Public involvement in transportation project planning and design

This study examines the nature and effects of participation in the planning and design of transportation facilities. It focuses on best practices for organizing planning and decision processes for transportation facilities, which serve as the basis for evaluating process outcomes. The study places a particular emphasis on effective participation practices and techniques used to engage the public, as well as on the implications of public involvement on the type, location, design, and programming of transportation projects. In addition, the research identifies broader community benefits associated with effective participation processes. Six transportation project case studies are examined: three transit-oriented developments (TODs) and three context-sensitive solutions (CSS) projects. The analysis points to a number of lessons for designers, planners, agencies, and the public to consider, focused specifically on understanding what is required for effective participation to be achieved in transportation planning and design processes. These lessons include (1) the value of using multiple methods of participation, (2) the importance of a "local champion " in facilitating public engagement, (3) the need for a clear and shared sense of the desired outcome for the project, (4) the value of clear political leadership, (5) the importance of professional design expertise as a complement to local knowledge, and (6) the role of visualization techniques in engaging participants. Rather than functioning as prescription, the practices identified here might be considered components in a framework that can help decision-makers assess the context in which the transportation project will be developed.