Inclusive Virtual Public Involvement for Public Transit

This research will assist public transit agencies to enhance public engagement by more effectively using virtual public engagement. Virtual public engagement can enable transit agencies to obtain more inclusive and equitable public input; build meaningful, enduring relationships; and better serve the community. Virtual tools and techniques facilitate two-way communication with the community, potential passengers, and current riders. Early research on virtual public engagement (pre-2020) was primarily focused on transit agencies’ use of online platforms to inform riders and others (one-way communication), rather than to collect feedback from the public and engage key constituencies (two-way communication). With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, transit agencies across the U.S. dramatically modified their operations in response to stay-at-home orders, evolving health and safety requirements, increasing vehicle maintenance cleaning schedules, and more. Public involvement also dramatically changed, requiring transit agencies to rapidly pivot to virtual platforms and social media to communicate with, inform, engage, and safely receive input from their riders, the public, policy makers, community organizations, and others. After three years of COVID-19 safety precautions limiting in-person engagement, now online public hearings, asynchronous outreach events, hybrid meetings, and online surveys have evolved from necessary to customary. The public, advisory groups, boards of directors, policy makers, and passengers have come to expect online engagement, virtual convenings, and the routine use of social media for promotion and information sharing. However, despite the rapid adoption, development, and expansion of virtual platforms and strategies, the concern remains that virtual engagement efforts may not be fully effective, inclusive, or equitable. This research report is intended to help inform public transit agencies and transportation providers about not only the current state of virtual public engagement, but also best practices for virtual public engagement/involvement (VPI), particularly prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Record URL:
  • https://dx.doi.org/10.17226/27106
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309704946
• Authors:
  • Alexander, Karen J
  • Heady, Catherine
  • Balcazar, Martin
  • Walsh, Ryan
• Publication Date: 2023

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 127p
• Serial:
  • TCRP Research Report
  • Issue Number: 241
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 2572-3782

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: COVID-19; Outreach; Public hearings; Public participation; Public transit; Telecommunications
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01886845
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309704946
• Report/Paper Numbers: Project J-11/Task 41
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 29 2023 4:30PM