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Public Participation

How to get involved

This study includes a broad-based public outreach plan that is aimed to clearly communicate the purpose of the Connections Study and provide details on the analysis and screening of each proposed alternative. This study is much more than an effort to determine what happens to a particular bridge or bridges. It is also designed to analyze the area’s multimodal opportunities to best address the area’s transportation needs into the foreseeable future.

Our public outreach plan is designed to be responsive and to give the general public and stakeholders the maximum opportunity to provide opinions and input in varying kinds of forums. Why? Because different people like to make their opinions known in different ways. Some like to speak up in public meetings, and some prefer to make comments in writing. Some have an important point they want to make right off, and some need time to digest the information before making up their minds. The Connections Study Team’s pledge is to provide the public with all relevant data and alternatives developed as part of this study.

* Broadly distributed media announcements to let the public know what they can expect from the Connections Study and how to get involved. Examples include news releases for newspapers, radio and cable TV, e-mail notices, etc.

* Neighborhood or other organization meetings by request to allow small organizations connected to the process to ask questions about the study in an informal atmosphere.

* A series of 12 Public Information Meetings - two meetings on six topics, with our current plan being that one will take place in the afternoon and one in the evening on the same day. We hope this will provide a convenient time for any resident who wants to attend. Proposed meeting topics are noted below:

  1. Meeting: Study process, Data collection, public input for Purpose and Need Statement: Late April 2009
  2. Meeting: Finalize Purpose and Need Statement, Data Findings, Bridge Inspection Report: August 2009
  3. Meeting: Identify Alternatives, Introduction to Fatal Flaw Approach Final Purpose and Need: September 2009
  4. Meeting: Fatal Flaw Analysis, Economic Analysis Onput: December 2009
  5. Meeting: Identify Preferred Alternatives, Evaluation/Feedback: April 2011
  6. Meeting: Final Report: June 2010

* Quarterly e-newsletters for all interested parties.

* Neighborhood Posters to update local neighborhoods on meetings and progress.