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Northwest
Arkansas Regional Transportation Study (NARTS) PUBLIC
INVOLVEMENT PROCEDURES
A.
INTRODUCTION The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (TEA 21) requires an ongoing public involvement program in the
development of the NARTS Regional Transportation Plan and other transportation
and implementation activities. The
NARTS Technical Advisory and Policy Committees want public input from all
citizens, employers, and transportation providers, as they develop programs to
make the most of transportation facilities in Northwest Arkansas.
These procedures are designed to give the public opportunities to make
comments and suggestions during the process of planning and implementation of
transportation programs. This document will outline procedures that are designed to
promote and encourage public participation in the transportation planning
process. It does not limit
additional, ongoing, creative solutions to facilitate public involvement.
Additional strategies to involve the public shall be encouraged such as
contacting neighborhood groups within impacted areas, varying meeting times to
better meet the public needs and any other techniques that will increase public
participation. B.
TECHNICAL ADVISORY AND POLICY COMMITTEE MEETINGS 1. A legal notice will be placed in area newspapers at least one week prior to the meeting. 2. A press release will be sent to area newspapers at least one week prior to the meeting. 3. Information about the meeting will be posted on the NWARPC web page at least one week prior to the meeting. 4. If subsequent meetings are needed to finish business, the committee can suspend the meeting and meet again with no additional legal notice or press release required. The web page should be updated to reflect the continued meeting, but the one week prior policy will not be required. 5. All TAC and Policy Committee meetings referenced in the following sections will follow these guidelines for public involvement.
C.
UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM (UPWP) In the Spring of each year the NARTS staff and AHTD
transportation planners will draft a proposed work program for the coming fiscal
year. The UPWP must be adopted by the Policy Committee by June 30 of each year. 1. By the end of April of every year the proposed UPWP will be sent to the TAC. 2. A legal notice will be placed in area newspapers allowing for a two week comment period. The public will be encouraged to request a copy, pick up a copy, or view the document on the NWARPC web page. 3. A press release will be sent to area newspapers repeating the information in the legal notice. 4.
After the two week comment
period the TAC and Policy Committee will meet to review and adopt the UPWP,
preferably by June 15 or earlier. D.
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) A TIP must be adopted by the Policy Committee every two
years. The TIP covers a three
fiscal year period and must be adopted by September 30 of even numbered years. 1. By the end of April of even numbered years the NARTS Study Director will call for proposed projects from the jurisdictions within the NARTS boundary and local citizens. 2. Legal notices will be placed in area newspapers to establish a one month period to gather public comment. 3. Press releases will be sent to area newspapers concerning the one month comment period and the TIP approval process. 4. The TAC will meet in May to review the projects and formulate the proposed TIP. If needed, more meetings will be scheduled. 5. The Policy Committee will meet by the end of August to review and adopt the final TIP. 6.
When significant written and oral comments are received as a result of
the public participation process, a summary, analysis, and report on the
disposition of comments will be made part of the final TIP. E.
AMENDMENTS TO THE UPWP AND
THE TIP
BY MEETING: 1. A legal notice will be placed in area newspapers setting forth the proposed amendment, a two week comment period and the time and date of the TAC and Policy Committee meetings to approve the amendment. 2. A press release will be sent to area newspapers containing the information in the legal notice and further necessary information. 3. The proposed amendment will be posted on the NWARPC web page. 4. After the two week comment period, a TAC and Policy meeting will be held to adopt the amendment. BY BALLOT: 1. A legal notice will be placed in area newspapers setting forth the proposed amendment, a two week comment period, and the date and time framework of the mail out balloting process. 2. A press release will be sent to area newspapers containing the information in the legal notice. 3. The proposed amendment will be posted on the NWARPC web page. 4. After the two week comment period, a ballot with the proposed amendment, and a summary of the comments will be sent to all TAC and Policy members. Ballots can be sent by mail, fax, or email according to the preference of the recipient. 5.
The ballot will specify a time framework for returned votes to count.
The amendment will pass with an affirmative vote by a majority of the
authorized voting membership. Votes will be received by mail, fax, and email. F.
THE LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN A Long Range Transportation Plan must be in place for the
NARTS area in order to comply with federal guidelines and in order to facilitate
efficient utilization of transportation resources.
The Long Range Transportation Plan must be updated every five years at a
minimum. 1. At least three public forums will be conducted as part of the development of the Long Range Transportation Plan. When the Long Range Transportation Plan is undergoing a major update, there will be a minimum of a 60 day public comment period from the first legal notice of intent to update the plan, to final adoption by the Policy Committee. 2. The first two forums will be for the public to view preliminary plans and to make public comment. The two forums will be at different locations in the two counties with the idea to facilitate maximum public involvement. There will be a two week public comment period after the first two public forums and prior to TAC consideration of the Plan. 3. A legal notice will be placed in area newspapers two weeks prior to the public forums giving the time, place and purpose of the forums. 4. A press release will be sent to area newspapers no later than one week prior to the public forums concerning the time, place and purpose of the forum. 5. A display ad will be placed in the local news section of area newspapers giving the time, place and purpose of the forums, at least one week prior to the forum. 6. The information described above will be placed on the NWARPC web page. 7. TAC approval of the Plan must come after the two week public comment period following the public forums. 8. A third public forum will be conducted after the TAC recommends a proposed Plan to the Policy Committee. This forum will adhere to the same public notification process as the first two forums. 9. The Policy Committee must allow a two week public comment period after the last public forum before adopting the final Plan. If the Policy Committee desires, it can send the Plan back to the TAC for modification. 10. When significant written and oral comments are received as a result of the public participation process, a summary, analysis, and report on the disposition of comments will be made part of the final Plan. G.
AMENDMENTS TO THE LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN 1. A TAC meeting will be held to discuss and formulate the amendment. Public comment will be received. 2. A two week comment period will be established for the public to comment on the proposed amendment. Information about the amendment and the comment period will be advertised by a legal notice, press release, and web page posting. 3. A Policy meeting will be scheduled to adopt the amendment. 4.
All interested parties will be encouraged to attend this Policy
Committee. The Study Director will
provide a summary of any public comment to the Policy Committee, and public
comment will be encouraged at the meeting. The Policy Committee can adopt the
amendment or send it back to the TAC for more consideration. H.
PUBLIC COMMENTS At all public forums and TAC and
Policy meetings the public will be requested to sign an attendance roll.
Those desiring to make comment will be asked to provide their comments in
writing. Oral comments at TAC and Policy meetings will be received at the
discretion of the Committee Chairs. Public
forums will allow for a fuller expression of all verbal comments as well as
written comments. Written comments
will be encouraged and will be requested to be submitted within two weeks after
public forums and the specific TAC and Policy meetings that call for a comment
period. The NARTS staff will
maintain a file of written public
comments for three years, and will provide a summary for the appropriate TAC and
Policy meetings. I.
MODIFICATIONS TO THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCEDURES 1. A TAC sub-committee will be formed to develop the new proposed document. 2. After TAC approval, legal notices and a press release will establish a 45 day public comment period. 3.
The public will be able to pick up a copy, have one mailed or emailed to
them, or view it on the NWARPC web site. 4. The Policy Committee can approve the new Procedures in two ways: a. At the end of the 45 day comment period they can meet and approve the document or send it back to the TAC. b. They can meet in no less than three weeks after TAC approval of the document and approve it pending no negative comment during the remainder of the 45 day comment period. |