PUBLIC OUTREACH SUPPORT-STATE TRANSPORATION COMMISSION (STC)

THE CHALLENGE

McCormick Taylor has collaborated with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the
State Transportation Commission (STC) since 2012 to modernize their approach to the 12-Year Program
(TYP) public outreach, which takes place every two years. Traditionally, input on the statewide plan of
transportation projects was gathered through hearings where few members of the public participated. In fact, during the 2011 TYP update, only six members of the public testified at the hearings. Public  participation is a critical component of the TYP update process, but it was widely recognized that past efforts to involve the public were not effective.

HOW WE HELPED

McCormick Taylor developed a plan to harness new technology and innovation to provide a more convenient
and accessible method to participate in transportation planning on a statewide basis. The plan continues
to evolve with each cycle, and currently includes the following innovative communications tools and
techniques: a new modernized website, a customized online and printable survey, an online public forum
with an audio-only option, animated educational infographics, interactive web maps, and a collaborative
plan that brought together all the key stakeholders in the process. After engaging McCormick Taylor in 2013, public participation has continually increased - from six members of the public testifying at public hearings to over 7,400 participating in a customized transportation survey and over 1,900 live online public forum participants in 2021.

RESULTS

These efforts have been recognized multiple times on local, state, and national levels as effecting, meaningful, and sustainable by measurable results. Most recently, the TYP outreach effort was featured as part of FHWA’s Virtual Public Involvement webinar series and AASHTO’s National 2020 Public Involvement Scan Tour.
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