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Public Involvement Process

On December 19, 2007, the Transportation Planning Board adopted a new Participation Plan that outlines public involvement activities for constituencies with difference levels of understanding and interest in the TPB process. The new Participation Plan calls for the TPB to be more strategic in targeting its activities to serve the needs of three different constituencies. The Participation Plan focuses on tailoring outreach and involvement activities to the "involved" public, the "informed" public, and the "interested" public.

These three categories of citizens represent a continuum in typical levels of interest and expertise, ranging from extremely active individuals, like members of the Citizens Advisory Committee, to members of the general public. This distinction addresses the realization that not all members of the public may know about the TPB, and that requirements for information about regional transportation planning may be different for each constituency.

The Participation Plan replaces the 1999 Public Involvement Process as the main policy document for addressing involvement in the TPB process. Please review the TPB Participation Plan for more information. The Policy Statement and Policy Goals of the Participation Plan are listed below.

Policy Statement

It is the policy of the TPB to provide public access and involvement under a true collaborative planning process in which the interests of all of the stakeholders - public and private - are reflected and considered. Accordingly, it is the TPB's intent to make both its policy and technical process inclusive of and accessible to all of these stakeholders. The TPB notes in structuring this public involvement process that many additional opportunities for access and involvement exist at the state and local jurisdictional levels through local, subregional, and state sponsored activities associated with transportation planning in the Washington region.

Policy Goals

The TPB believes that public input into its process is valuable and makes its products better. Regional transportation planning cannot, and should not, be based simply upon technical analysis. The qualitative information derived from citizen involvement is essential to good decision-making.

The TPB Participation Plan is designed to be goal-oriented. The Policy Statement provides a philosophy around which to build a regional transportation participation program that will accomplish the following goals:

• Effective communication and messaging of information leading to knowledgeable, informed constituencies. The TPB will disseminate information about programs and projects through a variety of conduits. Information will be presented in a manner that is clear and tailored to each of the TPB's constituencies.
• Involvement from diverse participants and opportunities for constituency building. The TPB will continue to encourage participation from diverse constituencies and to provide forums for discussion about transportation issues that are responsive to the interests of different constituencies.
• Open access to information and participation. The TPB will work to improve access to technical and planning documents and where appropriate, tailor these documents to be accessible to more constituencies. Opportunities for participation in TPB meetings and in committee meetings will be clearly defined and provided for at each meeting.
• Receipt of public comment and provision of meaningful feedback to constituencies. The TPB will provide information on how comments will be considered in the planning process, including the development of the CLRP and TIP, and acknowledge that comments were received and considered.
• Develop a "regional story" that is clear and compelling. The TPB will communicate how regional transportation planning plays a vital role in coordinating planning activities on many levels.