Votran Transit Development Plan. Public Involvement Plan

Transcription

1 Vtran Transit Develpment Plan Public Invlvement Plan Prepared fr: Vtran 950 Big Tree Rad Suth Daytna, Flrida ph (386) March 2011 Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc Ashley Drive, Suite 100 Tampa, FL ph (813) , fax (813) S. Semran Bulevard, Suite 1540 Winter Park, Flrida ph (407) , fax (407) N. Bradway Avenue Bartw, Flrida ph (863) , fax (863)

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Intrductin Public Invlvement Plan Techniques Direct Invlvement Activities Infrmatin Distributin Activities Measures f Effectiveness Public Invlvement Schedule LIST OF FIGURES: Figure 1: Preliminary Prject Schedule

3 I. INTRODUCTION The Vlusia Cunty transit agency, (Vtran) is in the prcess f develping its ten-year Transit Develpment Plan (TDP) majr update. The ten-year TDP is a strategic guide fr public transprtatin in the cmmunity ver the next ten years. The plan als represents the transit agency s visin fr public transprtatin in its service area during the ten year time perid. Several public invlvement activities were selected fr inclusin in the TDP s public invlvement prcess t ensure the active participatin f citizens in the cmmunity. Each f the public invlvement activities are discussed in this sectin. The activities have been placed int tw majr categries: direct invlvement activities and infrmatin distributin activities. Direct invlvement activities refer t thse that engage the public in hands n wrkshps and/r discussin abut the prject. The infrmatin distributin activities refer t public infrmatin materials that are used t infrm the general public f prject related tpics and issues. This Public Invlvement Plan (PIP) has been develped as part f the TDP in rder t frmally dcument all planned public utreach activities t be undertaken. The Plan identifies numerus pprtunities fr public invlvement as well as invlvement n the part f lcal agencies and rganizatins. In accrdance with the Flrida Department f Transprtatin (FDOT) TDP Flrida Rule , this Plan was develped t be cnsistent with the Vlusia Transprtatin Planning Organizatin (TPO) Public Invlvement Plan. Activities prpsed within this PIP include crdinatin with the TDP review cmmittee, stakehlder interviews, an n-bard survey, discussin grup wrkshps, and public wrkshps. The results f the public invlvement activities will be used in the develpment f the ten-year transit plan as part f the majr TDP update. Title VI f the Civil Rights Act Vtran is cmmitted t ensuring that n persn shall n the basis f race, clr r natinal rigin, sex, age, disability, family r religius status, as prvided by Title VI f the Civil Rights Act f 1964, the Civil Rights Restratin Act f 1987, and the Flrida Civil Rights Act f 1992 be excluded frm participatin in, be denied the benefits f, r be therwise subjected t discriminatin r retaliatin under any Vtran prgram r activity. Envirnmental Justice Title VI f the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1994 U.S. Department f Transprtatin (DOT) Order n Envirnmental Justice requires that the transprtatin planning prcess seeks t identify the needs f lw-incme and minrity ppulatins. Vtran is cmmitted t enhancing public invlvement activities t identify and address the needs f minrity and lw-incme ppulatins in making transprtatin decisins. Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan

4 Limited English Prficiency (LEP) Public transprtatin prviders receiving federal funding frm the DOT have a respnsibility, under Title VI f the Civil Rights Act f 1964, t take reasnable steps t ensure Limited English Prficiency (LEP) persns have meaningful access t benefits, services, infrmatin, and ther imprtant prgrams and activities. Persns with LEP include individuals wh have a limited ability t read, write, speak, r understand English. Vtran is cmmitted t creating a psitive envirnment fr persns with LEP and ensuring that they have an pprtunity fr full participatin in public invlvement activities. Special Accmmdatins Persns wh require special accmmdatins under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) r persns wh require translatin service t participate in public meeting activities are requested t ntify Vtran at least frty-eight hurs prir t wrkshps r meetings. Requests fr alternative frmat materials r translatin shuld be made in advance t accmmdate the develpment and prvisin f these materials. Vtran public meeting ntices will include the Vtran staff cntact phne number and deadline date fr requesting special accmmdatins at wrkshps r meetings. Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan

