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APPENDIX C
Summarized Survey Results
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
QUESTION 1: What is the mission statement for your organization?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
To provide a safe, efficient, Delivering transportation To build and operate the No.
environmentally sound projects, providing public total transit system. Is not aware of one.
multimodal transportation information and serving as Will send it.
system for all users a dynamic forum for
especially the taxpayers of regional planning and
the state. collaboration in the greater
Improving mobility across MPO area.
the state. Planning efficient
To provide a safe transportation for the
transportation system that community.
insures the mobility of No.
people and goods, On the website.
enhances economic On the website.
prosperity and preserves
Improve the quality of life
the quality of our
and the economic vitality in
environment and
the region by working
communities.
collaboratively together.
Provides a safe, seamless, (We don't have any
and sustainable mention of humans but we
transportation system that are all working to improve
supports the state's the quality of life here).
economy and is sensitive to
We serve the governments
its citizens and
of the Mississippi Gulf
environment.
Coast, including Hancock,
Plan, build, maintain, and Harrison, and Jackson
operate a superior County as the Metropolitan
transportation system Planning Organizations for
enhancing safety, mobility, the programming for
and economic growth. federal transportation funds
Provide a statewide within the urbanized areas
transportation system to and perform various urban
meet the needs of our and regional land use and
citizens. comprehensive planning
Providing the highest activities.
quality integrated Build a stronger regional
transportation services for community through
economic benefit and cooperation, leadership,
improved quality of life. and planning.
Provide a world-class Uniting the region's elected
transportation experience officials, planning
that delights our customers professionals, and the
and promotes a prosperous public with a common
state. vision of making a great
Yes, it's a DOT one. region even greater;
Improving lives by shaping the way we live,
improving transportation. work, and play; building
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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
QUESTION 1: What is the mission statement for your organization?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Provide leadership in the consensus on improving
protection, preservation, transportation, promoting
and enhancement of the smart growth, protecting
natural, social, historic, and the environment, and
visual environment while enhancing the economy.
actively involving the On the web page.
public, resource agencies, To ensure that our
and other interested parties transportation tax dollars
in planning, developing, are spent effectively to
and maintaining the state's improve mobility, support
transportation system. economic progress and
safeguard the environment
and provide opportunities
for public input into the
transportation planning and
project development
process.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
QUESTION 2: Is the agency centralized/decentralized?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Centralized. Centralized. Centralized. Centralized.
Centralized (headquarters Centralized. Centralized. Centralized.
and 12 districts). Centralized.
Decentralized (seven Centralized.
districts, turnpike office, Centralized.
central office).
Centralized.
Centralized.
Centralized.
Central office and 6
Centralized.
districts.
Centralized.
Decentralized (six districts)/
administrative work Part of a joint city/county
mostly centralized. agency.
Decentralized with a Centralized.
structure of seven regions.
Central office and 10
district offices.
Centralized (six district
maintenance offices and
the Turnpike office).
Centralized (headquarters
and three regions).
Centralized.
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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
QUESTION 3: Is authority for public involvement held at headquarters/regions/districts or all?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Authority held in Headquarters. Headquarters does Press Secretary for public
headquarters with nine Headquarters. agency-wide outreach. affairs and Public
divisions responsible for Headquarters. Work closely with Relations.
coordination. counterpart for stakeholder Headquarters (partner with
Headquarters.
Guidance/training comes affairs offices targeted to DOT and FHWA).
Headquarters.
out of headquarters with construction.
districts conducting public Headquarters.
involvement. MPO (collaborate w/local
All. jurisdictions on individual
work).
All (headquarters, regions,
seven districts). Headquarters.
Headquarters w/district Headquarters.
assistance as needed. Headquarters.
Headquarters w/district Headquarters.
assistance as needed.
Headquarters and regions
(shared on Environmental
Assessments and
Environmental Impact
Statements/regions handle
Categorical Exclusions with
assistance from
headquarters).
Both.
Headquarters.
Headquarters.
Headquarters.
