Community engagement

The objective of this study was to understand public attitudes towards several issues related to access management. Specifically: 1. How do users perceive the role and function of specific highways experiencing significant development and increasing traffic? 2. What do citizens perceive are the problems with these roadways? 3. Given that: some people live or work next to the road, some people are trying to get to the businesses alongside the road, and some people are just passing through, what is the proper balance between access and mobility? 4. Do citizens recognize that poorly managed access to a state highway causes congestion and safety problems? 5. Who is perceived to have responsibility for managing the use of the roadway with respect to mobility, access, and safety? 6. Should existing and future businesses conform to limited access policies regarding state highways in the interest of maintaining mobility and safety? 7. How do these answers differ among the following three customer segments? Residents of the immediate vicinity, residents of the market area, travelers passing through, commuters, and/or recreational travelers? Focus groups in four study areas were held to answer these questions. During each group, respondents discussed their use of the studied highway, their perceptions of the roadway's purpose and their views on how access to businesses can best be handled without compromising mobility in the area. They were asked to describe how the roadway has changed and what impact those changes have had on their driving habits and the safety/risks of traveling in the study area.

Transportation systems, as integral parts of human settlements, reflect the societal structures and cultural ideologies influenced predominantly by the dominant race or class. In the absence of prioritizing the transportation needs of underserved communities, transportation systems may perpetuate systematic inequities. This study aims to address the inequities present in current transportation systems by conducting a comprehensive examination of the transportation experiences of individuals belonging to ten specific underserved communities. These communities include eight within the Twin Cities metropolitan region (Latinx, African American, Hmong, people with disabilities, immigrants, people living with HIV, single mothers, and single fathers), as well as two communities in the Greater Minnesota area (transitioning home residents in Fergus Falls and tribal members of the White Earth Nation). This research adopts a mixed-method approach, incorporating both qualitative interviews and quantitative smartphone-based travel behavior surveys. The findings reveal that each community faces distinct transportation barriers, alongside shared themes in transportation inequities such as inadequate public transportation, difficulties related to car use, and the impact of transportation on significant life outcomes. Recommendations for future research and practice are provided.

The University of Minnesota's Center for Transportation Studies conducted a study on Minnesota's district/area transportation process (ATP). Building upon existing planning processes, the ATPs involve a broad range of transportation professionals, elected officials, special interest groups, and the public in developing the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Volume II of this study includes eight case studies that report the data heard from the members of the eight ATPs. It also contains other perspectives from the point of view of the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (Mn/DOTs) Central Office, non-ATP members and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) directors. The case study information is organized around these key features: project selection and ranking process, ATP membership make-up, boundary issues, financial data, goals, relationships with regional entities and local units of government, the role of elected officials, and the public involvement process. Through eight case studies, one for each district/ATP, and a cross-case analysis, the study documents information gathered from ATP members and representatives from Mn/DOT on the key features of the ATP process. A summary of the perceived strengths and challenges for the three themes of partnership, prioritization, and planning shows that several of the strengths and challenges appear more than once across the three themes. As the ATPs and Mn/DOT explore the possibility of future changes, the cross-cutting issues in the ATP process are: the composition of ATP membership; the nature of public involvement; decentralized decision making; enhancement projects; ranking regional significance; intermodalism; urban and rural tension; fiscal constraint; and the role of planning in the ATP process. Volume I of the report includes the cross-comparison of ATP processes and practices, findings from the common characteristics of the research data, and issues and challenges identified by ATP members in the interviews.

This report presents the results of a study conducted by the University of Minnesota's Center for Transportation Studies on Minnesota's district/area transportation process (ATP). Building upon existing planning processes, the ATPs involve a broad range of transportation professionals, elected officials, special interest groups, and the public in developing the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Through eight case studies, one for each district/ATP, and a cross-case analysis, the study documents information gathered from ATP members and representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) on the key features of the ATP process. A summary of the perceived strengths and challenges for the three themes of partnership, prioritization, and planning shows that several of the strengths and challenges appear more than once across the three themes. Volume I of the report includes the cross-comparison of ATP processes and practices, findings from the common characteristics of the research data, and issues and challenges identified by ATP members in the interviews. As the ATPs and Mn/DOT explore the possibility of future changes, the cross-cutting issues in the ATP process are: the composition of ATP membership; the nature of public involvement; decentralized decision making; enhancement projects; ranking regional significance; intermodalism; urban and rural tension; fiscal constraint; and the role of planning in the ATP process. Volume II includes eight case studies that report the data heard from the members of the eight A TPs. It also contains other perspectives from the point of view ofMn/DOT's Central Office, federal agencies, non-ATP members and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) directors.

This Technical Summary pertains to LRRB-produced Report 2018-08, “Effective Social Media Engagement Options for Minnesota’s Diversifying Population,” published February 2018.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2013-05, “Quality of Life: Assessment for Transpor-tation Performance Measures,” published January 2013.

This Technical Summary pertains to the LRRB-produced Report 2014-17, “Building Local Agency Capacity for Public Engagement in Local Road Systems Planning and Decision Making,” published May 2014.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2010-33, “Hear Every Voice Public Engagement Initiative,” published July 2010. Mn/DOT research leveraged for this project includes Mn/DOT Report 2006-24, “Developing a Simple System for Public Involvement Conflict Management.”

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2006-24, “Developing a Simple System for Public Involvement Conflict Management,” published June 2006.

This slide presentation relates to Transportation Research Synthesis TRS2103, Public Engagement Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Disruptive Events.