Practical Approaches for Involving Traditionally Underserved Populations in Transportation Decisionmaking (2012) / Chapter Skim
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4-1 This Effective Practices chapter describes public involvement processes, analytical methods, data sources and tools, and proactive strategies that have brought into clearer view for decisionmakers the lives and concerns of various disadvantaged populations. Practices are "effective" because they have improved our identification and understanding of traditionally underserved populations or created decision-making processes in which meaningful involvement is possible.
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4-2 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking achievement of multiple task objectives when undertaking their work. Further definition of the task objectives is given in Chapter 3, Practical Approaches, but the general categories include: • Identify Populations, • Implement Public Involvement Plan, • Provide Information, • Gather Feedback, • Build Relationships, • Mitigate Impacts, Deliver Benefits, and • Overcome Institutional Barriers.
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effective practices 4-3 Case Example Agency Lead Stage of Decisionmaking Task Objective Tools and Techniques Featured Applying the Framework of Environmental Justice and Transportation Toolkit to Support Community-Based Initiatives Baltimore Region/Nationwide • Policy/Research • Planning • Operations • Gather Feedback • Build Relationships • Overcome Institutional Barriers • Building Power Relationships • Public Participation Framework • Alternative Analysis Methods • Triage Committee Designing a Tiered Outreach Approach to Foster Meaningful Involvement Colorado DOT • Project Development/ NEPA Compliance • Provide Information • Gather Feedback • Build Relationships • Surveying • Community canvassing • Employing Locals • Uniforms Hiring Local Residents to Conduct Outreach North Carolina DOT • Project Development/ NEPA Compliance • Provide Information • Gather Feedback • Build Relationships • Surveying • Community Canvassing • Employing Locals • Uniforms Recruiting and Training Community Insiders to Lead Outreach and Engagement Processes City of Seattle • Planning • Build Relationships • Gather Feedback • Working Directly with Communities Identifying "Affected Populations" Using a Community Attribute Index Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) • Policy/Research • Planning • Identify Populations • Community Attribute Index Communities About Pedestrian Safety Compliance • School Outreach Using Student Internet Access to Reach Diverse Populations Georgia DOT • Project Development/ NEPA Compliance • Gather Feedback • Internet Survey • Paper Survey • Working with Schools Building Relationships with Service and Transit Providers to Measure Paratransit Needs Southwest Region Planning Commission • Planning • Build Relationships • Gather Feedback • Committee Formation • Working with Service Providers Using a "Beacon" to Conduct Outreach in Low-Income and Minority Communities San Antonio– Bexar County MPO • Planning • Provide Information • Gather Feedback • Build Relationships • Community Beacons • Delivering Benefits • Public Meetings Building Trust Through Transparency Tennessee DOT • Statewide/ Metropolitan Planning • Build Relationships • Provide Information • Gather Feedback • Steering Committees • Working Groups Using Games to Solicit Priorities in Regional and Statewide Planning Kentucky Transportation Cabinet • Planning • Gather Feedback • Games Engaging a Wider Public Through Community Conversations Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS)
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4-4 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Es ta b lis hi ng a Mo de l Co mp re hens iv e Tr ib al Co ns ul ta ti on Pr oc e ss Wa sh in gton St at e DO T • Po lic y/ Re se ar ch • Pl a nni ng • Pr oj ec t De ve lo pm ent/ NE PA Co mp lia nc e • Bu ild Re la ti on sh ip s • Ga ther F eed ba ck • Ag en cy Gu id an ce fo r Co ns ul ta ti on Pr oc es s • A nnu al Tr ib al Ou tr ea ch M eet in gs • Tr ib al Tr an sp or ta ti on Pl a nni ng Or ga ni za ti on Re pl ac in g a Co mmuni ty Re so ur ce in a Mi no ri ty Ne ig hb or h ood th ro ugh Fu nc ti on al Re pl ac ement Mi ssi ssi pp i DO T • Ri ght- of -W ay • Bu ild Re la ti on sh ip s • Ov er co me In st it ut io na l Ba rri er s • Fu nc ti on al Re pl ac ement • Ou tr ea ch an d Ne goti at io ns Ho ld in g a St ud ent F ilm Co mpet it io n to En ga ge Yo uth So un d Tr an si t • Co ns tr uc ti on • Po lic y/ • Pr ov id e In fo rm at io n • St ud ent Co mp et it io n • Vi de o Me ssa gi ng Re se ar ch • Bu ild Re la ti on sh ip s Tr ai ni ng Di ve rs e Le ad er s fo r Se at s on Bo ar ds an d Co mmi ssi on s Bo ar ds an d Co mmi ssi on s Le ad er sh ip In st it ute • Po lic y/ Re se ar ch • Ov er co me In st it ut io na l Ba rri er s • Tr ai ni ng • Co a lit io n Bu ild in g Tr ai ni ng an d Hi ri ng Mi no ri ty , Lo w- In co me , an d Fe ma le Wo rk er s Mi sso ur i DO T • Co ns tr uc ti on • Ov er co me In st it ut io na l Ba rri er s • Pr e- a ppr enti ce sh ip Program • Op en Jo bs Pi pe lin e be tw een Co mmuni ty , Un io ns , an d Co nt ra ct or s • Mi no ri ty , Lo w- In co me an d Fe ma le Hi ri ng In ce nt iv es • Wo rk Fo rc e Pa rt ne ri ng Pl an Ag r eement Cr ea ti ng Wo rk fo rc e Di ve rs it y th ro ugh In te rn sh ip Pr og ra ms Ma ry la nd DO T • Op er at io ns • Po lic y/ Re se ar ch • Ov er co me In st it ut io na l Ba rri er s • In te rn sh ip s • DO T- Un iv er si ty Partnerships Tr ai ni ng Pr oj ec t Ma na ge rs an d En gi n eer s in Pu b lic In vo lv ement Pr in ci pl es Ar iz on a DO T • Tr ai ni ng • Ov er co me In st it ut io na l Ba rri er s • Tr ai ni ng Gu ar an t eei ng Mo b iliz at io n Lo an s fo r Di sa dv an ta ged Bu si ne ss En te rp ri se s Wi sc on si n DO T • Po lic y/ Re se ar ch • Ov er co me In st it ut io na l Ba rri er s • Hi ri ng Pr og ra ms • Tr ai ni ng • Fi na nc ia l A ssi st an ce Ca se Ex am pl e Ag en cy Le ad St ag e of De ci si on ma ki ng Ta sk Ob je ct iv e T ool s an d Te chni qu es Fe at ur ed Table 4-1. (Continued)