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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
QUESTION 4: How are public involvement responsibilities distributed throughout the agency?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Joint effort between central Director of External Affairs Two-fold responsibility-- Various people in the
office and divisions. Central and Member Services with one with broader umbrella agency have public
office serves as oversight. assistance from and one with the projects. involvement
In environmental, the communications staff; There are totally different responsibilities.
environmental planner is project manager(s). people involved in these Project managers handle
responsible for organizing Public Involvement divisions. public involvement
public involvement. Manager and Public Two groups in the agency responsibilities with
Central office for statewide Information Officer; project that do public involvement. assistance from
plans; districts/individual managers; consultants. government liaisons.
departments (planning, Everybody (except Consultants also provide
environmental, design & Financial Officer). assistance.
right-of-way) within the Team effort--Manager of
district for planning studies, Public Outreach;
corridor studies, NEPA Department of Support
studies, design and Services; Department of
construction. Community Services;
Split into various areas-- Department of
NEPA, environmental Comprehensive Planning;
planners have some Department of
responsibilities; district Communication; Workforce
planning and programming Development; Aging
--engineers have some of Division; Governmental
the responsibilities. Services Division.
Headquarters, but each of Project team(s).
the districts has a public Not officially distributed
involvement person and a throughout the agency--
communications person. based on collaboration.
Staff of three dedicated for Operationally--mandated
public involvement. to maintain open records;
Regions and programmatically--develop
Transportation Service and maintain a public
Centers with assistance participation plan for the
depending upon the level of MPO planning process;
controversy. project level--develop
Distributed throughout the public participation plans
agency. for individual studies.
Project managers and lead Directors of media and
staff are generally in public relations are
charge. primarily involved in
All at headquarters. community relations. Most
of the staff is involved in
Headquarters, but the
some aspect of public
regional Public Involvement
involvement.
Officer does help them out
with public involvement. Public affairs office focuses
on the media aspect and
there are other staff
members who engage in
public involvement, but it is
not their main
responsibility.
Everyone does other things.
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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
QUESTION 4: How are public involvement responsibilities distributed throughout the agency?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Two branches of public
involvement--Air Quality
group does outreach for
specific programs
(vanpool/carpool,
telecommuting);
Transportation Planning
and Programming side
deals with LRTP and
Transportation
Improvement Program.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
QUESTION 5: What phases of transportation decision making in the agency have public involvement components
(policy development, systems planning, project planning, environment, design, right-of-way, construction, and
operations and maintenance)?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Project planning, Policy development, Capital projects and service Policy development,
environment, design, and systems planning, project planning. transportation systems
right-of-way. planning. Policy development, planning, project planning.
Systems planning, Policy development, systems planning, project Policy development,
environment, design, right- system planning, planning, environment, systems planning, project
of-way, construction. environmental planning, design, right-of-way, planning, environment,
Planning and policy, NEPA, project planning. construction, operations design, right-of-way,
environment, systems Policy development, and maintenance. construction, operations
planning, environment, systems planning, project and maintenance.
design, right-of-way, planning, environment,
operations, maintenance. design.
Project planning, pre- Systems planning, project
construction, construction planning, environment.
(on some projects). Policy development,
Planning and programming systems planning, project
section, project planning, environment.
development, design, right- Policy development,
of-way, construction, systems planning.
operation and Policy development,
maintenance. systems planning, project
Policy development, planning, environmental.
systems planning, project Policy development,
planning, environment, systems planning, project
design; small amount with planning. Environmental,
construction, operations design, and right-of-way
and maintenance. would be done through
Policy development, DOT.
systems planning, project Policy development,
planning, environment, systems planning, project
right-of-way, construction, planning.
operations and Policy development,
maintenance. systems planning.
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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
QUESTION 5: What phases of transportation decision making in the agency have public involvement components
(policy development, systems planning, project planning, environment, design, right-of-way, construction, and
operations and maintenance)?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
NEPA, policy development, Policy development,
systems planning, project systems planning (large
planning. corridors)
Policy development,
systems planning, project
planning, environment,
design, right-of-way,
construction, operations
and maintenance.
Policy development,
systems planning, project
planning, environment,
design, right-of-way,
construction, operations
and maintenance.
Project planning,
environment (during
NEPA), design, right-of-
way.
