Office of Planning, Environment, & Realty (HEP)
Planning · Environment · Real Estate
This section provides information and resources on a number of related, critical topics to public involvement and public participation at the transportation planning stage. It includes the following categories: visualization, tribal planning, resource agencies, environmental justice (EJ) and Title VI, engaging freight stakeholders, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), context sensitive solutions (CSS), and community impact assessment.
Public participation is more than just a hearing, or one meeting near the end of the project development process. Public involvement needs to be an early and continuing part of the transportation and project development process. It is essential that the project sponsor knows the community's values in order to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts, as well as to narrow the field of alternatives (for planning) and alignments (for projects).
National Park Service Community Tool Box
The National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program is always exploring new ways to help communities work together to improve their special places. There is no magic; there are simply some tried and true methods we have learned from the communities where we work. These have become the tools of our trade. Together they form our Tool Box for public participation.
Public participation is more than just a hearing, or one meeting near the end of the project development process. Public involvement needs to be an early and continuing part of the transportation and project development process. It is essential that the project sponsor knows the community's values in order to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts, as well as to narrow the field of alternatives (for planning) and alignments (for projects). The community also needs to understand the constraints and tradeoffs of the transportation planning and project development process and to "buy-in" to the transportation needs and purpose.
FHWA has a government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribal Governments and requires that the FHWA and other Federal agencies consult with Tribes regarding policy and regulatory matters. Additionally, SAFETEA-LU establishes consultation requirements with tribes through the Statewide and Metropolitan planning and programming processes.
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.