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effective practices 4-5 Conducting Focus Groups to Examine Immigrants' Needs and Values: Minnesota Department of Transportation and the University of Minnesota, Urban and Rural Minnesota, Statewide Background For the past two decades, Minnesota has been undergoing a demographic shift. Burgeoning immigrant communities across the state have given Minnesota's urban and rural areas sizeable populations of Hispanics, Somalis from East Africa, and Hmong from Southeast Asia.
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4-6 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Implementing the Approach To implement the focus groups, SLPP and MnDOT drafted a master agreement to outline their collaboration. This step was important in establishing roles and responsibilities as a framework for partnership between two large bureaucracies.
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effective practices 4-7 Influence of the Approach on Decisionmaking Building upon the insights offered through the focus groups, SLPP was able to produce a study identifying specific transportation needs and values for each community and assessing the potential policy implications of these expressed needs and values. Some of the major opportunities that emerged for improving mobility and accessibility to these immigrant communities included rural and urban car-sharing programs, and increased investment in public transit.
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4-8 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking believes that the focus group approach provided insight on the relative merits of a range of ITS applications -- strategies such as community-based transit (CBT) , car-sharing, telework and telemedicine, and advanced traveler information services (ATIS)
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effective practices 4-9 tion, planners using the "business-as-usual" approach risk marginalizing an important part of the population and undermining the transportation system's ability to serve the mobility and accessibility needs of the state. Costs of the Approach Focus groups require research to target populations, to determine where to meet them, and to ascertain how to effectively stimulate dialogue during such activities.
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4-10 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Using Convenience Surveys to Sample Hispanic Populations: Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC Background Between 2000 and 2008 the Horry County, South Carolina's Hispanic or Latino population increased by 78 percent while the South Carolina state overall saw a 9.7 percent increase (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009)
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effective practices 4-11 if they used a more deliberate and personal approach to encourage participation they would get better results and higher levels of participation, albeit at some risk that the sampled population might differ from the overall Latin American immigrant population. This method of nonprobability sampling is referred to as convenience surveying or judgment sampling.
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4-12 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Influence of Approach on Decisionmaking The research study was not intended to directly influence transportation decisionmaking, but it was intended to shed more light on the values and needs of the sampled population to foster a deeper understanding of the lives of the immigrant Hispanic population living within the immediate region. The researchers secured 174 usable surveys in Horry County, or roughly 2 percent of the estimated 2006–2008 Hispanic/Latino origin population.
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effective practices 4-13 Costs of the Approach In terms of time and other resources, convenience samples are not as costly as probability samples. The convenience lies in the agencies' ability to connect with universities, human service agencies, faith-based organizations, and others who have existing ties with the target population.
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4-14 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Demonstrating Commitment to Communication with the Public through Databases and Management Teams: Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization Background Despite possessing an intimate familiarity with the transportation system and its day-to-day users, members of the public are reluctant to get involved with metropolitan area planning studies and activities. Mistrust of government and a dismissive cynicism that the public's views will not be taken seriously by officials is surely near the top of any list of reasons for not participating in planning-related studies.
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Effective Practices 4-15 Figure 4-2. The Miami-Dade MPO created the PIP database to track and monitor citizen concerns.
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4-16 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking The MPO Public Involvement Plan Database (PIP Database) was designed to collect, organize, and track every comment, question, or inquiry that the MPO receives from anyone in the community as well as from elected officials, representatives of member agencies, human service providers, or nonprofit organizations.
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effective practices 4-17 Creole, which are intended to assist the public in understanding the transportation planning process. The MPO also distributes a "Call for Ideas" brochure to contacts in the PIP Database early in the plan development process.