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STAFFING
QUESTION 6: How many staff in your organization conduct public involvement?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Varies with the divisions At least half of our staff is Sixteen people. Eight planners.
and need for special involved in public A director, six outreach Twelve people and the
expertise. involvement regularly. reps, four stakeholder police department conduct
All of approximately 200 Two people are dedicated affairs reps, plus public involvement also.
environmental planners public involvement, but contractors that were hired
have the authority. additional staff is trained. with public involvement
There are so many and we Staff of eight people. knowledge during design
have consultants--guess Four full-time staff, but build.
about 50. Not counting many other staff members
central office, eight conduct public involvement
districts. Districts rely on also.
consultants. One or two Four staff members help
districts have a designated with public involvement, but
public involvement staff others assist if needed.
person, but not all.
One staff member with
No one designated public primary responsibility.
involvement, also do other Another staff member
social, environmental, air, works on communication
and noise studies. (press releases, etc.)
Central office--about 20 All 13 staff members do
(eight person section in public involvement in some
public hearing office plus capacity.
planners).
Five people are attached to
About 15 people. the public involvement
One or two people at each tasks. In the work program
Transportation Service there is an element
Center have responsibility; dedicated solely to PI--
one or two people at each Citizen Participation and
of the regions do face-to- Public Information.
face. Budgeted time for eight
Headquarters has between people.
50 and 75 people; Everyone.
approximately 45 project The MPO Administrator
managers statewide. and three planners.
2530 people. Fifteen people on staff who
Three people--one person conduct public involvement.
in each region.
Five of NEPA staff are
most involved with public
involvement within the
Environmental Division;
Community Relations office
helps (public affairs).
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STAFFING
QUESTION 7: What are their qualifications (academic training and work experience), professional designations
(e.g., register engineer), or memberships in professional organizations (AICP, APA, IAP2) others?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Preconstruction engineer Communications staff has Two keys are good oral Professional license
ultimately responsible different backgrounds in and written communication required; require all
(almost always PE); public involvement; skills and a sense of members to be members of
varying degrees under that; community outreach understanding that we are APA and most have AICP
planners help with specialist has a public agency and that or PE.
meetings as project teacher/volunteer the public has a right to be Both have PEs.
managers. background and is a included in and it is our
Besides marketing and member of IAP2; responsibility to include
customer service, hire from organizational membership them in all of our decision
a variety of approved with IAP2. making.
majors, including all Primary PI personnel-- So many of the staffers
sciences and social environmental were staffers with an
sciences. Some planners science/marketing. elected official and are very
belong to National Assn. of Senior planner has Masters familiar with public
Environmental Professions; and is AICP; GIS person engagement and public
some planners are AICP. has Masters and is AICP; involvement.
Some project managers Bike/Pedestrian guy has a
are engineers, some are Bachelors and eight years
AICP, some have been experience; Transit planner
certified; some staff have has a Masters in Public
the experience and are Administration.
very serious about doing a Backgrounds in education,
good job involving the planning, public
public. administration, marketing,
Degrees vary; generally a environmental; most of the
Bachelor's is required. planners have AICPs; NTI
Communication skills-- courses, leadership
engaging, like working with strategies training, meeting
people, communicate facilitation, conflict
effectively, flexible, resolution.
adaptable, clear thinkers. No specific training or
Pretty diverse group from background in public
other disciplines involvement--two have
environmental AICPs.
documentation and right-of- Bachelors and Masters in
way. social work.
Journalism degree helps; Professional memberships
when screening applicants, like AICP, APA or other
look for things like human professional organizations
services skills or --AMPO, NARC; attend
experience or training. TRB.
Can't answer--only Person that heads up
conjecture. public involvement has
Unknown. some media background.
No. Others are primarily
In CIA, at least a degree in professional planners, most
planning; membership in with a graduate degree in
professional groups is an planning and social science
added bonus; will pay for background; we are
professional license; ability conscious of those with the
ability to communicate.
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STAFFING
QUESTION 7: What are their qualifications (academic training and work experience), professional designations
(e.g., register engineer), or memberships in professional organizations (AICP, APA, IAP2) others?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
to go to national Backgrounds in marketing,
conferences (TRB, working with the press and
AASHTO), training (NHI, other media.
