Community Empowerment Program: Nurturing Public Involvment in the Transportation Planning Process

Dear Colleague:

I am pleased to provide you with a copy of the enclosed publication, "Community Empowerment Program: Nurturing Public Involovement in the Transportation Planning Process." This report, written under a grant with the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP), provides information to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and others in developing a community-based planning approach in which MPOs work in partnership with a vast array of transportation stakeholders to develop transportation plans and programs with maximum community involvement. It demonstrates a process that meets the intent of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and that strengthens the plans produced by MPOs.

Five nonprofit organizations conducted community empowerment program case studies with the goal of advancing each community from a basic level of understanding to active participation in the transportation decision making process. Each organization evaluated the needs of its community, the level of public understanding about transportation issues, and current public concerns. The case studies demonstrated that an investment in empowering the public can result in new ideas, better identification of problems, and an engaged citizenry. The five projects highlighted the strengths of community organizations and provided ideas for MPOs and nonprofit organizations to further engage the public in the transportation debate. As a result, community consensus can be reached, interest can be generated in neighborhoods that have never had a voice in the transportation debate, and new partnerships can be formed between residents and local governments.

If you need additional copies, please contact Mr. William B. Menczer, Office of Policy Development (202) 366-4060 or Laura Olsen, STPP at (202) 466-2636. This report will also be available at the Federal Transit Administration Internet address: http://www.fta.dot.gov and at the Transportation Action Network Internet address: http://www.transact.org.

Sincerely,
Gordon J. Linton