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4-18 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Contacts/Resources Contacts Elizabeth Rockwell Public Involvement Manager Miami-Dade MPO 111 NW 1st Street, Ste. 920 Miami, FL 33128 (305)
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effective practices 4-19 Using "Degrees of Disadvantage" to Identify "Affected Populations": Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Background Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 1994 President's Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice state that no person or group shall be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, any program or activity utilizing federal funds. Each federal agency is required to identify any disproportionately high and adverse health or environmental effects of its programs on minority and low-income populations.
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4-20 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Disadvantage" (DOD) method to evaluate their LRTP and the TIP.
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effective practices 4-21 Group Definition Cr it er ia fo r Id en ti fy in g Di sa dv an ta ge d Po pu la ti on s No n- Hi sp an ic Mi no ri ty "M in or it y" as : 1)
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4-22 Practical Approaches for Involving Traditionally Underserved Populations in Transportation Decisionmaking regional average for each individual population group previously discussed. Therefore, any census tract can contain zero to eight categories -- that is, degrees of disadvantage -- that have been recognized as regionally sensitive.
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effective practices 4-23 DVRPC's Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) targets program funds to municipalities of the Delaware Valley region to support smart growth and redevelopment efforts that are consistent with municipal, county, state, and regional planning objectives.
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4-24 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking in transportation. Combined with geographic information systems (GIS)
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effective practices 4-25 Resources Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Unified Planning Work Program, Environmental Justice: http://www.dvrpc.org/asp/workprogram11/print.aspx? prject=11-23-040 Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Title VI and Environmental Justice website: http://www.dvrpc.
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4-26 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Identifying "Affected Populations" Using a Community Attribute Index: Atlanta, Georgia Background The Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration have given clear notification to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) that planning certification reviews are to include assessment of their activities to ensure compliance with Title VI.
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Effective Practices 4-27 to populations who are truly in need. The existing criteria can be faulted for including groups with a higher standard of living or who live in communities better endowed with factors that strengthen communities.
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4-28 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Implementing the Approach All data for the CAI was collected and geocoded to the census tract level. Census 2000 data was supplemented by information collected at the zip code level and school attendance zone level.
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Effective Practices 4-29 • In the third step, the CAI score for each census tract is derived by taking the simple average of the five dimension indices. The CAI score for each census tract was then rank ordered from highest to lowest and mapped into the geographic information system (GIS)
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4-30 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking environmental justice that are actually among the more endowed in terms of factors that are believed to strengthen communities. Some of the most important findings are as follows: 1.
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effective practices 4-31 erty Status, Educational Attainment, Housing and Population Mix, and Family Status. The CAI approach will offer its greatest benefits when involvement processes are established to ensure that it is not undertaken as a solely technical exercise; the CAI approach can stimulate discussion about the socioeconomic factors that make and keep communities livable.
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4-32 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Building Trust through Transparency: Memorial Boulevard, Kingsport, Tennessee Background SR 126 (Memorial Boulevard) is one of the primary connectors between the City of Kingsport and I-81 in Sullivan County.
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effective practices 4-33 Implementing the Approach Since CSS was a relatively new concept to TDOT and members of the Team, instructors from the Kentucky Transportation Center were retained to conduct a one-day training exercise with the Team. This event provided the Team with a broad understanding of CSS, exposure to a variety of case study examples, and a vocabulary to enhance communication and understanding.
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4-34 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking and land use study. Letting the public express this anger was necessary if the public was to move forward and focus on the SR 126 project.
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effective practices 4-35 recorded and transcribed. A thank you postcard was sent to all who attended.
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4-36 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking understood the instructions and did not know what they were being asked to do. A 12-member focus group facilitated by a neutral party was held to assess the merits of the allegation.
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effective practices 4-37 own alternatives or anyone else's alternatives. Instead, TDOT facilitated a transparent process that invited the public to express its comments, concerns, and values across a variety of alternatives and segments of the corridor.
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4-38 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Using Games to Solicit Priorities in Regional and Statewide Planning: Barren River and Bluegrass Area Development Districts, Kentucky Background In 1998 the Charlotte County/Punta Gorda, Florida, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) staff set out to: • Increase the number and diversity of participants in the regional planning process, • Make the process more interesting and enjoyable for both their staff and the public, • Transfer complicated information more easily between their staff and the public, and • Identify specific needs in the context of cost and available revenue for their 1998 TIP.
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effective practices 4-39 increased public participation in the regional planning process from only 24 people several years before to almost 500 people in 2008. Developing the Approach In 2005, Kentucky's 10-county Barren River Area Development District (ADD)
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4-40 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking The bankers then identified the projects that were purchased at their table. The projects and their associated costs were listed on large chart paper at the front of the room.
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effective practices 4-41 Influence of Approach on Decisionmaking By bringing all of the representatives together at one place and at one time, participants completed the process faster, were able to select their "pet" projects, contributed to multicounty connector projects they never would have known were important to others in the region, identified the unscheduled needs projects that would be funded that same day, and had fun. As a result of the Barren River session, one of the county judges in attendance took the game back to his/her county and has used it successfully for local project prioritization.
