page 1 effective public participation broward mpo fort lauderdale, fl march 20, 2012 l
TRANSCRIPT
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Effective Public Participation
Broward MPOFort Lauderdale, FL
March 20, 2012
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Session Objectives
• Understand why it is important to do a good job with public involvement.
• Address public involvement as cross cutting: planning through maintenance.
• Learn how to “engage” the public.
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Metropolitan Planning Regulations
The metropolitan planning requirements for public involvement are primarily in 23 CFR 450.316
Public involvement and consultation are addressed in connection with the Transportation Plan in 23 CFR 450.322
Public involvement and consultation are addressed in connection with the TIP in 23 CFR 450.324
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Statewide Planning Regulations
The statewide planning requirements for public involvement are primarily in 23 CFR 450.210
No specific reference to ‘public participation plans’
Public involvement and consultation are addressed in connection with the Statewide Transportation Plan in 23 CFR 450.214
Public involvement and consultation are addressed in connection with the TIP in 23 CFR 450.216
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Environmental Justice
Executive Order 12898
• Reaffirms that each Federal agency must make EJ part of its mission
• Identifies and addresses disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority and low-income populations.
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Limited English Proficiency
Executive Order 13166
To ensure people who are LEP have meaningful access to servicesPerson who does not speak English as primary language and has limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English
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Who is an LEP Person?
Person who does not speak English as primary language and has limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English;
Failure to provide LEP person services or meaningful access to services [may] constitute national origin discrimination (Lau v. Nichols, 1974)
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Public Participation Plans
MPO shall develop a participation plan in consultation with interested parties (23 CFR 450.316(a))
1. Adequate, timely public notice & reasonable access 2. Reasonable opportunities to comment on contents of
the transportation plan3. Employ visualization techniques4. Make information available in electronic formats5. Hold meetings at convenient and accessible
locations and times 6. Explicit consideration and response to public input
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Public Participation Plans
7. Seek out and consider the needs of people traditionally underserved
8. Providing additional opportunities for public comment if the final Metropolitan Transportation Plan or TIP differs significantly from the version made available.
9. Coordination with statewide public involvement and consultation processes.
10.Periodically review the effectiveness of the procedures and strategies to ensure a full and open participation process. Minimum 45-day comment period
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Consultation w/ Tribal Governments & Federal Land Management Agencies
Requires documented State and MPO processes on consulting with Indian Tribal governments and Federal land management agencies (to the extent practicable). (23 CFR 450.210(c) and 450.316(e))
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Visualization
Methods used by States and MPOs in the development of transportation plans and programs with the public, elected and appointed officials, and other stakeholders in a clear and easily accessible format such as maps, pictures, and/or displays, to promote improved understanding of existing or proposed transportation. 23 CFR 450.104
Employ visualization techniques to describe metropolitan plans and TIPS.” 23 CFR 450.316 (a)(1)(iii)
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Public Involvement
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Key Public Involvement Components
Early notification Periodic information sharing - 2-way exchange Thorough search for stakeholders Clear decision-making process Open decision-making process Accountability No predetermined outcomes
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Levels of Public Involvement
AWARE
INFORMED
INVOLVED
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Stages of PI• Information: one-way flow of information
• Consultation: two-way exchange of information;
seek advice or information
• Participation: interaction with public; to have a
part or share in
• Negotiation: face-to-face discussion; to deal or
bargain with another/others
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Barriers to Effective Public Involvement
Personal or social circumstances Transportation decision making process
• Complex/Confusing• Political factors
Cultural factors Community history & lack of trust
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How to Overcome Barriers to Public Involvement
Engage right people (Inclusive) Obtain right input (Meaningful) Make sure input flows into decision making process
(Integrated) Others?
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Partnering/Collaboration with Others
Community Based Organizations Universities State DOT/MPOs Neighborhood Associations Regional Planning Council Others?
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Interested Parties
23 CFR 450.210 and 450.316
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Parties Requiring Different Resources
Environmental Justice (EJ)
Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Freight
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Proactive Environmental Justice
Community Profile (Mapping/Data)
Public Involvement Analysis
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Beyond Census Data for Demographic Profiles
Employment Centers Schools Property Values Social Service Programs
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Which public(s) are you trying to involve?
• Upper-income, middle-income, low-income• Senior, middle aged, young• Transportation dependent, transportation
independent• Single, married, divorced• Minority, non-minority• Male, female• Able-bodied, disabled• English speaking, non-English speaking• Literate, low literate, illiterate
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Types of Public Involvement Techniques
•Websites•Partnerships•Electronic surveys•Door-to-door surveys•Email•1-800 Numbers•Flyers•Comment sheets•Press releases•Educating Children
•Radio call-in shows•Television interviews•Focus groups•Workshops•Piggybacking •Public meetings•Public hearings•One-on-one interviews•Citizen advisory groups•Newsletters•Social Media
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Go to where they eat & talk to them
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Conduct interviews at a mall
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Ask community leaders for help
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Share your experiences…..
What techniques do you use most often?
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Emerging Web-based Techniques• Interactive Plans & (S)TIPs• YouTube• Public Dialoguing• Social Networking• Online Surveys
Techno Techniques
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Web-Based GIS Transportation Plans & TIPs
Atlanta’s 2030 Long-Range Plan
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Denver Rapid Transit District
YouTube
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Online Jam: TxDOT—Threaded Discussion
Public Dialoguing
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Chicago MPO on Facebook
Social Networking
Washington DOT on Twitter
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Maryland DOT Online Survey in collaboration with Library Systems
Online Surveys
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Evaluation/review of public involvement program
Participation by traditionally underserved communities
Documentation of consideration & response to public input
Coordination between metropolitan and statewide public involvement processes
Effective PI Challenges
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Measuring Effectiveness
• Use qualitative and quantitative measures
• Some measures may be a proxy for the true measure that is difficult to get (e.g. number of hits on a website)
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Suggestions
• Openness of process• Level of cooperation and collaboration between
parties• Continuation of involvement opportunities• Effect on decision making
Measuring Effectiveness (2)
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Performance Measures / Evaluation
Corpus Christi (TX)
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Public Involvement Resources
Websites FHWA Office of Planning
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/pubinv2.htm Visualization http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/vip/index.htm Training Public Involvement in the Transportation Decision-making Process, NHI
#142036 Resource Center Visualization WorkshopPublication Public Involvement Resource Guide
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/planning/pubinvolv.cfm
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Module Review
Three things to remember from this session:
1) Public involvement is difficult to do well—good PI usually pays off and bad PI invariably backfires.
2) Using the right people in PI is critical to creating relationships and building trust
3) GO TO THE PEOPLE!
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Questions? Comments?