NTI). Public administration;
PE, NEPA group has a planners have Masters
registered geologist. Degrees in City and
Regional planning.
Some staff has
backgrounds in marketing
and public relations; others
are largely planners with
Masters degrees and many
are AICP; push
membership in professional
organizations.
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STAFFING
QUESTION 8: What training have these staff received in Community Impact Assessment, Environmental Justice,
Public Involvement, or Context Sensitive Solutions?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
NHI course on public Send all staff to at least Internal and external Attend conferences and
involvement. one conference a year; training; customer service seminars.
Future plan is to develop community outreach classes for all levels; try to EJ and Title VI training;
training for staff; get a little specialist attended EJ be involved in professional attend different training
in their CIA workshop (two training; member of organizations--marketing, classes; members of
day), but most of it is on- California Public Women's Transportation American Public Works
the-job experience. Information Officials Assn. Seminar, APTA; attended Assn., Institute for
Public involvement, Title VI, --attended annual TRB. Transportation Engineers;
Sociocultural Effects conference; member of Don't have much internal attended CSS courses.
Evaluation; environmental AMPO and NARC. training--able to go to
conference every two NTI courses, IAP2 training, conferences and do off-site
years; planning conference; the agency allows us to go training.
design conference; project to conferences. We train
management conference. whenever possible.
Primarily public Try to attend conference
involvement and out of state to get training
environmental justice, on Title VI and CIA. Due to
context sensitive solutions, funding, try to get training
Title VI, DOT sponsored to come to them.
training; NHI classes. Participated as a presenter
Internal soft skills training, in the statewide
NHI public involvement, sociocultural effects
CSS, CIA. evaluation training. Staff
NHI or NCHRP courses; in- member that did attend
house training/experience; training no longer with
IAP2 (one person). them.
NHI effective public No formalized training.
involvement techniques; Everyone reviews the
environmental clearance public involvement plan
process; limited and participates in
participation in conferences coordination meetings;
like TRB, APRA, AMPO. send staff members to
conferences.
In-house/external training
on CIA, environmental NTI courses on public
justice, public involvement, involvement and
context sensitive solutions; environmental justice;
project development; NEPA FHWA trainings;
(every other year); conferences.
Systematic Development of Continuing education units
Informed Consent; limited through NHI or APA;
participation in conferences attended CSS and
like TRB; requirement to Complete Streets training;
become a member of APA, specialized technical
AICP or joining IAP2. training through
Context sensitive solutions; consultants.
various outside courses; They use all available
limited participation in external training, go to
conferences. AMPO meetings, TRB, and
Texas MPO conferences.
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STAFFING
QUESTION 8: What training have these staff received in Community Impact Assessment, Environmental Justice,
Public Involvement, or Context Sensitive Solutions?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
National conferences (TRB, EJ and Title VI training;
AASHTO); NHI and NTI Planners Methodology--
courses for PI, EJ, Title VI, how to ensure federal
public speaking; in-house mandates in EJ and Title VI
training from experienced are met and how to prepare
staff. a public participation plan.
CIA course by FHWA; EJ, public involvement and
internal CSS class; NHI CSS conferences held by
NEPA class. DOT.
NHI public involvement
course; EJ training; attend
all conferences.
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MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS
QUESTION 32: What are the outcomes you expect from your public involvement efforts?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Measurable outcomes-- coming to meetings.
you can always go back to People who are better
the number of people that educated on what the plans
come to your meeting that are, what the process is,
you talked to, numbers of how they can be engaged
comments, hits on should they choose to be.
websites, numbers of A more knowledgeable
meetings, etc. One of the public, improved
measurable outcomes--is communication between
the project the right project the public and the planning
and is it going forward? process, the planners, and
Better and more a better substantiation of
enlightened decisions and the plan that results from
a more informed public. the process.
Informed consent. That the public involvement
Consensus and buy-in for process is seriously taken
the project. into account by policy
A project that is completed leaders when we are doing
and agreed upon in a any of our policy
collaborative way that documents.
might not necessarily Getting new people to
address all of the concerns come to meetings, media to
of everybody, but a write stories about us, and
consensus was reached. A a diverse group at our
livable project with all events.
stakeholders. Expecting better
An informed public. information from the public
regarding what they see as
major issues.