5 II. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN TECHNIQUES Many public invlvement techniques were selected fr inclusin in the TDP PIP t maximize the ptential fr active participatin by citizens in the cmmunity. Each f the techniques is briefly summarized in this Sectin. Direct invlvement techniques refer t thse that engage the public in hands n wrkshps and/r discussin abut the prject. Infrmatin distributin techniques refer t thse that utilize the disseminatin f public infrmatin materials t infrm the general public f the prject. Direct Invlvement Activities Public invlvement activities invlving direct interactin with agencies, rganizatins, and/r citizens will be used thrughut the study prcess. The direct invlvement activities selected fr the study include the fllwing. Public Infrmatin Materials Stakehlder Interviews Public Wrkshps Review Cmmittees Meetings TPO Cmmittees and Bard Cunty Cuncil City Cmmissins/Cuncils Surveys The fllwing sectin describes each direct invlvement activity in detail. In additin, the number f times each activity is prgrammed t be perfrmed is nted where apprpriate. Review Cmmittee A TDP Review Cmmittee will be assembled t prvide prject versight and technical feedback thrughut the TDP develpment prcess. The Review Cmmittee is scheduled t meet fur times thrughut the curse f the prject. Private individuals residing in Vlusia Cunty and representatives frm the fllwing agencies and rganizatins may be selected as Review Cmmittee members: Vtran Vlusia Transprtatin Planning Organizatin Flrida Department f Transprtatin District 5 Vlusia Cunty Grwth and Resurce Management City f DeLand City f Ormnd Beach City f Daytna Beach Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan

6 City f Deltna City f Prt Orange Daytna Beach Partnership Center fr Business Excellence University f Central Flrida Transprtatin Disadvantaged Lcal Crdinating Bard Cunty Resident Stakehlder Interviews Stakehlder interviews will be cnducted t slicit ideas, cncerns, and cmments frm key individuals/rganizatins, cmmunity leaders, and ther individuals identified by Vtran t btain their pinins and ideas regarding current and future transit services in Vlusia Cunty. Interviews are planned t be held with twenty-five stakehlders and will seek t assess the stakehlder s views f current transit service, implementing and funding new transit prjects, as well as identifying transit issues that are f greatest lcal cncern. The interviews will be cnducted either in-persn r by telephne and will require between thirty minutes t an hur f the stakehlder s time. A brief questinnaire will be develped t include several penended questins pertaining t the stakehlder s perceptins f existing transit services, as well as their pinins regarding the future f public transprtatin in the cmmunity. The stakehlder questins can be prvided in advance fr review prir t the interview. Representatives frm the fllwing agencies and rganizatins may be selected fr stakehlder interview: Turist Develpment Cuncil Transprtatin Disadvantaged Lcal Crdinating Bard Central Flrida Cmmuter Rail Cmmissin Vlusia Cunty Cuncil, Manager, and Staff Htel & Ldging Assciatin f Vlusia Cunty Internatinal Speedway Bulevard Calitin Daytna Beach Dwntwn Redevelpment Authrity Daytna Reginal Chamber f Cmmerce Mayrs r Designated Representatives f Vlusia Cunty s Municipalities City f Daytna Beach City f DeBary City f DeLand City f Deltna City f Orange City City f Ormnd Beach City f New Smyrna Beach City f Prt Orange City f Suth Daytna Beach Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan

7 City f Daytna Beach Shres City f Hlly Hill Transit Passenger Surveys A system-wide n-bard survey f Vtran fixed-rute bus patrns will be designed and cnducted t inquire abut passenger demgraphics, travel behavir, satisfactin, needs, and issues. On-bard surveyrs will help facilitate the survey administratin prcess by distributing and cllecting survey questinnaires. Public Wrkshps Public wrkshps have prven t be an effective technique fr btaining substantive public participatin in the planning prcess and will be the primary mechanism t btain input frm the general public regarding the transit needs f Vlusia Cunty. The wrkshp lcatins will be selected in an attempt t distribute meetings acrss the Vtran gegraphic service area. If necessary, additinal public invlvement activities may be cnducted t reach the greatest number f participants thrughut the Vtran service area. The first set f wrkshps will ccur early in the prcess. The purpse f the first set f wrkshps will be t acquire additinal input n the perceptins f transit service and mbility needs in the study area. The specific times and lcatins fr these wrkshps are prvided belw: 1) Vtran, Meeting Rm March 29, 2011 frm 4:30 p.m. t 6:30 p.m. 950 Big Tree Rad Suth Daytna, Flrida ) Vlusia Cunty Administratin Center, Training Rm March 30, 2011 frm 4:30 p.m. t 6:30 p.m. 123 W. Indianan Avenue DeLand, Flrida The secnd set f public wrkshps is anticipated t ccur later in the prcess nce the ptential transit alternative imprvements and slutins have been identified. This will allw the public t prvide input n the priritizatin f the prpsed alternatives in the final TDP implementatin plan. Public wrkshp participants will have 45 days after each wrkshp t submit cmments n the materials presented. The public wrkshps cnducted as part f the study prcess will be an pen-huse - style wrkshp and may emply ne r mre public participatin techniques (presentatins, surveys, dt plling, visual displays, and ther infrmatinal materials). The types f strategies emplyed will depend n the wrkshp tpics and venues. Open Huse Wrkshps An pen huse is typically the mst flexible public wrkshp that allws participants t tur staged wrkshp statins at their wn Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan

