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Public Participation Plan

MTC's Public Participation Plan

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Background

MTC on September 26, 2007 adopted a public participation plan for involving the people of the nine-county Bay Region in its key transportation policy and financial decisions. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA) enacted in 2005, requires MTC, as the Bay Area’s metropolitan planning organization, to adopt a such a plan. MTC also adopted in 2006 two principles on environmental justice, the first of which pledges to “Create an open and transparent public participation process that empowers low-income communities and communities of color to participate in decision making that affects them.”

Early Input Shaped the Plan

In an effort to address both of these requirements, MTC in January 2007 began seeking comments through meetings, focus groups and a Web survey to hear from a wide range of interests on their ideas for best practices for public participation. In May 2007, the Commission issued a draft MTC Public Participation Plan for public comment.

In response to more than 70 comments received on the draft, MTC on July 20, 2007, issued a Revised Draft Public Participation Plan, with proposed revisions set off in underscore type and strike-through text. To provide an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed revisions, MTC extended the public comment period through September 4, 2007. The second public comment period generated 13 additional comments.

What Is New?

The plan:

  • Provides specifics on when, how and where interested parties may stay informed of and get involved in MTC’s key decisions
  • Calls for use of more visuals (such as charts, icons or other graphic elements)
  • Lists specific techniques that are used to involve the public, including low-income communities and communities of color
  • Commits to developing a customized public involvement program for all major updates to the Bay Area’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) that includes frequent and varied opportunities for the public to weigh in on key decisions (that is, a formal commitment to continued practices pioneered during the last two updates to the RTP)
  • Clarifies how MTC conducts its required interagency and Tribal government consultations

Share your ideas!

MTC periodically will review and update its Public Participation Plan. If you have ideas or comments on MTC’s public involvement activities, please email info@mtc.ca.gov