Transportation Planning Process Resource Guide
Public Participation Plans (PPPs) and Notable Elements
As part of the research for this Resource Guide, a number of MPO PPPs were reviewed and several notable examples/elements are identified below. A related presentation and more information about the subsequent examples are available by contacting the Resource Center Planning Team or a Division Office Planner.
The FHWA Community Impact Assessment (CIA) website also lists DOT and MPO PPPs from around the country. This website is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the University of South Florida.
- Developed in Consultation with Interested Parties. SAFETEA-LU calls for PPPs to be developed in consultation with interested parties. These PPPs specifically noted how ‘interested parties' played a role in their development
- Visualization. SAFETEA-LU calls for States and MPOs to use visualization techniques to strengthen public participation in the planning and project delivery process and specifically to aid the public in understanding proposed plans. Visualization techniques were included in these PPPs, in addition to describing how it will be used in other planning documents (e.g. long-range transportation plan, TIP)
- Maricopa Association of Governments (Phoenix), December 2006 PPP describes the use of visualization in MTPs and TIPs, page 7
- The following examples show visualization techniques integrated in the PPPs
- Indianapolis MPO, September 2007 PPP
- Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco), September 2007 PPP
- Performance Measures / Evaluation. SAFETEA-LU calls for periodic review of the effectiveness of the procedures and strategies to ensure a full and open participation process. These PPPs have sections describing their evaluation process
- Process/Strategies. These MPOs documented the process and times when public involvement actions occur and the techniques used to solicit input
- Language Translation. These MPOs used various approaches to translate PPPs and other information in various languages. The Baltimore MPO uses a free language conversion software, AltaVista's Babelfish to translate all information on the website. The San Francisco MPO translates key documents
- Branding/Marketing. This MPOs included branding/marketing information in their PPPs to help the public become familiar with their organization
As part of the research for this Resource Guide, a number of MPO PPPs were reviewed and several notable examples/elements are identified below. A related presentation and more information about the subsequent examples are available by contacting the Resource Center Planning Team or a Division Office Planner.
The FHWA Community Impact Assessment (CIA) website also lists DOT and MPO PPPs from around the country. This website is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the University of South Florida.
- Developed in Consultation with Interested Parties. SAFETEA-LU calls for PPPs to be developed in consultation with interested parties. These PPPs specifically noted how ‘interested parties' played a role in their development
- Visualization. SAFETEA-LU calls for States and MPOs to use visualization techniques to strengthen public participation in the planning and project delivery process and specifically to aid the public in understanding proposed plans. Visualization techniques were included in these PPPs, in addition to describing how it will be used in other planning documents (e.g. long-range transportation plan, TIP)
- Maricopa Association of Governments (Phoenix), December 2006 PPP describes the use of visualization in MTPs and TIPs, page 7
- The following examples show visualization techniques integrated in the PPPs
- Performance Measures / Evaluation. SAFETEA-LU calls for periodic review of the effectiveness of the procedures and strategies to ensure a full and open participation process. These PPPs have sections describing their evaluation process
- Fredericksburg (VA), April 2007 PPP, page 22
- Brevard MPO (FL) February 2007 PPP, Appendix A, www.brevardmpo.com/PIP.htm (Note: inactive link)
- Process/Strategies. These MPOs documented the process and times when public involvement actions occur and the techniques used to solicit input
- Language Translation. These MPOs used various approaches to translate PPPs and other information in various languages. The Baltimore MPO uses a free language conversion software, AltaVista's Babelfish to translate all information on the website. The San Francisco MPO translates key documents
- Branding/Marketing. This MPOs included branding/marketing information in their PPPs to help the public become familiar with their organization
