Public Involvement Process
Public involvement is a key component of virtually all successful transportation projects. Roads have such an impact upon our communities and landscapes, so it makes sense that people have a say in what happens with transportation projects. Public partici
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Public Involvement Process
Public involvement is a key component of virtually all successful transportation projects. Roads have such an impact upon our communities and landscapes, so it makes sense that people have a say in what happens with transportation projects. Public participation builds trust and support among planners, stakeholders, and local citizens. A green roadway project created with people rather than for them stands a better chance of benefiting everyone involved. Creating green roadways involves initiating each transportation project in an atmosphere of collaboration and partnership. This approach helps ensure that all parties participate in defining a collective vision for a particular project. The public participation process provides stakeholders with a forum for sharing knowledge of their communities, identifying opportunities and constraints, and providing input on priorities. As stated in the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) document Flexibility in Highway Design (1997), “Having a process that is open, includes public involvement, and fosters creative thinking is an essential part of achieving good design.” In the past, many transportation agencies did not always seek public input on projects. The traditional approach to transportation projects was for the engineers to make independent decisions using a standard design template, and then share the final decisions
with the public. This approach was often referred to as “decide, announce, defend.” Fortunately, this approach no longer is acceptable. Stakeholders want to be involved with decisions made about any transportation project that has an impact upon where they live, work, or play. Federal legislation established basic principles for public involvement in transportation projects. In 1991, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act promoted greater opportunity for public involvement in the transportation planning process. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (1998) and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (2005) continued this approach. Public hearings are required by the FHWA for all highway projects that receive federal aid.
Public Involvement Begins at the Beginning Public involvement in green roadway projects requires more than just setting up a website for the project or conducting a meeting or two. The objective is to implement a process that ensures stakeholders get an opportunity to be involved. The best way to develop a successful transportation project is to provide stakeholders an opportunity to get involved as early
J.L. Sipes and M.L. Sipes, Creating Green Roadways: Integrating Cultural, Natural, and Visual Resources into Transportation, DOI 10.5822/978-1-59726-322-1_5, © 2013 James L. Sipes and Matthew L. Sipes
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Figure 5-1 In addition to the numerous meetings held with local leaders and community organizations, the local public is given an opportunity to participate with transportation projects. Image co
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