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Advancing Transit Improvement Measures Through Effective Community Outreach

Advancing Transit Improvement Measures Through Effective Community Outreach. Lyndon Henry Data Analyst Capital Metro • Austin, Tx. CFTE Transit Initiatives Conference Austin, Texas 11 June 2007. Experience from Rail Transit Ballot Measures. Austin – 2000 , 2004 San Antonio – 2000

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Advancing Transit Improvement Measures Through Effective Community Outreach

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  1. Advancing Transit Improvement Measures Through Effective Community Outreach Lyndon Henry Data Analyst Capital Metro • Austin, Tx CFTE Transit Initiatives Conference Austin, Texas 11 June 2007

  2. Experience from Rail Transit Ballot Measures • Austin – 2000, 2004 • San Antonio – 2000 • Kansas City – 2001, 2006 • Cincinnati – 2002 • Houston – 2003 • Tucson – 2003, 2006 • Won• Lost

  3. Rail Transit Ballot Measures Are Very Different! • Not like most electoral campaigns • Rail (and sometimes Quality Bus) is usually unfamiliar • Rail conjures images of freight trains • Prominent – attracts intense scrutiny • Impacts an entire corridor of neighborhoods • Unites diverse range of opponents • Well-funded brigade of professional critics

  4. 3 Main Allies in Transit Improvement Efforts • Grassroots pro-transit groups • Transit agency leadership and staff • Local civic leadership “Hang together, or hang separately…” Translation: Be on the same page…

  5. Transit Coalition Strategy • Transit agency's image is important • Make sure accomplishments are emphasized • Don't miss opportunities • Don't promise the impossible (“Rail project will solve congestion”) • Emphasize value of real-world, achievable goals (“Rail line will carry 30% of peak travel in the Lamar corridor by 2020”) • Always assume it’s an uphill struggle • Grassroots organizers critical – it’s not all mass media and official forums • GOTV – and don’t forget early voting!

  6. Responding to Critics • Don't ignore them • Don't miss opportunities, including debates (“ostrich” tactic doesn't work) • Don't echo opponents' slogans (They say “Transit Sucks!” We say “No!”) • Don't try to respond to every single detail • Avoid confusing, mind-numbing "numbers trivia“ • Focus on refuting 2-3 critical points to establish credibility – try using humor • Supporters’ credibility vs. opponents’ • Keep larger vision and message in view • Beware late-campaign “bombshells” (endorsements, “research reports”, etc.)

  7. Austin Light Rail Campaign (2000) • Legacy of strong grassroots support for rail transit • Excellent transit plan – no new taxes! • $600 million plan = big risk • Awful transit agency image – legacy of scandal • “We can't lose” attitude • Early disorganization and missed opportunities • Resources expended on “branding” and “Light rail will cure congestion” message • No clearly defined message – everyone on a different page • Surprised by critics’ claims, “numbers” game • Effective coordination only in last few months

  8. Austin All Systems Go Campaign (2004) • Legacy of grassroots support for rail transit • Much less ambitious, less costly plan • $90 million = much smaller risk • Plan backed by some former opponents – broader community buy-in • Agency image boosted by excellent transit awareness campaign (“You've gotta ride!” and “All Systems Go”) • Strong campaign organization – coordinated, clear message • “Uphill struggle” attitude

  9. Conclusions

  10. Grassroots Pro-Transit Groups • Major role in informing, “educating”, and mobilizing the public • Valuable source of ideas and information for transit agency • Need to avoid adversarial role with transit agency • Need to understand dynamics of transit agency • Need to learn art of persuasion

  11. Transit Agency • Need to respect & listen to grassroots input • Transit agency's image is important • Make sure accomplishments are emphasized • Provide facts & figures • Avoid “answer panic” • Be aware of informational resources

  12. Civic Leadership • “Grand Vision” important - but so are facts • Public & voters expect some solid answers • Focus on 2-3 most critical or vulnerable issues • Don't echo opponents' slogans • Don't miss opportunities, including debates (“ostrich” tactic doesn't work) • Organize & coordinate campaign and message – ensure everyone “on the same page”

  13. Valuable Informational Resources • Center for Transportation Excellence (CFTE) – CFTE.org • Light Rail Now - LightRailNow.org • Victoria Transport Policy Institute - VTPI.org • APTA Public Transportation website - PublicTransportation.org • PublicTransit.us • Regional transit advocacy sites (e.g., Denver Transit Alliance)

  14. Lyndon Henry Data Analyst 512.369-7756 Lyndon.henry@capmetro.org 512.441-3014 Nawdry@bga.com

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