DVRPC's Public Participation Strategy

DVRPC believes that planning must be done with the public's advice and consent. Decisions made at the Commission affect the future of all those who live and work in the Delaware Valley region, and DVRPC is committed to understanding the diverse needs and concerns of the public, non-profit organizations, business interests, and local governments.

We hear the voices of our citizens through public participation. Citizen comment comes from a variety of sources, including community and non-profit organizations, public officials, disabled individuals, mature citizens, and those that have been traditionally underserved. Public comments are reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate agency, and are also provided to the various DVRPC advisory committees including the Regional Transportation Committee and the Regional Citizens Committee for consideration before final action by the Board. Yet this effort does not encompass all that we must do to reach our different audiences. We, therefore, have outlined the strategy below that summarizes our philosophy and intent to place public participation at the forefront of our priorities.

What is Public Participation?
Public participation is the process by which interested and affected individuals, organizations, agencies and government entities are consulted and included in the decision-making process.

Public participation consists of three related, and often overlapping, processes: information dissemination, consultation, and stakeholder participation. Stakeholders are the individuals, groups, or institutions that have an interest or stake in the outcome of a DVRPC funded project. The term also applies to those potentially affected by a project.

Information dissemination refers to the availability and distribution of timely and relevant information on DVRPC programs and projects. Aspects of dissemination include appropriate notification and disclosure of project information and proper public access to it.

Consultation pertains to information exchanges among the implementing agency, project executing agencies, and stakeholders. Consultation also provides opportunities for communities and local groups to contribute to project scope, implementation, and evaluation.

Developing strategies for incorporating stakeholder participation throughout any program or project cycle is particularly necessary in projects that impact the incomes, livelihoods or lifestyles of local groups, especially disadvantaged populations at risk in and around project sites.

Our Philosophy
DVRPC believes that effective public involvement and participation is a dynamic and ongoing process that is essential to meeting the future transportation and land use needs of all citizens in the Delaware Valley. Through a constructive dialogue, decision-makers, planners, and the public can share opinions and mutually shape a vision for a neighborhood, county or region. In order to implement any plan, there needs to be a cooperative and coordinated action among the public, private and non-profit sectors and the general public.

Effective planning cannot be achieved without the consideration, cooperation and consent of citizens throughout the region. The Commission commits to promote and sustain a responsive public participation program that supports citizen input and timely response at all levels of planning.

Every DVRPC staff member is involved in some way in public participation. Even if they do not have direct contact with citizens, their actions ultimately have an impact on how our region functions and on how DVRPC is perceived by the public. The following public participation guidelines were developed to assist DVRPC employees and Board members in achieving the objectives of DVRPC's Public Participation Plan.

Public Participation Goals
DVRPC's public participation goals are to:

• Provide opportunity for interested parties to identify regional concerns and priorities;
• Encourage public participation opportunities in a wide and varied audience, including traditionally underserved groups;
• Publicize public participation opportunities and activities throughout the development of DVRPC projects and programs;
• Obtain meaningful public input and participation to inform the Commission's planning and decision-making process; and
• Inform and educate stakeholders and interested parties, share information, and increase the overall awareness of regional planning, land use and transportation issues and activities in the Delaware Valley region.

Public Participation Objectives
In order to ensure that DVRPC has a proactive and meaningful public involvement process that provides complete information, timely public notice, full citizen input to key decision-making processes, and supports early and continuing involvement in developing regional plans and projects, the Commission pursues the following objectives:

• The dissemination of information will be thorough to ensure the education of the public and to promote the broadest understanding of the region's needs, as a means of strengthening regional policy-making;
• DVRPC's constituency will be broadened by increasing public and private sector and inter-governmental communications, and by reaching out to those who are underserved in this region;
• The interested public will be ensured of ample opportunity to participate in the decision-making process for regional projects and plans, as well as the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); and
• DVRPC will coordinate its Public Participation strategy with ongoing public involvement processes of its member governments, whenever possible, to enhance public participation.

Development of the Public Participation Plan
Federal SAFETEA-LU guidelines require the participation of interested parties in the development of public participation plans. SAFETEA-LU defines "interested parties" as:

• Citizens;
• Affected public agencies;
• Representatives of public transportation employees;
• Freight shippers;
• Private providers of transportation;
• Representatives of users of public transportation;
• Safety and security providers;
• Representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities;
• Representatives of the disabled;
• Providers of freight transportation services; and
• Other interested parties.

DVRPC staff consulted with a range of stakeholders and conducted a public review process to develop this Public Participation Plan.

Evaluation of Public Participation Activities
DVRPC, in conjunction with other interested parties, evaluates the effectiveness of its public participation program as needed following major planning efforts, and, at a minimum, at the end of each fiscal year.