When a construction crew
shows up on the highway,
the public will have been
made aware of that prior to
it happening and they have
had some opportunity if
they wish to weigh in on
that decision to send in the
construction crew.
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MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS
QUESTION 33: Have you developed quantitative/qualitative measures for the effectiveness of your public involvement?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
No. Their public participation No. No.
Rudimentary on their part-- plan has a section in it that No. Yes, they are doing the
not sophisticated. Keep talks about how to evaluate reporting. Ask everybody to
rolls and head counts. all of our things. debrief on specifics.
Yes--document sent to Yes and no. individual
interviewer. evaluations based on
No. number of newsletters
distributed, etc. going to
Measure the things we
use clicker to vote
can--number of meetings,
anonymously during
number of newsletters
meetings.
distributed, amount of
project correspondence Required by FHWA. Sign-in
sent out, display sheets for meetings.
expenditures, number of Did evaluation reports for a
brochures, etc. long time, but kept
No. changing how we wanted
to do things because things
No.
were changing in the whole
Have done a few--looking network of possibilities so
for other ways to measure the numbers were not
what they are doing. Hard comparable after. Can't
because it is not hard and judge the secondary and
fast. tertiary effects of public
No. involvement.
Evaluate project in terms of None that are written.
what you think worked and Not specifically outlined
did not work. Looking for yet. Do some informal
scientific numbers--would tracking--number of e-
have to hire someone to do newsletters distributed, etc.
that for us.
Yes, the usual number of
No. people in attendance,
website hits, what is the
actual feedback.
In various aspects--in the
area of air quality they
clearly have. Post season
surveys.
Don't have any formal way
of measuring this. Do a
debriefing session with staff
and talk about what worked
and what didn't.
Developed ways to
evaluate the tools. In public
participation plan, identified
all the tools used and have
performance goals and
how they evaluate success.
Unknown.
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MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS
QUESTION 34: Do those measures include measures of the equity or inclusiveness of your public involvement to
assure that your efforts target groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the decision making process and
underserved by transportation facilities?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Not applicable. Yes, there are specific Transit equity is a big deal No.
Don't have any measures. sections that deal with for us. Found that the Yes.
These include measures environmental justice. criteria that we use for
for equity or inclusiveness. They do not have a formal where we put service is
First objective is equity-- process, but their using ridership number 1--
provide equitable access to Community Characteristics transit equity follows
transportation decision- Program provides them because the more transit
making. One of the with good information. dependent a neighborhood
indicators is access to The MPO tries to get to all is the more the ridership
information and of the people as much as potential.
participation opportunities possible. No.
by persons with disabilities, We found this didn't work.
convenience of meetings They don't have any
and events to public measures of effectiveness.
transportation when
No measures of
available, geographic
effectiveness.
dispersion, convenience of
meeting and time and Nominally.
locations. We don't.
Not applicable. Yes.
Once into project, may They cover a variety of
identify groups and need to populations.
take a different approach. They have never
More opportunity to do so established performance
in larger projects. measures.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
It is the Tracker/Tracker
Performance Measures
on website.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
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MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS
QUESTION 35: How do you measure the cost-effectiveness of your public involvement activities?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
The DOT does what it They are in our Public They don't. They don't do this.
takes to do public transportation plan with an They don't. Tracking all of the
involvement. extension matrix in that miscellaneous expenses
Do what it takes to do plan. Broken down into for public involvement.
public involvement. optional and required
Really don't. activities--try to do as
many of the optional
Do not measure this.
activities as are feasible
We don't. within the cost and time of
The DOT does what it the project. For each
takes to do public activity, we have a number
involvement. of different measurements
Better and more for what meets the
enlightened decisions and requirements.
a more informed and Doesn't think this is done
involved public. We have per se--just ensure that
not developed any what they do is effective.
quantitative measures for They don't.
effectiveness.
Have in the past. Put
Do not measure this. together numbers that
Do not measure this. showed how much we
Do what it takes. spent on it. Don't normally
Do not measure cost- do that.
effectiveness. They don't.
