Public Engagement for Sustainable Transportation

Planning: A Brand New Paradigm or the

Same Tried and True ApproachesFederal Perspectives on

Engagement: Leaning into the Future

James GarlandCalifornia Transportation Planning ConferenceLos Angeles- December 3, 2015

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Presentation Overview

• Understand the Federal Requirements for Public Involvement/Participation

• Efforts underway to improve Public Involvement/Participation

• Share new and existing resources available

INTRODUCTION

23 CFR 450.210

o (i) Establish early and continuous public involvement opportunities that provide timely information about transportation issues and decisionmaking processes to citizens, affected public agencies, representatives of public transportation employees, freight shippers, private providers of transportation, representatives of users of public transportation, representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, representatives of the disabled, providers of freight transportation services, and other interested parties;

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REGULATIONS

Requirements related to Engaging the Public

o Engaging the Public

o Created to Protect and Promote Good Practices for Transportation Planning and Project Development

o Consistent with regulations o 23 CFR 450.210 (a) (1) (ii)

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REGULATIONS

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

• No qualified individual with a disability shall – public entity's facilities are inaccessible to or unusable– be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or

activities – subjected to discrimination

REGULATIONS

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Air Quality Conformity

• Establish a proactive public involvement process

• Public access to technical and policy information

REGULATIONS

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Electronically provided information

• Electronically accessible format – Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508 requires

Federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities,

REGULATIONS

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Interested Parties

• Interested parties with reasonable opportunities to be involved in the transportation planning process– public transportation employees, freight shippers,

providers of freight transportation services, private providers of transportation, representatives of users of public transportation, representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, representatives of the disabled, and other interested parties

REGULATIONS

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Limited-English-Proficiency

• LEP four factor analysis: – The number or proportion of LEP persons eligible

for program, activity, or service – (2) the frequency LEP come in contact with the

program; – (3) the nature and importance of the program,

activity, or service provided by – (4) the resources available to the recipient and

costs.

REGULATIONS

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Public Interest

• …Assure that possible adverse economic, social, and environmental effects relating to any proposed project on any Federal-aid system have been fully considered in developing such project, and that the final decision on the project are made in the best overall public interest

REGULATIONS

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Public Meetings and Hearings

• Public meetings are held at convenient and accessible locations and times

• Provide public notice• Provide accessibility in programs, activities,

and facilities• Check if state Sunshine or Open Meeting

Laws apply in their state

REGULATIONS

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Prohibiting Discrimination

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, national origin)

• Section 162 (a) of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (sex)

• Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 (disability)• Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990• Limited-English-Proficiency• Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and

Low-Income Populations, Executive Order 1289812 (minority and low-income)

REGULATIONS

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Traditionally Underserved By Existing Transportation Systems

• Include a process for seeking out and considering the needs of those traditionally underserved by existing transportation systems

REGULATIONS

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Visualization

• Use visualization techniques to describe the proposed long-range statewide transportation plan and supporting studies

REGULATIONS

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So, Now You Know The Regulations and Rules….

• …..BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR TRYING NEW THINGS?

REGULATIONS

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NEW TOOLS, EFFORTS, AND RESOURCES

FHWA’s PlanWorks

RESOURCES

FHWA’s PlanWorks

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RESOURCES

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https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworks/

• Project Overview

• Listening Session Highlights

• How do MPOs Interact?

• Strategies/Discussions

• Opportunities to Partner

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

Project OverviewProject Purpose: Digital public engagement strategy to support public participation at planning and project development meetings.

Desired Outcomes•Drive more web traffic to websites. •Increase attendance at planning and project development meetings.•Increase participation in public engagement and outreach activities.•Increase breadth of participatory group types.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

Listening Session Highlights

Where can MPOs, RTPOs, and state DOTs use of digital public engagement strategies

and tools to improve the quality and breadth of public involvement?

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

Posted Information:– Websites

• Calendar of Events• Published Reports• Meeting recordings/

live streaming– Newsletters / Email

DistributionsDigital Communications– Emails with staff– Via Social Media

Accounts– Via online videos

• Online Engagement Tools– Plottable Maps– Interactive online

dialogue platforms– Scenario planning &

decision-making support tools

– Survey tools

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

How Do MPOs Interact With The Public?

Do you use any of the following methods/tools during public involvement opportunities to obtain the public feedback?

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

Opportunities to Partner

•Are there any State DOTs, MPOs, or other transportation planning agencies interested in partnering with the FHWA?

•Are there best practices or good examples to share?

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

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CONCLUSIONS

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Additional Resources

• The Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program – www.planning.dot.gov – Peer Exchange Program- Free Resource!– Webinars, Case Studies, Reports, and More– Briefing Book (updated) for Transportation

Officials

• FHWA Public Involvement Webpage: – www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/public_involvement

• Public Involvement Techniques Guide (updated June 2015)

CONCLUSION

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James Garland, Team Leader

Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program

FHWA Office of Planning- Washington, DC

202-366-6221 Office

James.Garland@dot.gov

www.planning.dot.gov

CONTACT INFORMATION