1. Public Engagement for Sustainable Transportation Planning: A Brand New Paradigm or the Same Tried and True Approaches Federal Perspectives on Engagement: Leaning into the Future James Garland California Transportation Planning Conference Los Angeles- December 3, 2015

2. 2 Presentation Overview Understand the Federal Requirements for Public Involvement/Participation Efforts underway to improve Public Involvement/Participation Share new and existing resources available INTRODUCTION

3. 23 CFR 450.210 o (i) Establish early and continuous public involvement opportunities that provide timely information about transportation issues and decisionmaking processes to citizens, affected public agencies, representatives of public transportation employees, freight shippers, private providers of transportation, representatives of users of public transportation, representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, representatives of the disabled, providers of freight transportation services, and other interested parties; 3 REGULATIONS

4. Requirements related to Engaging the Public o Engaging the Public o Created to Protect and Promote Good Practices for Transportation Planning and Project Development o Consistent with regulations o 23 CFR 450.210 (a) (1) (ii) 4 REGULATIONS

5. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) No qualified individual with a disability shall –public entity's facilities are inaccessible to or unusable –be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities –subjected to discrimination REGULATIONS 5

6. Air Quality Conformity Establish a proactive public involvement process Public access to technical and policy information REGULATIONS 6

7. Electronically provided information Electronically accessible format –Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508 requires Federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities, REGULATIONS 7

8. Interested Parties Interested parties with reasonable opportunities to be involved in the transportation planning process –public transportation employees, freight shippers, providers of freight transportation services, private providers of transportation, representatives of users of public transportation, representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, representatives of the disabled, and other interested parties REGULATIONS 8

9. Limited-English-Proficiency LEP four factor analysis: –The number or proportion of LEP persons eligible for program, activity, or service –(2) the frequency LEP come in contact with the program; –(3) the nature and importance of the program, activity, or service provided by –(4) the resources available to the recipient and costs. REGULATIONS 9

10. Public Interest …Assure that possible adverse economic, social, and environmental effects relating to any proposed project on any Federal-aid system have been fully considered in developing such project, and that the final decision on the project are made in the best overall public interest REGULATIONS 10

11. Public Meetings and Hearings Public meetings are held at convenient and accessible locations and times Provide public notice Provide accessibility in programs, activities, and facilities Check if state Sunshine or Open Meeting Laws apply in their state REGULATIONS 11

12. Prohibiting Discrimination Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, national origin) Section 162 (a) of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (sex) Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 (disability) Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 Limited-English-Proficiency Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, Executive Order 1289812 (minority and low-income) REGULATIONS 12

13. Traditionally Underserved By Existing Transportation Systems Include a process for seeking out and considering the needs of those traditionally underserved by existing transportation systems REGULATIONS 13

14. Visualization Use visualization techniques to describe the proposed long-range statewide transportation plan and supporting studies REGULATIONS 14

15. So, Now You Know The Regulations and Rules…. …..BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR TRYING NEW THINGS? REGULATIONS 15

16. 16 NEW TOOLS, EFFORTS, AND RESOURCES

17. FHWA’s PlanWorks RESOURCES

18. FHWA’s PlanWorks. RESOURCES 18 https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworks/

19. Project Overview Listening Session Highlights How do MPOs Interact? Strategies/Discussions Opportunities to Partner PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

20. Project Overview Project Purpose: Digital public engagement strategy to support public participation at planning and project development meetings. Desired Outcomes Drive more web traffic to websites. Increase attendance at planning and project development meetings. Increase participation in public engagement and outreach activities. Increase breadth of participatory group types. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

21. Listening Session Highlights Where can MPOs, RTPOs, and state DOTs use of digital public engagement strategies and tools to improve the quality and breadth of public involvement? PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

22. Posted Information: –Websites Calendar of Events Published Reports Meeting recordings/ live streaming –Newsletters / Email Distributions Digital Communications –Emails with staff –Via Social Media Accounts –Via online videos Online Engagement Tools –Plottable Maps –Interactive online dialogue platforms –Scenario planning & decision-making support tools –Survey tools PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT How Do MPOs Interact With The Public?

23. Do you use any of the following methods/tools during public involvement opportunities to obtain the public feedback? PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

24. Opportunities to Partner Are there any State DOTs, MPOs, or other transportation planning agencies interested in partnering with the FHWA? Are there best practices or good examples to share? PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT APP PROJECT

25. 25 CONCLUSIONS

26. 26 Additional Resources The Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program – www.planning.dot.gov –Peer Exchange Program- Free Resource! –Webinars, Case Studies, Reports, and More –Briefing Book (updated) for Transportation Officials FHWA Public Involvement Webpage: –www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/public_involvement Public Involvement Techniques Guide (updated June 2015) CONCLUSION

27. 27 James Garland, Team Leader Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program FHWA Office of Planning- Washington, DC 202-366-6221 Office James.Garland@dot.gov www.planning.dot.gov CONTACT INFORMATION