Public Participation Advisory Committee February 25, 2015

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

Overview of current planning and public participation.

Bad, very bad! Public Participation

Good!

 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.

 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

 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.

 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

FHWA MPO-PPP Requirements 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

 Meetings at convenient, accessible locations and times  Periodic review of plan  Outreach & consider traditionally underserved- low income & minorities

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

 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st century  No changes in requirements for public participation plans  Promotes incorporation of performance measures

 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

 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

 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

 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 resources Update cycle: 4 years Multi-modal 20 year horizon Public workshops and 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)

Outreach and Engagement Today

RHODE ISLAND STATE PLANNING COUNCIL METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION RI DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION DIVISION OF PLANNING STATEWIDE PLANNING PROGRAM TRANSPORTATION SECTION PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GUIDE APPROVED BY: RHODE ISLAND STATE PLANNING COUNCIL DATE : APRIL 12, 2007

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 now  Web notices  Our Partnerships  Agendas posted  Civil rights page  Multi-lingual  Secretary of State & separate postings  Direct mailings & TAC list 30 Transportation lists 177 Public hearing list 389 Title VI/EJ list 191

 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

 Downloadable material from website  TAC  Technical Committee  Planning Council  Selected mailings (USPS)  s

Statewide Planning Public Participation Webpage

 For actions involving TIP and LRP; comments received & summarized with recommended changes to the SPC, included in final.  Other letters & comments get written responses.  Comments at TAC meetings are usually resolved verbally.

Other MPOs-Other methods LEP/EJ & Underserved Performance Measures Next Meeting