Do not do this.
Do not measure it.
Do not measure cost-
effectiveness.
Doesn't know.
They don't.
Doesn't know.
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EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND INEFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES
QUESTION 36: What specific techniques have been most effective?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Informal public involvement Community level meetings. Door-to-door meetings; Surveys--online and out in
meeting. Blocks and ribbons; clicker, bus/train meetings; one-on- the community; go to senior
Open house with all brochures; animations; one meetings; open centers and the housing
aspects of the project in piggybacking on other houses; going to churches, authority.
one place; meeting location events. community centers, One-on-one meetings;
that is in the project area Strings and ribbons, community organizations, working with community
and accessible; information brochures, piggybacking on hair salons. liaisons (i.e., Korean
booths/kiosks at other events. Partnerships with other liaison).
school/community events; Small discussion groups; organizations.
coordinating with churches. constant contact with the
Targeted meetings with people you are working
various interested with; special targeted
groups/parties; little meetings.
targeted group meetings; Open house meetings;
identify various groups and meetings with
meeting in their place, in groups/neighborhoods; in
their language. rural areas, contact
Piggyback on community community leaders.
based organizations; Online outreach--e-
flyers/letters; talk with newsletters, partnership
people in the community. with libraries (online
Quarterly newsletters, open survey), radio advertising.
houses, project specific Charettes--give
websites, project offices for participants blank slate and
larger projects. let them build; visuals; one-
Small group and one-on- on-one conversation;
one meetings school-based work; maps
Visualization; before/after and traffic counts on
photos, Google earth, and website.
aerial imagery; morphs and One-on-one meetings
drive-thrus; simulation and within the community.
videos. Emails; personalization;
Open house public Dots and Dashes game;
meetings; interpreters; news articles.
large print materials, as Advisory committees.
requested; websites (track
One-on-one community
repeat visitors and break
meetings.
down by district).
Meetings with elected
officials and general public,
place making, charettes,
workshops; aerial maps
with nothing on them--
collect input from public
about their community and
concerns.
Going out to the public and
showing them aerial maps
with nothing on them.
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EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND INEFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES
QUESTION 36: What specific techniques have been most effective?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Doesn't think DOT has
branched out enough for
them to know.
EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND INEFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES
QUESTION 37: What specific techniques have been most cost-effective?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
DOT has not been Workshops. Focused group meetings; Flyers and mailings;
concerned that much with Going to the community; neighborhood meetings; announcements at council
cost--whatever it takes. blocks and ribbons. build relationships in meetings.
Open houses in the project Don't measure cost- community; be a resource Signs on the road (variable
area spread over time and effectiveness. for the community. message signs and static
in different geographic Small group meetings. Using community based signs); website.
locations. organizations.
Working with key
Piggybacking on other community
meetings. leaders/personal visits.
Direct invites; send Online outreach.
information home with kids.
In-house staff to go out into
Websites, open house the public; Facebook.
meetings.
Do not measure cost-
Area engineers and local effectiveness.
public affairs managers out
Website and email blasts.
in the community talking
with people; working with Email announcements.
local officials; news Focused group meetings
releases. that we have been invited
Common sense and to participate in someone's
adopting an attitude that neighborhood association
the public is an important meeting. Haven't done a
part of the process and good job with Hispanic and
figuring out how to involve Vietnamese communities--
the public in low cost ways don't go out and meet one-
beginning with day-to-day on-one with these
operations and how we do communities because we
our jobs. don't speak the language.
They use their own staff
members rather than
consultant staff at their
public meetings.
Being cost-effective
depends on the project.
Taking maps into the
community and talking with
them; surveys sent home
with kids (for kids and
parents).
Information table at school.
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EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND INEFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES
QUESTION 38: What specific techniques have been ineffective?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Newspaper as the only Using PR firms and for- Public hearing; newspaper Don't know what is
means of advertisement. profit organizations. advertising. ineffective.
Newspaper advertising. Talking head workshops. Public hearings for service Newspaper advertising
Meeting location that is not Advertising a poster changes; newspaper (most expensive ads).
in the project location or session. advertising.
difficult to find; meetings at Public meetings with maps
inconvenient times. on walls.
