Public Participation Strategies for Transit: A Synthesis of Transit Practice

This publication documents the state-of-the-practice in terms of public participation strategies to inform and engage the public for transit-related activities. The synthesis also provides ideas and insights into practices and techniques that agencies have found to be most successful, and discusses challenges relating to engaging the public.



CONTENTS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Purpose and Scope of This Synthesis
Methodology
Structure of This Report
CHAPTER TWO EVOLUTION OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
CHAPTER THREE STATE OF PRACTICE IN THE INDUSTRY
Public Involvement in Transit
Determining and Defining Goals and Objectives
Exchange of Information
Identifying the “Public”
Engagement Techniques
Evaluation
Public Participation Strategies for Transit
CHAPTER FOUR CASE STUDIES
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, California
Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority, DC
Laketran, Ohio
Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Sunset Empire Transportation District, Oregon
Pierce Transit, Washington
Summary
CHAPTER FIVE OBSTACLES TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Internal Challenges
External Challenges
Hard to Reach Populations
Difficulties Engaging the Public
CHAPTER SIX CONCLUSIONS
What Is “Success”?
Successful Practices: Putting Strategies into Action
Items for Further Study
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
REFERENCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX A SURVEY QUESTIONS
APPENDIX B PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
APPENDIX C SURVEY RESPONSES FROM TRANSIT AGENCIES
APPENDIX D SURVEY RESPONSES FROM ALL AGENCIES