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4-42 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Challenges The challenge ahead is getting other ADDs and levels of government within those ADDs to engage as many residents from all populations as possible in the game. This can be done through notifying those groups and individuals already on their mailing lists, including local social service agencies, faith-based organizations, higher educational institutions, and high schools, and organizations that specifically address the needs of environmental justice populations.
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effective practices 4-43 Elizabeth Rockwell Public Involvement Manager Miami-Dade County MPO 111 N.W. First Street, Suite 920 Miami, FL 33128 (305)
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4-44 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Engaging a Wider Public through Community Conversations: Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho Background The Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) , the metropolitan planning organization (MPO)
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effective practices 4-45 or from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM within Boise -- with minimal weekend service, making attendance at Community Cafés difficult for those without a car. COMPASS found that some of the best locations for holding the Community Cafés were not in close proximity to underserved populations.
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4-46 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking For these focus group meetings, COMPASS partnered with other organizations that were already actively engaging these groups and went to the community to meet with them on their own turf. COMPASS partnered with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
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effective practices 4-47 not have been heard if only large meetings were held. For example, one of the groups COMPASS met with was a leadership club of teens and young adult refugees.
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4-48 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking In addition to creating a forum where traditionally underserved populations may feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts on and experiences of the transportation system, the method by which these various events were organized made them truly accessible. In southwestern Idaho, 70 percent of households have Internet, but that statistic would not hold for many of the underserved populations.
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effective practices 4-49 Playing Board Games to Educate Decisionmakers about Reservation Road Planning: Lummi Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) , Northwest Region Background New roads on Indian reservations are needed for a variety of reasons -- to serve new businesses, link remote villages to county and state highway systems, provide access to cultural activities, and to replace unwieldy rutted and gravel-paved tracks, to name a few.
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4-50 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking language and tools. The educators helped them tailor their game to the diverse pool of potential players, some of whom may not have graduated high school or have extensive formal education.
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Effective Practices 4-51 a tube and delivered with a set of cards, game pieces, and play money. This method of distribution was chosen because the TTAP offices have existing relationships with both the Federal Land Highway Program and the local tribes, and could use their 58 nationwide centers as a bridge to getting the game into the hands of the right people.
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4-52 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Challenges It can be difficult to find a way to fit the game onto a council agenda and convince people to play. Because the game takes only about an hour, a good approach is to do it over lunch and provide pizza and soda.
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effective practices 4-53 a cost of $56 or $56,000 total. Initial funding for development of a project approach came from the BIA.
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4-54 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Adjusting the Strategies and Pace of Outreach to Develop Understanding of Community Values: Dine'Bii'Tah Scenic Road, Navajo Nation, Arizona Background The Dine'Bii'Tah Road was adopted as a scenic byway in 2008 based upon its outstanding cultural and natural resources and scenic values. As a scenic byway, the Dine'Bii'Tah Road is recognized by Congress in the National Scenic Byways Program of the Federal Highway Administration.
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effective practices 4-55 element for developing the plans. The Navajo Nation is organized into five major subdivisions called "Agencies," which are broken down further into "Chapters." Dine'Bii'Tah Scenic Road runs through, or is in close proximity to, the Lupton, Oak Springs, St.
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4-56 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking The team had the greatest success in attracting attendees when they were able to piggyback on other events. Working with one Chapter they arranged to meet with the community over lunch at the conclusion of an earlier meeting.
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effective practices 4-57 Understanding how various members of the Navajo Nation valued and interpreted each of the resources along the byway was critically important (see Figure 4-17)
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4-58 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Recommendations under each of the resource areas, informed by outreach to the community, were included in the final Resource Protection Plan prepared for the Navajo Tourism Department in 2009. The plan identifies the intrinsic qualities most treasured by the communities along this corridor, as well as the most culturally and fiscally appropriate ways to protect and preserve them for future generations.
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effective practices 4-59 Although management of the byway by ADOT is thought to be a good strategy for its further development, it was beneficial to have the Tourism Department lead the Resource Conservation Plan and associated outreach. The Tourism Department was skilled at using its contacts with each of the Chapters and was able to build trust with the community and confidence that the project would benefit it by appropriately framing the project as, "what do you want to share about your community?
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4-60 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Using Popular Shopping Areas and Phone Trees to Engage Immigrant Communities about Pedestrian Safety: Buford Highway, DeKalb County, Georgia Background Buford Highway has long been one of Atlanta's major radial highways. It extends from beyond the northern part of DeKalb County south through the City of Chamblee and into Fulton County and the heart of Atlanta.
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effective practices 4-61 at mid-block locations. When corridor merchants learned of these plans, many went to DeKalb County elected officials and expressed concerns that a continuous raised median would deny left turns and restrict accessibility to their businesses.
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4-62 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking and Woodward elementary schools. The principals were visited and asked to distribute the flyers to all fifth grade students with instructions for them to take the flyers home to their parents.
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effective practices 4-63 Influence of Approach on Decisionmaking Following the completion of the surveys, meetings were held with GDOT to provide a summary of the design recommendations made by community members. Some of the recommendations that the community offered included sidewalks on both sides of the highway, pedestrianlevel lighting, addition of four midblock signalized pedestrian crossings, bus shelters, crossing signal time lengthening to accommodate mothers pushing strollers, and a pedestrian bridge at the Latin American Association.
