Practical Approaches for Involving Traditionally Underserved Populations in Transportation Decisionmaking (2012) / Chapter Skim
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From page 78... ...
3-1 There are practical approaches for involving traditionally underserved populations that can be taken at every stage of transportation decisionmaking. Identifying traditionally underserved populations and ensuring that their concerns, issues, and needs are understood and addressed can take many different forms and be expressed in many different types of activities in transportation.
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3-2 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Po lic y/ Re se ar ch St at ew id e/ Me tr op ol it an Pl a nni n g Pr oj ec t De ve lo pm en t/ NE PA Co m p lia nc e Ri gh t- of -W ay Co nstr ucti on Op er at io ns & Ma in te na nc e • Ad ve rt is in g an d So lic it at io n of Pr ob le m St at ements • Re se ar ch To pi c Se le ct io n • Pr oc ur emen t Se le ct io n of Ag en ci es , Un iv er si ti es , an d Co ns ul ti ng Fi rm s • Pr equa lifie d Li st of Ag en ci es , Un iv er si ti es an d Co ns ul ti ng Fi rm s • Re se ar ch an d Po lic y Re po rt s • Te ch ni ca l A ssi st an ce & Tr ai ni ng • Po lic y De ci si on s • Sy st em s Pl a nni ng • St at e Pl a nni ng an d Re se ar ch (S PR ) • Un ifie d Pl a nni ng Wo rk Pr og ra m (U PW P)
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practical approaches 3-3 6. Mitigate Impacts, Deliver Benefits, and 7.
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3-4 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking strengthen relationships with influential leaders or institutions that can evolve into the types of partnering arrangements that will make future activities by the agency more successful. Several tools and techniques supportive of the task objective of identifying populations are described below.
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Practical Approaches 3-5 commitment to early and continuing public involvement to support defining the project and the study area, and discovering project alternatives that may enjoy widespread community support. The CIA Website serves as an information clearinghouse for transportation officials, regional development professionals and the general public interested in evaluating the effects of transportation planning and project implementation on a community and its quality of life (see Figure 3-2)
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3-6 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking also be used to inventory notable features in a community (e.g., hospitals, schools, churches, child care facilities, community centers, senior centers, historic districts, etc.) or particularly accessible community facilities for public involvement events.
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Figures 3-3 and 3-4. GIS maps display concentrations of minority populations with community facilities as part of a constraints screening exercise at an early stage of a highway environmental impact assessment in Columbia, Missouri (top)
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3-8 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking been implemented within the community, community attitudes toward transportation-specific projects, and whether attitudes towards those projects were favorable or unfavorable; and • Public involvement strategies for different groups within the community. Appropriate or recommended public involvement strategies have been identified for different age groups, disabled populations, varying levels of educational attainment, income levels and vehicular ownership, race, and language spoken.
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practical approaches 3-9 used to define environmental justice communities in Atlanta. Their study found that the latter, or typical, approach included some environmental justice communities with higher than expected quality of living standards.
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3-10 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking local planning officials and large public and private employers were contacted, all streets within the project area were surveyed, all potential meeting places (e.g., faith-based organizations, recreation centers, schools, etc.) were inventoried, media representatives were contacted, and local food vendors were identified (see Figure 3-5)
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Practical Approaches 3-11 Order 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency," which reaffirms Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of national origin. All programs and activities of entities that receive assistance from the U.S.DOT, including FHWA and FTA, must comply with Executive Order 13166.
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3-12 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking • The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) prepared a Language Access Plan with a four-factor analysis.
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Practical Approaches 3-13 Free Interpretation Service Available English Translation Point to your language. An interpreter will be called.
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3-14 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking methods because of limitations in their education or experience. The game has been played with residents who are deaf or hard of hearing, who cannot read, or who are sight impaired (see Figure 3-9)
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practical approaches 3-15 Offer Assistance for Low-Literacy Populations. Literacy, as defined by the National Literacy Act of 1991, is "an individual's ability to read, write, and speak in English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals, and develop one's knowledge and potential." Assistance offered to members of the public that are low literate varies depending upon their literacy level.
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3-16 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking providing temporary jobs for folks living near the project corridor and eliminating the need to train outsiders. Residents selected to be field staff were instructed on appropriate etiquette and procedures to protect their personal safety in the field (see Figure 3-12)
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practical approaches 3-17 planners and to the community. The assessment may be done at different stages of the project (e.g., project planning, detailed design and construction documents, and construction)
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3-18 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Offer Refreshments. Refreshments foster a more relaxed setting and put people at ease.
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practical approaches 3-19 • The SR126 Project in Kingsport, Tennessee expected a large turnout for a meeting event with a segment of the public highly interested in venting concerns over past project controversies. All members of the project team -- public agency employees and consultants -- wore green shirts with the specific intention of being visible and receptive to a skeptical public (see Figure 3-14)
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3-20 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Provide Information Providing information to the public is a duty of transportation agencies and applies to nearly all stages of transportation decisionmaking.