8 pace. Wrkshp statins will be designed t address separate issues. This public invlvement technique is typically designed t be infrmal and des nt require an invitatin t participate. It als may be apprpriate t crdinate sme f the public wrkshps with ther scheduled events t help spur attendance. This will prvide pprtunities fr all interested parties t be actively engaged in the public invlvement prcess fr the majr TDP update. The detailed schedule f the secnd set f meetings will be determined in cnjunctin with Vtran staff. At a minimum, these wrkshps shall be given public ntice in accrdance with Vlusia Cunty, Vtran and the TPO s public ntificatin requirements. Hwever, it is anticipated that additinal marketing materials will be develped t prmte the public wrkshps and infrmatin abut the public wrkshps will likely be psted in Cunty gvernment buildings, public libraries, municipal gvernments, recreatin centers, cmmunity centers, newspapers, websites, and n bard buses within the Cunty. Discussin Grup Wrkshps T supplement the infrmatin cllected during the previusly listed public invlvement activities, fur discussin grups will be held t supprt the TDP update prcess. Tw f the discussin grups will be cnducted using current transit riders t help represent the user perspective. Participants f the transituser discussin grup will be recruited thrugh flyers n-bard the Vtran buses. In additin, tw additinal discussin grup meetings will be held cnsisting f members frm the business, health, and educatin cmmunities, as well as nn-prfit scial service agencies and lcal chambers f cmmerce, t help represent the view f infrmed nn-users. Vtran staff will wrk with the Review Cmmittee t identify and recruit ptential user and nn-user participants and preferred venues fr the wrkshps. Public Presentatins A ttal f six presentatins f the TDP will be made at the directin f Vtran staff and may include: Vlusia Cunty Cuncil The Cunty Cuncil is the gverning bdy fr Vlusia Cunty Gvernment. The Bard is respnsible fr creating plicies that establish the Cunty's budget, enacting new laws, ruling n rezning applicatins and ther land-use cases, and appinting the Cunty Manager and the Cunty Attrney. TPO Bard The TPO Bard is cmpsed f decisin-makers respnsible fr reginal transprtatin planning in Vlusia Cunty. Cnsequently, it is critical t keep them infrmed thrughut the prject and t btain their input and guidance fr the study. Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan

9 TPO Technical Crdinating Cmmittee The TCC is cmpsed f technically qualified representatives f agencies respnsible fr lcal planning and engineering activities thrughut Vlusia Cunty. It is the respnsibility f the TCC: T crdinate transprtatin planning and prgramming activities; T review transprtatin studies and reprts; T review wrk prgrams and transprtatin imprvement prgrams; and T prvide technical recmmendatins t the TPO n transprtatin issues. TPO Citizens Advisry Cmmittee The rle f the CAC is t represent the views f Vlusia s citizens in regards t transprtatin-related matters. The CAC is cmpsed f citizens appinted by the TPO Bard and Vtran representing the Cmmunity Transprtatin Crdinatr. Presentatins may als be made t city cuncils r cmmissins in Vlusia Cunty, chambers f cmmerce, calitins, and lcal agency bards as directed by Vtran staff in cnjunctin with the Review Cmmittee. Peer Review and Invlvement In additin t Vtran, the public invlvement prcess fr the TDP update will als include the invlvement f ther entities, such as FDOT, the reginal wrkfrce bard, and ther interested parties, as apprpriate. These parties will be invited t all public participatin events and prvided an pprtunity t review and cmment n the draft TDP. Infrmatin Distributin Activities The infrmatin distributin activities selected fr the TDP are listed and discussed belw. Public Invlvement Plan The public invlvement plan will be made available t Vtran staff fr placement n the Vtran web site. Press Releases/Flyers fr Public Wrkshps Press releases and flyers will be prepared prir t each f the public wrkshps t ntify citizens and encurage participatin. Flyers will be made available in a variety f frmats and frums t be determined by Vtran and the Review Cmmittee and will be prvided t Vtran staff fr distributin. In additin, the wrkshps will be nticed in a newspaper f general circulatin, which may include but is nt limited t ne f the fllwing: the Daytna Beach News Jurnal and West Vlusia Beacn. Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan

