Nice Bridge Improvement Project Public Involvement Plan

1. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Charles County, Maryland King George County, Virginia December 11, 2006 DRAFT

2. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Overview This Public Involvement Plan for the Nice Bridge Project Improvement Project serves as a guideline for distributing public information and engaging the public in this project. This plan outlines the process that the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) will implement to identify public concerns, public outreach strategies, public comment opportunities, and potential stakeholders in this project. The public involvement process for this project will focus on all parties potentially affected by this project as well as those who have a vested interest. MdTA assumes that nearby neighborhood associations, local residents and boaters; state, local, and regional authorities; major employers, and community facilities/services fit into this criteria. DRAFT

3. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan • Public Involvement Plan Summary • MdTA will perform the following tasks as part of implementing the Public Involvement Plan for the Nice Bridge Improvement Project: • Prepare and continue to update a project mailing list of individuals and groups that have interest or could potentially be affected by the project. • Prepare fact sheets, brochures, and/or newsletters about the status of the project that will include information on upcoming meetings, milestones, and project deadlines and distribute to project mailing list. • Maintain up-to-date project webpage. • Establish a Focus Group made up of stakeholders, which would include community and business representatives, special interest groups and other stakeholders. DRAFT

4. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan • Public Involvement Plan Summary (Continued) • MdTA will perform the following tasks as part of implementing the Public Involvement Plan for the Nice Bridge Improvement Project: •  Place environmental documents in local repositories for public review and comment. • Initiate and facilitate meetings with interested parties, if necessary. • Initiate and facilitate public meetings (in both Maryland and Virginia) at significant project milestones/decision points and provide written information on the project at these meetings. • Respond thoroughly and appropriately to concerns, questions, and issues raised by any of the interested parties. • Monitor and evaluate the public involvement process to ensure that all questions of interested parties or groups have been adequately answered. DRAFT

5. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Public Involvement Objectives  Provide public with effective, consistent opportunities for potentially affected and interested parties to voice their concerns and ideas.  Provide public with information on the project status, including timeframes, design issues, environmental impacts, and social impacts.  Build lasting relationships with the community and interested parties and provide reasonable opportunity for their involvement.  Coordinate with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) throughout the course of the project for their input on public involvement.  Where applicable, adhere to public involvement provisions included in SAFETEA-LU and other federal and state laws.  Include outreach efforts that are targeted toward minority, low-income and bilingual communities who may not be reached by ordinary outreach strategies (i.e., speakers of other languages). DRAFT

6. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Public Involvement Plan Activities and Timeline ActivityTimeframe Status Develop Public Involvement Plan May 2006 Completed Compile Project Mailing Lists May-June 2006 Completed Publish Project Initiation Announcement July 2006 Completed Develop and launch Project Website July 2006 Completed Hold Focus Group Meeting #1 December 2006 Completed Conduct Property Owner Notification December 2006 Circulate First Project Newsletter January 2007 Advertise Alternatives Public Workshop February 2007 Hold Focus Group Meeting #2 February 2007 Hold Alternatives Public Workshop Spring 2007 Circulate Second Project Newsletter Fall 2007 DRAFT

7. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Public Involvement Plan Activities and Timeline (continued) ActivityTimeframe Status Hold Focus Group Meeting #3 Jan – Feb 2008 Circulate Third Project Newsletter Feb – March 2008 Hold Focus Group Meeting #4 Summer 2008 Circulate Draft Environmental Document/ Summer 2008 Technical Reports for Public Review Advertise Public Hearing Fall 2008 Hold Public Hearing Fall 2008 Address Public Comments Fall 2008 Hold Focus Group Meeting #5 Winter 2009 Circulate Final Environmental Document for Spring 2009 Public Review Circulate Fourth Project Newsletter Summer 2009 Record of Decision (ROD) Summer 2009 DRAFT

8. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Key Milestones  Project Initiation Announcement  Alternatives Public Workshop  Draft Environmental Document Published for Public Review and Comment  Location/Design Public Hearing  Final Environmental Document Published for Public Review and Comment Ongoing Activities  Maintaining Project Mailing List  Nice Bridge Improvement Project webpage  Project Newsletters  Receiving/Addressing Comments on Project  Community Requested Meetings  Focus Group Meetings  Outreach to environmental justice and bilingual communities DRAFT

9. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Project Newsletters Objective To inform the public of the latest project activities and recent developments. Newsletters will be circulated prior to public workshops and the public hearing, as well as posted on the project website. The purpose of circulating a newsletter prior to the workshop helps to encourage involvement and participation from the public. Distributing a newsletter following the workshop is a way of showing the public their thoughts and concerns were heard. Anticipated Newsletters and Purpose Winter 2007 Provide background information on and the status of the Nice Bridge Improvement Project; provide information on NEPA process, provide project timeline and contact information. Fall 2007 Recap Alternatives Public Workshop and Interagency Coordination activities; provide project updates. Spring 2008 Announce circulation of Draft Environmental Document, ARDS and Fall 2008 Public Hearing; provide other project updates. Summer 2009 Recap Public Hearing and comments on the Draft Environmental Document; provide projected post-NEPA schedule. DRAFT

10. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Stakeholders Local Business Representatives Major Employers Local Community Associations/Organizations Elected Officials Local Government Entities/MPO (Tri-County Council) Residents (and boaters)/Property Owners within the study area Travelers Using Facility (automobiles and trucks) Utility Companies Boating, Fishing and Camping Associations Shipping vessel associations The initial list of interested parties, however, may be expanded upon if other organizations, groups, or community members perceive that they may be affected by this project. DRAFT

11. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Major Employers Local Businesses • TASCO (Waldorf) • Chopp & Company (Waldorf) • Applied Ordnance Technology, Inc. (Waldorf) • Genesis Elder Care Network (Waldorf) • Maryland Independent (Waldorf) • Verizon • Besche Oil – (Waldorf) • Chaney enterprises (Waldorf) • Automated Graphics Systems, Inc. (White Plains) • Southern Maryland Oil (La Plata) • Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (Hughesville) • American Community Properties Trust (St. Charles) • Facchina Construction Co.(La Plata) • College of Southern MD (La Plata) • Civista Medical Center (La Plata) • Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head (Indian Head) • Naval Surface Warfare Center (Dahlgren) • King George County Public Schools (King George) • Vitro Corporation • White Packing Co., Inc. • EG & G (Gaithersburg, MD) • Computer Science Corporation (King George) • MCSI Technologies, Inc.(King George) • Syscon Corporation • Heritage Hall (King George) • McDonalds Restaurant of VA (Dahlgren) • Tate Facilities Service, Inc. • Food Lion, Inc. • Chemical Waste Management • Solite Corporate • Northern Neck Transfer, Inc. (King George) • Integrated Microcomputer Systems • FMC Corporation • King George Word Processing • System Maintenance & Technology • Bel Alton Motel (Bel Alton, MD) • Lafayette Inn (Bel Alton, MD) • Town 'N Country Motel (Faulkner, MD) • Robertson's Crab House (Newburg, MD) • White House Motel (Newburg, MD) • Captain Billy's Crab House (Newburg, MD) • Gilligan's Pier Seafood & Steakhouse (Pier III) • (Newburg, MD) • Tims II at Fairview Beach (King George, VA) • Morgantown Generating Station (Morgantown, MD) • Aqualand Marina Owner (Newburg MD) • Dan’s Equipment, Inc. (MD) • G&M Auto Service (MD) • General Dynamics Information Technology (VA) • Oscar Lease Services (MD) • Somerset Homes (MD) DRAFT

12. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Local Organizations/Government Entities Other Interested Parties • Maryland • Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland • Charles County Chamber of Commerce • Charles County Economic Development Department • Conservancy for Charles County (MD) • Charles County Office of Tourism • Charles County Planning Commission • Virginia • King George County Planning Commission • Rappahannock Area Development Commission (RADCO) • King George Park and Recreation Department & Advisory Council • King George County Historical Society • Cliffton on the Potomac (MD) • King George on the Potomac (VA) • Hoes Ferry (VA) • Liberty Plantation (VA) • Parkbridge on the Potomac (VA) • Monmouth Village (VA) • Chatham Village (VA) • Ferry Dock Landing Homeowners Association (VA) • Meadows of Dahlgren (VA) • Culpeper Commons (VA) • Peppermill (VA) • Scenic Ridge (VA) • Kitchen Point (VA) • Swan Point Property Owners Associations (MD) • Homeowners along Roseland Road (VA) • Barnesfield Park (VA) • Wayside Park (VA) • Aqua-Land Marina & Boat Ramp (MD) • Dahlgren Marine Works/Marina (VA) • Hayden & Love Ramp (MD) • Jimmy & Ann's Store/Ramp (MD) • Colonial Beach Yacht Center (VA) • Potomac Rivers Charters (VA) • Monroe Bay Marian (VA) Community Associations/ Special Interest Groups • Banks O'Dee Citizens Association, Inc. (Newburg, MD) • Cobb Neck Citizens Alliance (Cobb Neck, MD) • Citizens for a Better Charles County (Bryans Road, MD) • Sierra Club (La Plata, MD) • King George Bicyclist Association (King George County, VA) • Southern Maryland Audobon Society (MD) • Oxon Hill Bicycle & Trail Club (MD) DRAFT

13. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Level of Expectation from Stakeholder Expects to participate in decision-making • Appropriate Outreach Techniques • Interview Stakeholder • Direct Mailings • Public Meetings • Comment Forms • Brochures/Fact Sheets • Website • Media Outreach Expects MdTA to listen to their concerns/comments and incorporate into the project • Direct Mailings • Public Meetings • Comment Forms • Brochures/Fact Sheets • Website • Media Outreach Expects to hear about project status through casual channels • Website • Brochures/Fact Sheets Engaging Stakeholders Determine the Appropriate Public Involvement Techniques After identifying key stakeholders in this project, it is also necessary to determine the appropriate public involvement techniques that meet the expectations of each stakeholder group. The matching of expectations and appropriate techniques can include: DRAFT

14. Nice Bridge Improvement Project PublicInvolvement Plan Media Resource List TypeMedia Resource Newspaper The Maryland Independent (MD) The Examiner (MD) Washington Post (regional) The Washington Hispanic (regional) The Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) The Journal Press (VA) The Free-Lance Star (VA) Radio WWZZ 104.1 FM; Waldorf, MD WSMD-FM 98.3 FM; Mechanicsville, MD WGRQ 95.9 FM; Colonial Beach, VA WBQB 101.5 FM; Fredericksburg, VA WFLS-FM 93.3 FM; Fredericksburg, VA DRAFT