Putting information in the Newspaper advertising.
paper. Newspaper advertising.
Advertisements in the Open houses (a couple) to
newspaper. discuss the long range
Traditional public hearing plan.
with assigned time to speak Newspaper advertising; too
(3 minute limits, etc.). many meetings.
Can't think of anything Sending out flyers
ineffective. indiscriminately; newspaper
Newspaper advertising. advertising.
Going out with a plan that's Newspaper advertising.
already prepared. Using government
Newspaper buildings as meeting
advertisements. Mail lists locations.
based on the tax assessor
information only (excludes
renters).
Putting an ad in the paper.
EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND INEFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES
QUESTION 39: Distinguish these by segments of the public that you target (limited English proficiency, low literacy,
elderly/disabled, those without access to public transportation, second/third shift workers, single mothers with
children, other underrepresented groups)?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Meet with minority groups Use community based LEP--alternative LEP--provide translator;
in churches; post flyers; partners; post fliers in languages, attend alternative languages for
early meetings where there community health clinics community functions, materials/announcements;
is high unemployment; and public agencies. provide translation Elderly/Disabled--ADA
various meeting times. Go out into the community; services, door-to-door accessible facilities,
LEP--same techniques, Low Literacy--one-on-one meetings, use more distribute announcements
different language; communication, assist with symbols; at senior facilities.
Elderly/Disabled--field paperwork; LEP--use CCP Elderly/Disabled--ADA LEP--alternative
surveys, community to identify areas and use accessible buses, large languages for materials,
centers, retirement proper tools--assist with print materials, coordinate use community liaisons,
homes/communities, sign-in, use videos, use with Ride Connections piggyback on community
vanpools. radio; Elderly/Disabled-- (non-profit group to assist events; Elderly/Disabled--
LEP--Distribute notices in ADA accessible facilities, in spreading the word). large print materials,
various languages, use work with local coordinating Tailor material, marketing readable in gray scale (for
community leaders; board; Single Moms-- and message to particular those who are color blind);
Elderly--schedule welcome kids at meetings. audience. No Transportation--
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EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND INEFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES
QUESTION 39: Distinguish these by segments of the public that you target (limited English proficiency, low literacy,
elderly/disabled, those without access to public transportation, second/third shift workers, single mothers with
children, other underrepresented groups)?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
meetings around elderly Low Literacy--animations; meeting locations on transit
schedule (supper/early Elderly/Disabled--go out to routes, go out into
bird). them, work with communities as requested.
LEP and transportation
Elderly/Disabled--meetings disadvantaged board.
in their neighborhoods; Low Work with their
Literacy--court recorders; representatives.
No Transportation-- LEP--provide alternative
coordinate shuttles; languages; Low Literate--
2nd/3rd shift--schedule use court reporter;
meetings in between shifts Elderly/Disabled--late
at various locations; Moms afternoon/early evening
w/ Kids--provide color meetings (4:008:00 p.m.).
books/crayons.
Low Literacy--use
LEP--received good networks through social
feedback from local town work; contact volunteer
managers and mayors, center(s). LEP--networks
contact newspapers and through social work;
ask for assistance on volunteer center(s), census
translating ads and writing data.
some sort of article to help
LEP--translator for
get the word out. Low
meetings, no low literacy,
Literate--identify group
transportation for the
through development of
elderly, on-call transport for
public involvement plan.
those with no cars, multiple
Elderly/disabled--yes.
meetings for shifts, no child
Active discussion to identify
care.
who the stakeholders are.
Child care and food--never LEP--use alternative
provided child care or food language media contacts,
at meetings. Have served work with church groups;
light refreshment, but not Elderly/Disabled--work
the norm. Have had with senior citizen homes,
occasional activity to keep go to them; No
younger folks occupied Transportation--use
(color books/crayons, locations with access to
reading books). public transportation.