10 Public Bradcast Radi and Televisin T the degree feasible, TDP meetings and ther prject annuncements will be advertised n public bradcast radi and televisin. Reprts and Infrmatin fr Vtran Website Technical reprts, study and wrkshp materials, and ther infrmatin will be prvided t Vtran staff fr psting n the Vtran website. Ntificatin f General Public The general public will be ntified f public meetings thrugh a number f methds: legal advertisement, Vtran website, flyers, and press releases. Mailing/Cntact Lists Vtran mailing list will enable the distributin f prject-related infrmatin thrughut the develpment f the TDP. Mailings will be designed t reach diverse ppulatins thrughut the Cunty and the study area. Specifically, an effrt will be made t reach lcal stakehlder grups with study materials. Such grups include the varius chambers f cmmerce thrughut the cmmunity and the Friends f Vtran grup. Additinal Presentatin and Wrkshp Materials Public invlvement materials develped fr the public invlvement plan will be made available t Vtran staff and Review Cmmittee members fr use at their discretin at ther public invlvement events and pprtunities. Materials include presentatins, presentatin bards, surveys, and ther tls and infrmatinal resurces used t gather public input thrughut the study prcess. Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan

11 III. MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS Effectiveness measures have been established t evaluate the effectiveness f the public invlvement prcess. Fr the purpses f this Public Invlvement Plan, effectiveness measures will be defined as fllws: Ttal number f persns engaged This will be measured by using a signin/attendance lg t mnitr attendance fr any discussin grup, Review Cmmittee meeting, and public wrkshp. Ttal number f public invlvement events The ttal number f public invlvement events will be dcumented within the public invlvement sectin f the TDP. In additin, the public meeting lcatins will be depicted n a map within the Vtran gegraphic service area. Ttal number f persns surveyed The ttal number f persns surveyed will be dcumented in the public invlvement sectin f the TDP. Ttal visits t website t cmplete surveys Surveys accessed and cmpleted n the Vtran website will be dcumented and included in the public invlvement sectin f the TDP. Review Cmmittee Survey A survey will be prvided t all Review Cmmittee members t allw them t rate their participatin and the value f the review cmmittee in the TDP develpment prcess. Ttal service recmmendatins in ten-year plan that result frm public invlvement Public invlvement participants will be given cmment frms t dcument cmments and/r recmmendatins. All questins that cannt be answered at the meetings will be respnded t in writing within 30 days, prvided the persn prvides their name and address. Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan

12 IV. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT SCHEDULE A prject schedule was develped fr the public participatin prtins f the study. This prject schedule is prvided in Table 1. Please nte that the dates fr specific meetings and public invlvement activities are apprximate and subject t change pending guidance frm Vtran and the prject Review Cmmittee. Table 1 Preliminary Prject Public Invlvement Schedule Public Invlvement Activity Date On-Bard Survey March 28, 2011 Public Wrkshps (1 st set) March 29 and 30, 2011 Stakehlder Interviews March 2011 Review Cmmittee Meeting #1 March 10, 2011 Agency Discussin Grup April 2011 Transit Users Discussin Grup April 2011 Review Cmmittee Meeting #2 May 2011 Review Cmmittee Meeting #3 June 2011 Public Wrkshps (2 nd set) June 2011 Review Cmmittee Meeting #4 July 2011 Presentatin #1 (Directin f Staff) June 2011 Presentatin #2 (Directin f Staff) June 2011 Presentatin #3 (Directin f Staff) June 2011 Presentatin #4 (Directin f Staff) June 2011 Presentatin Draft Final TDP fr Apprval (TPO Bard) July 2011 Presentatin Draft Final TDP fr Apprval Vlusia Cunty Cuncil July 2011 All Public Cmments Due August 1, 2011 Tindale-Oliver & Assciates, Inc. March Public Invlvement Plan