Public Involvement

Public involvement is a key component of the transportation planning and programming process. A proactive public involvement process is one that provides complete information, timely public notice, and full public access to major transportation decisions and supports early and continuing involvement of the public in developing transportation plans and programs.

In an attempt to ensure that our planning process is inclusive, RTC employs specific strategies for reaching out to persons who are traditionally underserved by transportation projects, such as low-income and minority households. In addition to ensuring that community members are involved, our transportation investments should not adversely impact these populations; and improvements are to be equitably distributed.

RTC utilizes a broad range of public information and participation opportunities in planning for regional transportation needs and programming of regional transportation projects. RTC also recognizes the importance of public participation at the local level and will acknowledge and consider public input resulting from transportation planning and project programming at the local jurisdictional level, as well as through public participation conducted by transportation agencies such as the public transit provider, C-TRAN, and Washington State Department of Transportation.

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) must establish and periodically review and update public participation processes in a public participation plan. These processes should assure early and continued public awareness of, access to, and opportunity to participate in the transportation decision-making process. RTC’s Public Participation Plan (PDF, 2MB) describes the agency’s public participation process with polices and guidance for public outreach and participation outlined within the document.

The Public Participation Plan (PDF, 2MB) establishes consistent procedures to ensure people have reasonable opportunities to be involved in the regional transportation planning process and provides examples of the types of tools and techniques RTC may use to communicate with the community and planning partners. The adopted Public Participation Plan also meets Washington State’s requirements regarding public involvement and outreach in conducting regional transportation planning by the Regional Transportation Planning Organization.