Virtual Public Engagement at Texas MPOs: Into the Future

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is currently conducting research to assess how Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in Texas adapted required public engagement activities during the pandemic.

In this panel session, representatives from MPOs will discuss their approaches in more detail, providing the audience with uses cases that highlight successful practices and lessons learned. Of particular interest is understanding how those adaptations met the needs of diverse audiences. The research also documents how bylaws, programs and policies were changed to adapt to a new virtual environment.

With over 23 MPOs in Texas that vary greatly in terms of geographic size, staff and responsibilities, this panel session seeks to understand how virtual public involvement (VPI) tools and techniques were used as part of the metropolitan planning process during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions; how Title VI and Environmental Justice (EJ) concerns were addressed; lessons learned and best practices; and plans for future VPI activities or hybrid engagement.

Takeaways:

You will leave this session with an understanding of:

• an understanding of how to address VPI from a regulatory perspective, in terms of what is allowable and best practice;
• concrete examples of how to use VPI for long-range planning from case studies;
• lessons learned and best practices from a variety of tools and techniques from the MPO panelists.