

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NYMTCMembership

Advisory

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Partofamulti-statemetropolitanconsortium

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PublicInvolvement

Plan

• RequirementunderSAFETEA-LU• FirstadoptedinJune2007• Updatedin2012and2019

PublicInvolvementOperating

Procedures

• PartofNYMTC’sMOU• Reworkedin2008

ProcessAuditofPublicInvolvementinthePlanningProcess

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NYMTC’sCurrentPublicInvolvementGoals(2019Plan)

1. Providearobust,creative,andinclusiveoutreachprocessforallpopulationswithintheregion,withopportunitiestoengageinmeaningfuldiscussionsbetweenNYMTCandthepublicabouttransportationplanningissues.

2. Educatethepublicsotheycanpurposefullyparticipate,knowwhentoprovideinput,andbeencouragedtodosoby:

• Adoptingstrategictechniquestoinvolvedifferentaudiences;and

• DevelopingagreaterunderstandingofhowNYMTCfunctionsasanorganizationandtherolesandresponsibilitiesofCouncilmembersandstaff.

3. Evaluatecurrentandongoingpublicinvolvementactivitiesonaperiodicbasistoidentifysuccessesandareasforimprovement.

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WhyispublicinvolvementimportanttoNYMTC?(2019Plan)

• Publicinvolvementprovidesaccesstoandopportunitiesforallconstituentstohaveavoiceintheplanningprocess

• Itoffersanopportunityforideastobeexchangedbetweenpolicymakersandthepublic

• Publicinvolvementactivelyinvolvesallaffectedpartiesinanopen,cooperative,andcollaborativeprocessthatprovidesmeaningfulopportunitiestoinfluencedecisions

• Itofferstransparencyontheuseoftransportationfunds

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OriginationoftheCorpsNYMTCestablishedtheRegionalPlanningCorpsin2005asaninnovativemechanismfor:

• ProvidingadviceonNYMTC’spublicinvolvementactivities

•ExtendingthereachofNYMTC’scontactanddistributionlists

•MultiplyingNYMTC’seffectivenessinalertingcommunitiesthroughouttheregiontorelevanttransportationinformationandplanningactivities

WhatWastheCorps?

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●CorpsparticipantsvoluntarilyagreedtoserveasadistributionnetworkforNYMTC’sinformation

●TheCorpsconsistedof:

»Community-basedorganizations,

»Advocacygroups,»Localmunicipalofficialsandtechnicalstaff,

»NYCcommunityboardmembersandstaff,and

»Professionalassociations

WhatWastheChargetotheCorps?

Mission:Tohelpfostergreatercommunityparticipationinthetransportationplanningprocessasameansofbuildingconsensusonprospectivetransportationimprovementsinourregion.Roles/Responsibilities:• DistributingNYMTCinformation• Servingasasoundingboard• Facilitatingcommunity,publicinputBenefitstotheParticipants:• Receiptofinformationonprojects,studies• Networkingwithothergroups• Integrationintotheprocess• PreviewNYMTCmaterials

HowEffectiveWastheCorps?

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•Initiallyrecruitedover100participatingorganizations•AseriesofsixmeetingswiththeCorpswereheldin2005andearly2006

•DevelopedaconceptfortheCorpsandaninitialassessmentofNYMTC’spublicinvolvementactivities

• ReviewedNYMTCmaterialsandinformationandhelptoreviseand/ordevelopmaterials,policiesandprocedures

•TheCorpsalsohelpedto:• EvaluateNYMTC’spublicinvolvementactivitiesfortheinitial2007PublicInvolvementPlanand

• Identifiedover35recommendationsandpossiblesolutionsforconsiderationinthisfirstplan

•ContinuedtoserveasanetworkfordistributionofNYMTC’sinformation

WhatIssuesAroseOverTime?

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•Overtime,Corpsparticipantsbecameinactive

•Recruitmentofnewparticipantswaslimited

•CommunicationwiththeCorpsmemberswasinsufficienttomaintaininterestandcoherence

•ManyorganizationsparticipatingintheCorpshadlimitedstaffcapabilitiesandsignificantstaffturnover

•Communicationwithlocalmunicipalitieswasinsufficienttomaintaininterest

•Localissuesoftentookpriorityoverregionalprocessfortheparticipatingorganizations

•NYMTC’sstaffandresourcelimitationswereamajorbarriertomaintenanceoftheCorps

RelatedAreasinthe2019Plan

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STRATEGY1C- ReachingouttoTraditionallyUnderservedCommunities

•Engagementofcommunitiestraditionallyunderserved,includingEnvironmentalJustice(EJ)(i.e.minorityorlow-income)andLimitedEnglishProficiency(LEP)populations,willbeemphasizedmorebroadlyinthesePIPactivitiesthaninthepast.

•NYMTC’spublicinvolvementeffortsstrivetobringvariedstakeholdersintotheprocessandenhancethelevelofcollaborationandmeaningfulinput.

•Communityleadersandcommunity-basedgroupsarecontactedtoincreasepublicparticipationofconstituentcommunities.

Questions?WWW.NYMTC.ORG

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