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4-64 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Contacts/Resources Contacts Anne Morris Senior Project Manager Atkins 810 Dutch Square Boulevard, Suite 310 Columbia, SC 29210 (803) 772-4404 ext 224 anne.morris@atkinsglobal.com Michael A
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effective practices 4-65 Using Student Internet Access to Reach Diverse Populations: Southwest Georgia Interstate Study, Georgia Department of Transportation Background Southwest Georgia is a sparsely populated rural agricultural area with access to few four-lane divided highways and only limited direct access to Interstate 75 (I-75)
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4-66 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking options. Initially, they contacted community coordinators at each Wal-Mart within the study area to see if surveys could be distributed outside their stores on a weekend day.
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effective practices 4-67 paper copies as they could not afford the cost of printing or paper. A letter, addressed to the parents explaining the purpose of the survey, was provided to the superintendents to include with the paper survey.
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4-68 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Costs of the Approach Making phone calls to the superintendents, sending a follow-up letter to the superintendents, printing paper surveys and sending packets of surveys to the schools, creating the hyperlink, using prepaid return packets, and tabulating the results of the survey cost approximately $10,000 and took approximately 160 hours of effort. The Internet survey was hosted by the consultant because they were writing the report.
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effective practices 4-69 Building Relationships with Service and Transport Providers to Measure Paratransit Needs: Southwest Region Planning Commission, Keene, New Hampshire Background The Southwest Region Planning Commission (SWRPC) is one of nine regional planning commissions in New Hampshire established by state statute.
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4-70 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking • Coordination of rural rides programs with existing bus services; • Coordination of transportation among the various agencies for medical appointments to Cheshire Medical Center, Keene Dialysis Center, Springfield Hospital, and Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital; and/or • Development of an additional park and ride lot in the region with possible transit or paratransit connections. Developing the Approach Through contractual arrangements between SWRPC and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT)
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effective practices 4-71 the RPCs; however, these partnerships leverage the resources of the two branches of state and regional government. Before the Route 12 Corridor Transit/Paratransit Development Study was funded, important groundwork was undertaken by the SWRPC and the four agencies to learn more about the needs of the traditionally underserved.
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4-72 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking the Town of Walpole. These meetings were consistent with the three major aspects of the coordinated plan: • Advancement of Transportation Services, • Creating a Structural Framework for Coordination, and • Service Planning.
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effective practices 4-73 also provided access to the new service, depending on available seating. The American Red Cross explored collaborative efforts through feeder services and continuation of the service using volunteer drivers during the academic year.
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4-74 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Using a "Beacon" to Conduct Outreach in Low-Income and Minority Communities: San Antonio, Texas Background San Antonio's East Side has been historically a Black community. As in much of the city, the area has become increasingly populated by Hispanic residents in recent years.
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effective practices 4-75 Implementing the Approach The "beacon" met with community leaders, church leaders, and others in the community to explain the purpose of each of the studies and emphasize the importance of community participation. She also prepared media releases, had articles published in the local newspapers, called specific stakeholders she knew who were also "beacons" within the community, met with businesses and other stakeholders, contacted homeowner associations, and sent out invitations to the public meetings.
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4-76 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Priorities were identified for the transportation plan and for the economic development study as a result of the input and feedback given at the community meetings. Sidewalks, multi-modal access to activity centers, hiking and bicycling trails, and other amenities were identified as clear priorities, whereas they might not have been if there had been a low turnout at the meetings.
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effective practices 4-77 mentation and the longer-term improvements that were more costly and not as urgent for the community. Consequently, improvements like better bus shelters and pedestrian connectivity to shelters, repaired roadways, safety and traffic calming measures such as roundabouts, and other improvements at intersections with high crash rates were prioritized on the Tier 1 "menu," which addressed immediate needs and deficiencies.
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4-78 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Recruiting and Training Community Insiders to Lead Outreach and Engagement Processes: City of Seattle, Washington Background In 2008, in concert with planning for a new light rail service, the City of Seattle decided to update neighborhood plans that were created in the late 1990s for 38 neighborhoods throughout the city. The update would begin in Othello, North Rainier, and North Beacon Hill -- three neighborhoods in which light rail stations were being sited in southeast Seattle, the city's most diverse and low-income area.
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effective practices 4-79 • Producing materials in languages reflective of the community, and using communication venues and means appropriate to those communities to spur the interest and participation in communities that have not participated in past City-sponsored planning activities. • Using innovative outreach and engagement activities that allow and encourage the diverse participation of the community while respecting cultural customs and traditions.
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4-80 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Figures 4-22, 4-23, 4-24. The City sought liaison candidates to represent eleven ethnic groups within three neighborhoods.
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effective practices 4-81 would be bilingual, bicultural, and skilled at navigating the cultural and language gaps between practitioners and members of the public. The City convened an interview panel to screen promising candidates and eventually a group of 15 was selected.
