1 / 14

Public Outreach Practices

Public Outreach Practices. Lessons Learned from an Informal Survey Jakia Torrence and Will Mallett. Introduction. We undertook an informal study of ~30 work zones around the country to discern good practices Asked about situation of work zone Duration, location, etc

cate
Download Presentation

Public Outreach Practices

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Public Outreach Practices Lessons Learned from an Informal Survey Jakia Torrence and Will Mallett

  2. Introduction • We undertook an informal study of ~30 work zones around the country to discern good practices • Asked about situation of work zone • Duration, location, etc • Asked about public outreach related to travel (not outreach related to project itself) • Developing guidance document for FHWA • Today we’ll share observations on best practices and lessons learned

  3. A Plan is Best (see handouts) • Needs • Resources • Partners • Audiences • Message • Communication methods • Communication timing • Evaluation, including mid-course correction

  4. Needs Are Different • Public outreach effort determined by scale and nature of project: • Facilities affected, duration • Amount of delay, anticipated safety problems • Special conditions such as heavy truck traffic, weather • Disruptions of other modes e.g. airport traffic • Evacuation/hazmat route • Number and location of emergency responders affected (hospitals, fire stations, military) • Number and location of businesses and residents affected • Number and location of planned special events affected

  5. Do Your Homework • Information gathering • Agency sources • Analytical tools (e.g. QuickZone) • Survey of travelers • Community meetings • May be ongoing effort

  6. Exploit A Wide Range of Resources • Diversity of resources • In-house expertise • Some contracted with public relations firm • Existing IT (e.g. website) and ITS (e.g. cameras, VMS) • Partners • Other state and local agencies, elected officials • Major employers • Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), business associations, neighborhood associations • Traveler information providers • Planned special events coordinators

  7. There Are Many Audiences • Types of travelers • Pre-trip, enroute • Personal (commute, non-commute, long distance) • Commercial (local, long distance truck drivers) • Types of attractors • Major employers, malls, business districts, other modes, planned special events • Types of people • Residents, workers, small business owners, limited English, elderly, children

  8. Variety of Messages • Safety first • Workers, motorists, others • How to minimize delay and frustration • Work zone details • Travel times and delays • Alternatives (mode, route, timing, destination) • We care • Public acceptance • Building trust • Relationship building

  9. Project website Email alerts Web-connected traffic cameras Direct mail (community contact letter, other materials) Brochures/flyers/factsheets Newsletter Public meetings/workshops/events Project model display with related information Newspapers advertising and articles TV advertising, articles, traffic spots Radio advertising, articles, and traffic spots Maps Employee newsletters Video CB radio network (for truckers) Information center or kiosk Billboards Project hotline 511 Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) Personal contacts Press kit Business survival kit Branding Many Methods of Communication

  10. Examples of Communication Methods • Website – (e.g. Katy Freeway www.katyfreeway.org) • Cameras • Email alert • Printed flyers, brochures, newsletters (see handouts) • Dynamic Message Signs (e.g. Central Arkansas) • Mass media • Free (“earned media”) (e.g. I-64 in Louisville, KY) • Paid Advertising (e.g. I-64 again, Upgrade I-74 in Peoria) • Press kit (Upgrade I-74 again)

  11. Communication Methods (cont.) • Maps • Web-based (e.g. I-95 New Haven, www.i95newhaven.com/flash/improvements.html) • Printed (e.g. Dallas High Five) • Direct Mail (e.g. Mission Street newsletter) • Project hotline (e.g. Upgrade I-74 at 1-866-I74-NEWS) • Business survival kit (e.g. www.i235.com/business_kit.htm) • Information kiosk center (e.g. Springfield Interchange) • Branding (e.g. Upgrade I-74, www.upgrade74.com)

  12. What Did the Public Notice?(California DOT's Central Freeway Replacement Project)

  13. Timing is Everything • Before • General details, where to go for information • During • Specific details, timing important • After • Project is completed!

  14. Lessons Learned • Plan early and often • Spending on outreach not frivolous • Partners are important • Define your audiences • Define messages • Use variety of methods • Communicate before, during, and after • Evaluate effectiveness

More Related