Public involvement is a critical part of the project planning process, and can be a major factor in the overall success of a project. The success of public participation is largely determined by how thoroughly and thoughtfully it is planned. It is imperative that the public involvement process and project goals are carefully considered before choosing the appropriate strategy.

The framework of the public involvement process includes:

Public Involvement Plan.

A fundamental first step in the public involvement planning process is the development of a Public Involvement Plan (PIP). A PIP is a living document that serves as a planning resource for TxDOT staff and consultants to better understand the overall goal, strategy and communication procedures for a specific project or initiative. It is a blueprint to reach a desired outcome and it outlines what is needed to effectively involve the public in the project planning process.

At a minimum, a PIP must satisfy any requirements applicable to the specific type of public involvement being conducted as established by the applicable TxDOT Division (e.g., public involvement conducted as part of the environmental review process for transportation projects must comply with applicable requirements in the Environmental Affairs Division's Public Involvement Toolkit).

District or division staff can develop a PIP using a template, or they can contact the Public Involvement Section for assistance.

Develop a PIP using a Template.

A district or division can create their own PIP using the PIP template. This editable document provides the components of the PIP along with instructions and examples. The planning template includes the following:

The plan should be continually evaluated and updated as needed to adapt to changing stakeholders and circumstances as the project development progresses.

Contact the Public Involvement Section for public involvement planning assistance and PIP development.

A staff member from the Public Involvement section will then contact the district or division team member to discuss the project and public involvement goals, the level of public involvement needed and then will research and develop the plan for review and approval.

Meeting Planning and Facilitation.

Determining the structure and approach of a public meeting or stakeholder meeting is yet another important consideration from a public involvement planning standpoint. The Public Involvement Section team can assist with building effective meeting plans and coordinating meeting logistics, such as designing meeting layouts and providing the appropriate meeting supplies. The Public Involvement Section works with districts and divisions to identify any Americans with Disabilities

Act

(ADA) considerations. Compliance with the ADA is not only required under Federal law—it is the right thing to do. Meeting locations must have adequate public parking and accessible entries to be compliant with ADA.

In addition, the Public Involvement Section team of facilitators can assist districts and divisions in providing thoughtful engagement opportunities with innovative collaboration methods. The team can assist districts and divisions to develop facilitation plans; create facilitation materials; provide the necessary supplies; and serve as a neutral facilitator during meetings. Contact the Public Involvement Section to learn more about using creative public engagement methods to create an effective and collaborative meeting.