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4-82 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking processes. Typically, when the City had spoken to representatives of neighborhoods adjacent to light rail stations, people had felt threatened by what they considered high-rise development in their community.
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effective practices 4-83 matched by actions such as the delivery of resources and improvements. This will make the best case to previously uninvolved community members and groups as to why they should continue to participate in local government planning processes.
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4-84 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking and express appreciation for their efforts. For example, agencies can try employing methods used by nonprofits and other organizations with unpaid boards such as holding a retreat or conference, providing food at meetings, or formal recognition for their service from elected officials and well-respected leaders.
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effective practices 4-85 Applying the Framework of Environmental Justice in Transportation Toolkit to Support Community-Based Initiatives: Baltimore, Maryland Background The Environmental Justice in Transportation Toolkit (EJTK) is a collection of transportation planning procedures and processes that are intended to integrate environmental justice analysis into the traditional transportation planning process.
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4-86 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Developing the Approach Each urban area community selected as a case study for EJTK research has been presented as a profile, beginning with a brief Description of the setting and the concerns, followed by an inventory of the Investigations undertaken in support of the concerns, and then a presentation of the Findings resulting from the analysis and review of the key questions. A final section in each profile summarizes the Conclusions and Recommendations resulting from the analysis.
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From page 227... ...
effective practices 4-87 case examples highlighted in the toolkit research -- an investigation of the effects of a regional bus depot on a nearby low-income neighborhood. Listening sessions, community dialogues, community workshops and subsequent follow-up meetings with government officials were held.
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4-88 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Committee included advocates, transportation planners, academics, low-income populations, stakeholders, and the MPO or regional planning council. The Triage Committee's composition is not necessarily a permanent regional committee of the MPO or other transportation agency institution, although it could be formed as a regularly held environmental justice task force or subcommittee.
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From page 229... ...
effective practices 4-89 bus transit routes, air pollution, housing noise, and community sentiment. As a result of these investigations, follow-up meetings were held with the transit agency to discuss mitigation strategies, including strengthening buffer zones, redirecting bus tailpipes away from the residents, and perimeter tree planting.
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4-90 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking present its findings. As a result of the meeting, the MTA acknowledged the community concerns and agreed to take several remedial actions in advance of redeveloping the bus yard, including: – Planting trees around the perimeter of the bus yard, – Constructing a meshed covered fence, – Repositioning the bus tail pipes away from the residential properties, – Eliminating noise from an all call speaker system, – Increasing the number of community information and feedback meetings, and – Establishing a 300-foot buffer away from the residential homes.
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effective practices 4-91 lic participation and power relationship–building strategies articulated in the EJTK. In this community-based engagement, a Transit Task Force within PIIN was formed to gather information needed for its Mall Transit Equity Campaign to build interest in the campaign and in the larger community.
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4-92 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking establish bus stops in safe, well-lit, and well-maintained areas near shopping malls within Allegheny County. • In Oakland, the Conference on Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)
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effective practices 4-93 communities. The EJTK seeks to reform the typically "top-down" approaches to how planning decision-making processes are made with a "bottom-up" model of public participation and decisionmaking that is more community driven and collaborative.
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4-94 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Contacts/Resources Contacts Glenn Robinson, Project Director Environmental Justice in Transportation Project Morgan State University 1700 East Cold Spring Lane Baltimore, Maryland 21251 (443) 838-2435 grobinson@moac.morgan.edu Bobbi Fischer Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)
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From page 235... ...
effective practices 4-95 Designing a Tiered-Outreach Approach to Foster Meaningful Involvement: Colorado DOT Background In July 2003, after almost 40 years in operation, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD)
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From page 236... ...
4-96 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Fundamental public involvement principles were incorporated into the project's public involvement plan (PIP) to ensure meaningful involvement that would be both personal and extensive.
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From page 237... ...
effective practices 4-97 effective because people are more comfortable opening their door to strangers when it is light out. Outreach specialists were expected to wear the brightly colored, yellow I-70 East Corridor t-shirts and identification badges so that they were easily identifiable.
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From page 238... ...
4-98 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Working groups were established to encourage continued community participation after the scoping phase. Working group members were people who attended neighborhood and corridor-wide meetings and the working groups were organized around such issues as community impacts, interchanges, economic development, bicycle/pedestrian mobility, and open space.
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effective practices 4-99 Costs of the Approach The overall cost for outreach was about $500,000. The majority of the outreach approach was implemented over a 5-month period, during which the greatest expense was staff time.
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4-100 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Hiring Locals Residents to Conduct Outreach: I-40 Business Public Involvement Project, Winston–Salem, North Carolina Background Winston-Salem's four-lane East-West Expressway was designed in 1953 prior to the passage of the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956. After the roadway was opened in 1958, it was brought into the Interstate system and renamed I-40.
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From page 241... ...
effective practices 4-101 ness groups; public school bus drivers and officials; city bus drivers; and other residents. Based upon information obtained from these individuals, a study area map was created that identified 26 neighborhoods.
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4-102 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking test for prospective hires was part of the hiring process. A cadre of 15 individuals were selected for leadership positions in the field and in the office.