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practical approaches 3-21 • Sound Transit in Seattle, Washington, used the production of videos in a student film competition -- and the publicity surrounding it -- to spread an educational message about pedestrian safety for at-grade light rail crossings. The student films were posted online through the agency's website and on YouTube.
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3-22 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking messaging signs can draw attention and communicate a simple message to a captive community traveling through an area. They can be used to advertise for a public event, provide notification of upcoming construction, direct people to an online survey, or thank the community for their involvement.
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practical approaches 3-23 Publicize through Local and Ethnic Media Outlets. Local and ethnic media outlets are key means for reaching populations not necessarily relying upon "regular" media outlets (see Figures 3-20 and 3-21)
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3-24 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking local community media with minority audiences. TxDOT have purchased ads and paid for legal notices in Spanish and in local community newspapers with a high minority readership.
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practical approaches 3-25 alternatives at the same location and/or at different locations. If the project is a more complex widening, before-and-after pictures or a computer-generated series of different pictures (i.e., a morph)
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3-26 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Conduct Periodic Field Visits. An upfront site visit is critically important at the beginning of a project, but periodic field visits throughout the duration of a project are also valuable.
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practical approaches 3-27 newsletters, information about an upcoming public meeting, as well as cookies and soft drinks (see Figure 3-26)
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3-28 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Gather Feedback Gathering feedback from all populations, including the traditionally underserved, is critical to formulating transportation solutions that will meet the needs of users and address the concerns of affected communities where facilities and services are to be sited. Traditionally underserved populations may represent a significant portion of the transportation network's users, or bear the burden of potential transportation impacts, yet oftentimes they are not heard from during the decision-making process.
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practical approaches 3-29 with the target groups and often can build trust. Practitioners can begin by creating an asset map or database of associations, employers, and institutions that work with the target populations in the study area.
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3-30 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking • The Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) , for its long-range plan update, hosted a series of focus groups targeted to underserved populations or people that do not traditionally participate in the transportation planning process, including minorities, persons with disabilities, college students, and parents with young children.
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practical approaches 3-31 Go to the Faith-Based Institutions. Faith-based institutions can be a very effective venue for holding events and providing information to, and getting feedback from, the institution's leadership and lay membership about transportation, social, or other community-related issues.
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3-32 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Faith-based institutions are effective in involving traditionally underserved populations for several reasons. They may be the only way of reaching some underserved populations who might otherwise be suspicious of government; standard outreach and public involvement activities will not overcome this distrust.
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practical approaches 3-33 connections and increasing the flow of information. Social and new media applications have been increasing dramatically for public involvement activities.
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3-34 Practical Approaches for Involving Traditionally Underserved Populations in Transportation Decisionmaking can present a challenge for transportation practitioners. With proper pre-planning, face-to-face meetings can eliminate literacy, language, and cultural barriers.
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practical approaches 3-35 as private, nonprofit organizations and communities groups who offer English as a second language (ESL) classes in churches, night schools, and community centers.
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3-36 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking • Coastal Carolina University developed a study with its students to investigate the working conditions of Latin American immigrants in Horry County, South Carolina, including those who may be undocumented workers. Researchers hoped to reach 1,000 participants to gather feedback from a broad and diverse representation of Latin American immigrants, but they doubted that standard methods for attracting survey participants (e.g., door-to-door recruitment, direct mailings, specific questions regarding the legal status of participants, etc.)
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Practical Approaches 3-37 Those attending dinner heard a presentation on the transportation plan. Afterwards, a group discussion was held and questionnaire forms were distributed so those in attendance could write-down any additional input on topics that they may have been uncomfortable raising during the group exchange • Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC)
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3-38 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking locations. The appropriate tool depends on the particular type of preferences being explored and the type of forum (individual, group, etc.)
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practical approaches 3-39 Build Relationships Efforts to involve the public are often criticized as being "too little, too late." Citizens want to work with responsive public agencies that involve them in a meaningful, collaborative process from the outset, not just when they are upset and feeling left out halfway through a project. Building relationships with leaders from traditionally underserved communities will help agencies involve traditionally underserved populations more effectively and from the outset of the decision-making process.
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3-40 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Form Advisory Boards, Committees, Taskforces, and Working Groups. A group of volunteers that meets regularly on a long-term basis to provide advice and/or support advisory committees can be formed around specific geographic regions, a particular project's stakeholders, a special interest, or a population group.
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practical approaches 3-41 • WSDOT convened working groups along the SR99 corridor for the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project during the preparation of its supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) , to inform stakeholders of project progress, provide geographic specific information, and seek input from working group members.
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3-42 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking at the hands of their former government may have made them more hesitant to attend government sponsored meetings. To overcome this, the project manager recruited school teachers and clergy members whom the Hmong trusted to encourage their attendance.
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practical approaches 3-43 • The San Antonio-Bexar County MPO mobilized community beacons for the East Corridor Multi-Modal Alternatives Plan, working in a neighborhood where over several decades residents and employers had borne the consequences of inadequate investment in essential infrastructure and poor access to vital services such as public safety, health care, education and shopping facilities, among other issues. The beacon was able to open doors for transportation planners to meet and get to know community leaders.
