Statewide Planning Public

Participation Plan

Public Participation Advisory Committee

February 25, 2015

Agenda

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Overview of current policy,

planning, and public

participation activities.

3. Why we need a Plan

4. Out-reach and Engagement

today

5. Curent Public Participation Plan

(PPP)

6. Public participation. How we

reach out and engage?

7. Next steps/next meeting

PART 1.Overview of current planning and public participation.

Why do we need a Public

Participation Plan?

No Plan or My way or the Highway

Bad, very bad!

Public Participation

Peace and Harmony

Public Participation

Good!

Why we need a Plan

Public engagement is integral to good transportation planning.

Meaningful public participation helps improve the decision making process and provides lasting contributions to Rhode Island’s quality of life.

Meaningful public participation is central to good decision-making on transportation planning.

About Statewide Planning

Part of Division of Planning, within the Department of Administration

Maintains State Guide Plan Staff for the State Planning

Council which is also the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Rhode Island

Transportation Planning

Unified Planning Work Program

Long Range Transportation Plan-LRTP

Transportation Improvement Program-TIP

Public Participation Plan

All required by FHWA / FTA, and all have opportunity for public input.

Current Public Participation Policy

State Planning Council Rules and Standards for preparing UPWP, LRP, and TIP

Recognized by FHWA / FTA in the past as having a strong public participation program

Federal and State Rules for Public Involvement

FHWA MPO-PPPRequirements

SPC Rules and Standards (MPO)

Consult with all interested parties for desired goals

Adequate & timely notice for all plans

Reasonable access to information & process

Explicit thought & response to public comment

Visualization techniques to describe plans

Use technology to inform & engage public

Federal and State Rules for Public Involvement

Meetings at convenient, accessible locations and times

Periodic review of plan

Outreach & consider traditionally underserved-low income & minorities

Additional Rules and Guidance

Federal Planning Council

Air Quality Conformity to State or Federal Implementation Plans for Transportation Plans, Programs, and Projects

Working Group & interagency consultation.

RIDOT RIDEM Statewide

Planning

MAP-21

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st century

No changes in requirements for public participation plans

Promotes incorporation of performance measures

TAC (Transportation Advisory Committee)

Primary vehicle for MPO public participation

Lead body in update of PPP Evening meetings held in

locations around the state in accessible locations on public transit routes

Public comment period at beginning and end of each meeting

TAC Membership Twenty-five members

approved by the SPC. 3 Public Members 4 from cities and towns

including Providence RI Association of Railroad

Passengers AAA Southern New England Providence Foundation FHWA, Advisory Member RI Chapter, American

Planning Assoc. (APA) Narragansett Indian Tribe RIPTA Rhode Island Commerce

Corporation

TAC Membership

RIDOT Governor's Commission on

Disabilities Grow Smart RI Bike Newport RIDEM Sierra Club Rhode Island Department of

Health RI Truckers Association Rhode Island Consulting

Engineers Rhode Island Airport

Corporation

Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

Annual document for all of Statewide Planning, RIPTA and RIDOT planning activities

Approved by MPO, FHWA, and FTA

Update of the PPP for 2015

Transportation 2035

Multi-discipline: land use, economic development, environmental resourcesUpdate cycle:4 years

Multi-modal20 year horizonPublic workshopsand public hearings on draft plan

Supports implementation of Transportation

2035 Involvement

begins at local public hearings

Regional information workshops; projects are submitted at regional hearings

Proposals scored by TAC members

Hearings on draft TIP

Projects must be in the TIP for Federal and State funding

Fiscally constrained program

Update cycle: 4 years Public

TIP (Transportation Improvement Program)

Part 2Outreach and Engagement

Today

RHODE ISLAND STATE PLANNING COUNCILMETROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

RI DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIONDIVISION OF PLANNING

STATEWIDE PLANNING PROGRAMTRANSPORTATION SECTION

PUBLICPARTICIPATION

GUIDE

APPROVED BY: RHODE ISLAND STATE PLANNING

COUNCILDATE : APRIL 12, 2007

RI Transportation Stakeholders

Public Agency

Municipal & Private

FHWA FTA FRA EPA RIDOT RIPTA RIDEM Commerce

RI RIPUC RIDMV MBTA

AAA Bus Companies Freight Industry Colleges &

Universities Cities & Towns RI Association of Rail

Passengers RI Water Ferries Other interested Ports and Business

Parks

How we reach out nowWeb noticesOur PartnershipsAgendas postedCivil rights pageMulti-lingualSecretary of State &

separate postingsDirect mailings & email:• TAC list 30• Transportation lists 177• Public hearing list 389• Title VI/EJ list 191

How we engage the public

E-newsletter (monthly, 401 addresses)

Newspaper legal and display ads

Postings Public

Hearings (30 day notice)

Written Testimony

Surveys

Public Workshops

Focus Groups TAC Meetings

How we distribute information

Downloadable material from website

TAC Technical Committee Planning Council Selected mailings (USPS) Emails

Statewide Planning Public Participation Webpage

How we respond to comments

For actions involving TIP and LRP; comments received & summarized with recommended changes to the SPC, included in final.

Other letters & e-mail comments get written responses.

Comments at TAC meetings are usually resolved verbally.

Next Steps

Other MPOs-Other methodsLEP/EJ & UnderservedPerformance MeasuresNext Meeting