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Effective Practices 4-103 to accommodate all of those wishing to complete a survey. As a result of this effort, a total of 11,950 surveys were completed (see Figure 4-34)
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4-104 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Challenges While 75 locals were necessary to conduct the daily door-to-door phase of the project, only about 30 individuals were needed to prepare for and conduct the subsequent 1-week corridorwide meetings phase of the project. Even fewer individuals were needed to support the onenight-a-month working group meetings.
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effective practices 4-105 Establishing a Model Comprehensive Tribal Consultation Process: Washington State Department of Transportation Background Federally recognized Indian tribes are governmental entities whose lands and rights are protected through and confirmed by the Constitution of the United States, treaties, statutes, executive orders, and judicial decisions. This unique situation sets them apart from other underserved populations.
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4-106 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking mutual goals through an improved relationship between their sovereign governments. Ten years later, the governor, attorney general, and tribal chairs renewed their commitment to the fulfillment of the accord's principles with execution of an Agreement to Institutionalize the Government-toGovernment Relationship in Preparation for the New Millennium (New Millennium Agreement)
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effective practices 4-107 ing environmental review, and their input has in turn influenced decisions that are reached by WSDOT under NEPA and other environmental requirements. Challenges As with any guidance, two principal challenges persist.
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From page 248... ...
4-108 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Benefits of the Approach Early and ongoing consultation with tribes throughout project development is integral in identifying opportunities to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to tribal resources as well as to reduce risks to project schedules and budgets. One goal of WSDOT's consultation efforts is to build durable relationships with tribes.
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From page 249... ...
effective practices 4-109 Replacing a Community Resource in a Minority Neighborhood through Functional Replacement: Gulfport, Mississippi Background The Port of Gulfport is the second largest importer of green fruit in the United States and the third busiest container port on the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (Missis- sippi State Port Authority at Gulfport)
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4-110 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking to use functional replacement to mitigate the environmental justice impacts of acquiring the church property. The team believed that helping the church reestablish itself would be critical to making the community whole again after the project, given the church's importance as a center of public activity within the community.
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effective practices 4-111 Implementing the Approach Before the alignment had been finalized, and with the knowledge that they would be able to offer a functional replacement, the ROW team sought to engage the church in a discussion about relocation. Because the Gulfport community was particularly vocal and politically active, the ROW team started their outreach with a state representative who was a member of the church and operated in the district where the church was located.
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4-112 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Mississippi DOT worked with a church-selected architect to create the plans for a new structure that would serve to functionally replace the church. The reaction of other minority groups and churches to the lengths that the Mississippi DOT went to replace the St.
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effective practices 4-113 Challenges The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina makes the need for efficient roadways even more apparent in this area of the coast, and the challenge of creating infrastructure while preserving remaining community resources even greater. Following Hurricane Katrina, project staff underwent training to guide them in working with members of the public who were essentially in shock.
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4-114 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Contacts/Resources Contacts E Claiborne Barnwell Project Development Team Leader FHWA, Mississippi Division 666 North Street, Suite 105 Jackson, MS 39202-3199 claiborne.barnwell@dot.gov (601)
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From page 255... ...
effective practices 4-115 Holding a Student Film Competition to Engage Diverse Youth: Sound Transit, Seattle, Washington Background Sound Transit, Central Puget Sound's Regional Transit Authority, operates Central Link, a light rail system connecting downtown Seattle and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. When pre-revenue testing began in late 2008, Sound Transit started to focus attention upon educating pedestrians and drivers about hazards and desired behaviors near at-grade-crossings.
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4-116 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking during the making of the film. For this effort, they proposed expanding on this concept with an online public safety announcement (PSA)
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effective practices 4-117 After authoring their scripts and receiving approval from Sound Transit, the students worked with the consultants to produce the films. The students assumed the roles of director and actors in the production, while the consultants acted as the cinematographers and shot the film.
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4-118 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking The professional PSA which was created with input from the students proved to be a powerful tool for the agency in conducting outreach. During a presentation at an alternate high school, the Link community outreach specialist found that students who appeared to be initially indifferent became quickly engaged by the video presentation.
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effective practices 4-119 Contacts/Resources Contacts Carol Doering Community Outreach Specialist Sound Transit (206) 398-5095 carol.doering@soundtransit.org www.soundtransit.org Resources You Can't Beat the Train - by Cleveland High School students: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
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4-120 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Training Diverse Leaders for Seats on Boards and Commissions: Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute, Oakland, CA Background People of color and low-income people have historically had little say in regional planning or economic and environmental policy making, yet these communities have an important stake in the policy and priorities that are set by regional planning organizations. The purpose of Urban Habitat's Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute (BCLI)
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From page 261... ...
effective practices 4-121 organizations -- a coalition of over 75 economic, social, and environmental justice groups as well as labor, faith, and youth organizations -- and other allies so that they may nominate participants from within their own organizations, campaigns, and networks. Nominees are interviewed by a selection committee, including past alumni and representatives from Social Equity Caucus member and allied organizations, who determine the final cohort of 10 to 15 participants.
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From page 262... ...
4-122 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Alameda County Parks, Recreation, and Historical Commission; the City of Richmond Community Development Commission; and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee. Alumni of the Institute are also participating in designing curriculum and support networks for the incoming cohorts.