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3-44 Practical Approaches for Involving Traditionally Underserved Populations in Transportation Decisionmaking understand the available resources in their community. Some programs are funded by grants; others are supported by local healthcare providers.
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practical approaches 3-45 Mitigate Impacts/Deliver Benefits Mitigation, in the context of developing projects compliant with NEPA and its CEQ regulations and guidance, broadly encompasses: avoiding an impact by not taking a certain action or parts of an action; minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation; rectifying impacts by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment; reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action; or compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources or environments. This broad definition of mitigation is a central tenet at the heart of achieving environmental justice.
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3-46 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking populations is an important means for addressing threats to the livability of communities that may be imposed by transportation projects. • The West State Street Corridor Study prepared by the Illinois DOT (IDOT)
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practical approaches 3-47 mitigation, their costs, and the percentage of the overall project costs for mitigation, among other issues. This includes tracking the costs for "CSS" items -- projects that tend to exhibit design flexibility to achieve greater compatibility with the existing built and natural environment and often utilize transportation enhancement elements to ensure this compatibility.
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3-48 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking Recognize Community Benefits Agreements. A community benefits agreement (CBA)
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practical approaches 3-49 meetings, design fairs, and walking tours of the study area to introduce residents to the proposed project and solicit ideas, concerns, and suggestions. The study area, which includes a half-mile section of Highway 96 that bisects Hoopa Valley Tribal lands, had been plagued by numerous accidents in the past due to inadequate sidewalks, turning lanes, and lighting.
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3-50 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking activities to improve the climate for redevelopment and improve the overall quality of life for residents. The TCDI program has been highly popular with local governments in the region.
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practical approaches 3-51 school day in both a classroom session and a neighborhood walkabout. For the classroom exercise, students were asked to participate in a visual preference survey to solicit their perceptions on what they would like to see done to improve their neighborhood if they were the mayor.
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3-52 Practical Approaches for Involving Traditionally Underserved Populations in Transportation Decisionmaking safety events, including celebrations of successfully implemented traffic safety improvements. Upcoming outreach is expected to incorporate door-knocking and intercept discussions with persons in the vicinity of "hot spots," developing an informational pamphlet about the program, distributing an information form to expand their mailing list and screen for committed local individuals to join in grassroots organizing, and designing and implementing focus groups (see Figure 3-44)
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practical approaches 3-53 in the policy and planning stages may explore many public health topics that have physical, environmental, and social and equity dimensions, including crime and public safety, the availability of multi-modal transportation or biking and walking to school options, accessibility to jobs or other services, access to healthy foods, and opportunities for active recreation, among other issues. HIA professionals say that when transportation agencies and practitioners encounter the prospect of conducting an HIA on their project, they are often initially skeptical or fearful, thinking that HIA will delay or halt the project for arbitrary reasons.
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3-54 Practical Approaches for Involving Traditionally Underserved Populations in Transportation Decisionmaking An HIA advisory committee was also formed to bring experts in public health, civil engineering, transportation, and urban design to the project. • Public Health -- Seattle & King County and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
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practical approaches 3-55 Monitor Health and Environmental Impacts. Heavy trucks, buses, and automobiles travel along high-volume freeways and through underpass routes, exposing nearby neighborhoods to air pollutants that include ultrafine particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, black carbon, and carbon monoxide.
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3-56 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking pollution using a mobile laboratory, including ultrafine particulates (UFPs) measured in billionths of a meter in diameter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides.
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practical approaches 3-57 processes. Tools and techniques for overcoming barriers are founded on a recognition of the importance of conducting periodic assessments of agency policies, programs, and procedures.
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3-58 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking programs can prove invaluable to getting better information to decisionmakers so that they can make better decisions. • The National Highway Institute (NHI)
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practical approaches 3-59 • The FHWA and the FTA both run courses, seminars, and/or workshops in nondiscrimination. For example, Preventing Discrimination in the Federal-Aid Program: A Systematic Interdisciplinary Approach is not specifically about "cultural competency" but emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach for the early recognition of potential adverse impacts that might be discriminatory and the need to develop alternative solutions in all stages of the Federal-Aid Highway Program (e.g., planning, project development, construction, and research)
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3-60 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking skills unique to a particular job. On-the-job training will typically involve verbal and written instruction, demonstration and observation, and hands-on practice.
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practical approaches 3-61 with these academic institutions, the transportation agencies get a pipeline of smart, capable temporary employees who also bring the benefits of diversity into their workplace. The students do meaningful work and begin to build their career path into the transportation industry.
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3-62 practical approaches for Involving traditionally Underserved populations in transportation Decisionmaking program was integrated into the apprenticeship program under the direction of ODOT as a means of complementing their existing activities. ODOT developed training materials for mentors and protégés and offered them to organizations interested in including mentoring in their apprenticeship programs.
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practical approaches 3-63 agencies that receive federal assistance to establish goals for the participation of DBEs and review contract scopes and costs to ensure that these goals are met. DBE programs may also include financial or technical assistance, outreach and partnering, or business development to further foster equal opportunity for firm participation.
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