Low Literacy--talk with LEP--provide translators,
people and explain things visual displays--
to them, help them sign in, before/after
use television or radio photos/drawings; No
(information/news Transportation--broadcast
releases); Hearing/Visually phone number and publish
Impaired--hearing it in newspaper ad to
assistive devices, large arrange travel; 2nd/3rd
print versions; No shift--move meetings
Transportation--coordinate around (different
with others to transport times/locations).
people; Moms w/ Kids-- LEP--legal notices in
foreign language
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EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND INEFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES
QUESTION 39: Distinguish these by segments of the public that you target (limited English proficiency, low literacy,
elderly/disabled, those without access to public transportation, second/third shift workers, single mothers with
children, other underrepresented groups)?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
bring kids to meeting, serve newspapers, website
food. translatable into most
LEP--mailings in common languages; Low
alternative languages, Literacy--visualization;
translation services; Low radio advertising.
Literate--be more Can't say they do anything
observant of those that specific to target them--
might have trouble reading have always targeted in
and explain what they are terms of either area-wide or
viewing, provide assistance a specific geographic
in writing comments; region of the MPO study
Elderly/Disabled--ADA area. Never done it by LEP
accessible locations, or other kinds of segments.
afternoon/early evening
meetings; Visually
Challenged--large print
materials and narration;
Moms w/ Kids--provide
coloring sheets and fun
things.
LEP--alternative
languages, use church
contacts and community
centers.
LEP--provide interpreters;
2nd/3rd shift--day and
evening hours.
LEP--work with community
members as translators;
Elderly/Disabled--use
senior facilities, coordinate
with bus service; No
Transportation--use the
website, emails to
commuters and carpools;
Single Moms--provide food
(bought or donated).
LEP--provide interpreters;
Elderly/Disabled--include
phone number in ad to
request special services.
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LEVERAGING RELATIONSHIPS
QUESTION 40: How do you leverage your public involvement efforts to make them more effective or cost-
effective (e.g., partnering with community organizations (NGOs), other public agencies, the media or others)?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Do not leverage public They use community Attend volunteer fire Piggyback on other
involvement efforts. organizations, other dept. spaghetti dinners, media events.
Partner with community public agencies, the PTO/Parent Teacher Partner early and do
groups, NGO, media. media, and other Association meetings, early communication.
Getting together with organizations. festivals, chamber
other groups, going Partnering with meetings,
where they are, being community club/organization
part of their meetings, organizations, other meetings/functions.
partnering with them, public agencies, the Work with partnering
developing relationships media. organizations and
with them; working with Piggyback; strings and piggyback on events.
transportation ribbons game.
disadvantaged local Piggyback on existing
coordinating boards. activities; use
Use groups that have governmental services
inroads into the people to coordinate with
communities or are local officials.
affiliated with other Not for public
business organizations involvement. They have
or mutually support each for highway safety
other; try to get the word meetings.
out to those who will be You have to leverage--
directly impacted by the how else does one
project. person reach 6 million
Piggybacked in the past, people? You have to do
but that's then norm what you can to try and
(really a project by reach as many people as
project thing). possible with a limited
Use neighborhood amount of money that
associations, local we have and limited staff
advocacy groups like resources.
bike pad or ADA groups, Radio station reads the
local historic folks (as plan to the blind,
applicable). distributed surveys to
Work closely with schools, worked with
organizations that have non-profits.
non-English speaking Maintain tremendous
individuals as part of working relationships
their membership to help with United Way,
conduct outreach.--you Neighborhood Alliance,
can't do it without Urban League, and
involving and getting the Latino Action Committee.
support of those groups They use community
that can outreach to the organizations, other
individuals you are trying public agencies, the
to reach. media, and other
Piggyback existing organizations.
activities as much as Working with coalition of
possible; use Farm neighborhood
Bureau.
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LEVERAGING RELATIONSHIPS
QUESTION 40: How do you leverage your public involvement efforts to make them more effective or cost-
effective (e.g., partnering with community organizations (NGOs), other public agencies, the media or others)?
Departments of Metropolitan Planning
Transportation Organizations Transit Agencies Local Governments
Local government associations and making
meetings; churches. presentations.
Presentations to non- We work through
profit group and other partnerships with other
community based agencies and through
organizations. the media.
MPOs and send out
information to the media.