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effective practices 4-123 time) , a full-time program associate, and about half-time staffing for an educational technologist and a program assistant.
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4-124 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Training and Hiring Minority, Low-Income, and Female Workers: The New I-64, St. Louis, Missouri Background Interstate 64 stretches from a St.
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effective practices 4-125 The MoDOT team organized multiple open-house-style public meetings that took place over several days throughout the project area. They were well-advertised and scheduled to accommodate different populations -- elderly people who wanted to be home before dark, families that needed to be home for dinner, and commuters who really could not attend until the evenings after work.
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4-126 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Implementing the Approach The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) allows for 0.5 percent of a project's construction budget to be used for training and the MoDOT Workforce Advisory Committee advocated for these funds -- $2.5 million, in this case -- to be split between a $1.25 million pre-apprenticeship program and $1.25 million in diversity programs for contractors.
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effective practices 4-127 Influence of the Approach on Decisionmaking Existing pools of apprentices filled most of the positions on the I-64 project, but this model process helped feed 450 graduates into jobs on the I-64 project and on other projects both inside and outside the construction industry. Each of the pre-apprentices gained job skills and experience translatable into careers.
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4-128 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking St. Louis, Illinois.
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effective practices 4-129 meeting space in the communities, publishing costs, and costs for hiring translators for select meetings and communications materials. Contacts/Resources Contacts Lesley Hoffarth President and Executive Director Forest Park Forever 5595 Grand Drive in Forest Park St.
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From page 270... ...
4-130 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Creating Workforce Diversity through Internship Programs: Baltimore, Maryland, Maryland DOT and Morgan State University Background Morgan State University (Morgan) has been a Baltimore institution since 1867.
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From page 271... ...
Effective Practices 4-131 importance of the program and seek to gain their buy-in. Strong leadership support helped to institutionalize the program and achieve backing from all departments.
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4-132 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Challenges During a hiring freeze or layoffs, it can be financially and politically difficult for agencies to bring on interns. Uncertainty in funding levels can be partially mitigated by employing the MSHA funding model; that is, the school pays the interns and is later reimbursed by the transportation agency.
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effective practices 4-133 Resources Maryland DOT - Morgan State University Graduate School Internships on Morgan State University website: http://www.morgan.edu/School_of_Engineering/Research_Centers/National_Transportation_Center/ Education_Initiatives/Internships/MDOT-Morgan_State_University_Graduate_School_Internship.html Maryland State Highway Administration Summer Internship Information on Morgan State University website: http://www.morgan.edu/School_of_Engineering/Research_Centers/National_Transportation_Center/ Education_Initiatives/Internships/SHA_Summer_Internship.html
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4-134 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Training Project Managers and Engineers in Public Involvement Principles: Phoenix, AZ, Arizona DOT Background The Arizona DOT (ADOT) spent many years attempting to widen Highway 179 into Sedona without success.
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From page 275... ...
effective practices 4-135 low-income people, those who are specifically affected based on culture, ethnicity, or socioeconomic class; any group with a potential equity concern; people with special needs, such as hearing, language, child care, long distances, and so forth. The course emphasizes striving for inclusion and suggests strategies for how to reach, inform, and build relationships with these harder to reach groups by going to where they are instead of the other way around.
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4-136 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking The training was not designed specifically for ADOT personnel, but the interactive nature of the course and the tools used during the training provided essential information that fostered greater interest and willingness among participants to explore techniques to use for effective public participation in the design of Highway 179. Things began to change at ADOT through the influence of the Community Partnerships Program.
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effective practices 4-137 Influence of Approach on Decisionmaking The Highway 179 project was directly affected by ADOT's openness to authentic public participation. Two of IAP2's core values played a particularly important role in shaping ADOT's public participation practices.
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4-138 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking The challenge is to continue to trust that if agencies spend the time upfront training staff to work with the community, they will have better results. A single training event is not enough -- there has to be sustained commitment to convince people that they can get more done by engaging the public.
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effective practices 4-139 Guaranteeing Mobilization Loans for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises: Wisconsin Department of Transportation Background In 1983, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) was called in front of Congress to explain why it was not meeting its federally mandated minority participation goals.
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From page 280... ...
4-140 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Implementing the Approach WisDOT's goal was to ensure that if a DBE subcontractor had the ability to do the job, startup capital would not be a barrier. An important force in laying the groundwork to realize this goal was the state senator's ability to write mobilization funding into state statutes.
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effective practices 4-141 There are several reasons why the loan that the bank issues will be secure: 1. The contract is presented as collateral.
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4-142 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking breaking up the project by geographic area and ramps, WisDOT separated out individual landscaping, sidewalk, and roundabout contracts giving DBEs further opportunities to compete for contracts. The $810 million project was completed in 2008 and 20.5 percent of the contracts were awarded to DBE firms -- more than double the federal 8 percent participation target.
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effective practices 4-143 Contacts/Resources Contacts Suki Han Contract Administrator WisDOT -- Civil Rights and Compliance Section P.O. Box 7965 Madison, WI 53707 (608)
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