How Citizens Can Impact Transportation Planning

Getting Out of the Rut (Foresight, Winter 1997)

We all are familiar with the existing approach to transportation. Roads become clogged and we build new roads or widen existing ones. Never mind that this road construction cuts a swath through pastoral countryside, or decimates an older neighborhood. When we build or widen roads, often we don’t appropriately limit development along these corridors, and they soon become home to fast food restaurants, convenience stores and other strip development. These businesses attract more people—who can only get there by car. Then the roads become clogged, and we build new roads or widen existing ones.

We are equally unwise with our neighborhoods. Usually accessible only by one or two main entrances, they are often cut off from the community at large. We build houses on large lots, causing "neighborhood sprawl." To cut costs, we do not include sidewalks and bicycle paths. Schools and parks out of walking distance force parents to shuttle children from activity to activity. Elderly residents are equally isolated. Scared to have commercial uses intermingling in our residential areas, we relegate the corner store of yore to strip shopping centers that we can only reach by car. Then the roads become clogged, and we build new roads or widen existing ones—tearing apart other neighborhoods, or sensitive natural areas, in the process.

Increasingly unhappy with this loss of community and diminished quality of life, people are unsure what can be done. For the last three years, 1000 Friends has been working on a Transportation Initiative to learn how individuals can work cooperatively to bring about positive change.

What have we found? The communities that have the most informed and involved citizens usually make the most informed transportation decisions. The first step is to understand that there is a strong relationship between where we build our roads (or bike paths, or car pool lanes) and how our community develops physically. And chances are, our local development standards encourage sprawling, automobile-oriented design, and may even prohibit people-friendly alternatives.

The next step is to understand that transportation should be planned from a regional perspective. Only when we look at the "big picture" can we truly understand the ramifications of our transportation decisions—and make the most informed decisions.

What can you as an individual do to make a difference?

1. Work together

Establish a grass roots coalition to voice your concerns. Even if you start with only a few people meeting in a living room once a month, if you work cooperatively you can make a difference. Reach out to neighbors from all arenas—political, business, government, civic, neighborhood, environmental—with the goal of making your community a better place for all of its residents. Continually work to expand your coalition and strengthen it.

2. Become educated

As tedious as it may seem, learn about your community’s transportation planning process. Contact your local Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, (your city or county government can give you the number) and ask them how you can become involved. They are required to have a citizen participation process. Ask them to send representatives to your meeting to share with you what is happening and how you can become involved. Learn about your local land use regulations and the type of community development they allow.

3. Establish contacts

Meet with your locally elected officials, planning and MPO staff, concerned citizen groups, and other parties to work toward establishing a cooperative partnership. Remember, the most meaningful citizen participation comes from a cooperative partnership, rather than an adversarial role. If cooperation doesn’t seem to be in the cards, work hard to remain a vocal but positive player in the process.

4. Define your vision

Begin to develop a vision of what you would like your community to be like in the future. This can be accomplished through a formal charrette or visioning process, or through informal discussions. Don’t just focus on what is best for your neighborhood or your town—consider a vision from a regional perspective. Remember that transportation decisions will shape your community for better or worse. And do not forget to look at the linkages between transportation and land use issues.

5. Deal with projects that affect your community

Look at proposed transportation projects to determine whether they will help your community reach its vision, or hinder it. The most intense impacts (or ripples) occur right along the transportation corridor. But don’t forget that the ripples of a transportation project reach far out into the region. Make people aware of those "secondary impacts" as well.

6. Work for recognition

Become a recognized and respected player in the planning process by offering informed and educated input. Strive to reach the point where political leaders, the media, and other organizations turn to your coalition when they are searching for positive solutions to tough problems.

7. Maintain your involvement

Recognize up front that transportation planning is a long, drawn-out process. It will take sustained involvement over a number of years to make a real difference. Also remember, while people will rally to stop a road through their neighborhood, they find it less exciting (and more time consuming) to monitor the changes in policies and regulations which lead to roads through neighborhoods in the first place. But it is easier to change a transportation plan when it is in concept, before the roads have been drawn on the map! To stay involved over the long haul, it is necessary to continually recruit new membership and dynamic leadership.

8. Explore assistance and funding sources

It is not essential to have funding to be successful. But as your coalition expands, you may seek grants and donations to cover the costs of mailing meeting notices and project updates.

Meaningful change takes a long time to accomplish and often seems like an uphill battle. But then, who would have thought twenty-five years ago that cigarette smoking would be banned in so many places? Positive change is possible—if we take it one step at a time.