SUSTAINING PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN LONG RANGE PLANNING USING A STAKEHOLDER BASED PROCESS: A CASE STUDY FROM EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD OREGON

Abstract

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act requires a proactive public involvement process that provides complete information, timely public notice, full public access to key decisions, and supports early and continuing involvement of the public in developing plans. This level of public involvement is a challenge to sustain over the course of a typical update of a transportation system plan. To ensure a proactive and continuing public involvement process, a stakeholder centered public involvement program was selected to guide the development of the Eugene-Springfield long-range transportation plan. The stakeholder process constituted the core of the public involvement program used in the recently completed update of the Eugene-Springfield transportation system plan and was the primary method of achieving sustained public involvement. A main objective of the stakeholder process was to involve groups representing a comprehensive cross section of the community, who have a vital interest in the outcome of the transportation planning process. Stakeholders participated in a series of three symposiums where key decisions were made at various points in the update process. A majority of stakeholders served on one of the three task forces that met for six months early in the process to identify potential strategies for use in the plan. In addition, many stakeholders served on focus committees overseeing development of an urban rail study, high speed rail terminal location analysis, development of plan goals and objectives, and land use design. The stakeholder process was a successful tool in getting the regional transportation plan adopted. Many valuable lessons were learned. Stakeholders can be an effective public outreach tool by partnering with them to provide two-way communication with the groups they represent, with the general public and with elected officials. Elected officials and planning commissioners were confident that all interests were represented with a comprehensive stakeholder process. Discussions with elected officials focused on the contents of the plan, rather than debating the public process. This approach provides a practical means of providing public access to a lengthy planning process, to a broad cross section of interests, and developing citizen groups well informed on a complex set of issues. This paper will detail the stakeholder process used by LCOG, the results of the process, and lessons learned in the use of this process.