Public Involvement Rickie Clark Manager, Office of Public Involvement Monday, April 25, 2016

1. Public Involvement Rickie Clark Manager, Office of Public Involvement Monday, April 25, 2016

2. Office of Public Involvement – Organizational Structure • Communications Division • Customer Service • CO and District Service Centers • Graphics and Content • Employee Communications • External Communications – INDOT website • Work closely with Indiana Office of Technology • Media Relations • Public Involvement

3. Pre – NEPA Public Involvement The Local Public Agency Program (LPA) coordinates activities for projects receiving federal aid and state funding in local communities

4. Project Selection

5. Project Selection, Development & Delivery Early consultation meetings are held to discuss transportation needs. INDOT Districts initiate/coordinate meetings with local officials and planning stakeholders. Formal involvement occurs when a STIP is produced, for STIP amendments, during Non-MPO local officials consultation process and when key planning documents are produced and public input solicited MPOs conduct activities in their areas of jurisdiction

6. Where Does Formal (NEPA) Public Involvement Fit into INDOT Project Delivery?

7. Required Public Involvement Process Formal public involvement CANNOT begin until an environmental document is released for public involvement by Environmental Services An environmental document CANNOT be approved until public involvement requirements have been satisfied A public involvement plan should be developed for every project, generally at the start of Early Coordination

8. Keep the Public Informed & Engaged • Public Involvement Plan • Assess level of project impact to local community • Discuss/determine appropriate level of public involvement • Identification of key stakeholders • Project messaging • Public Involvement Goals • Maximize opportunities to engage public • Notice of Survey • Early Coordination • Outreach Elements • Website • Media Releases • Social Media • Key stakeholder, small group meetings, Elected Officials meetings • Public Meetings, Open Houses, Hearings

9. Project Development Process Notice of survey is an opportunity to engage potential stakeholders Public engagement during construction is always encouraged Early coordination is generally the start of the environmental phase and occurs prior to formal (required) public involvement activities Hold or offer public hearing(s) generally 6 to12 months or more prior to project construction May conduct additional public involvement activities prior to start of r/w acquisition

10. Public Involvement Criteria & Tips Summary of public involvement criteria & required items to remember • Proposal requires a half acre or more of permanent right-of –way • Proposal substantially changes layout or functions of connecting roadways • Proposal has substantial social adverse impact on abutting property • Proposal has significant social, economic, environmental or other effect • Proposal determined by the Federal Highway Administration to warrant a public hearing • Proposal is a Federal-aid highway project involving the bypassing of, or going through any city, town, community or proposal is for an Interstate System • NOTE: CE projects involving historic bridges, any EA and EIS level project • Key Items to remember • Actions/proposed project typically requires 2 notices be published • Planned Improvement/Hearings Offering – minimum 15 day comment period from date of 1st legal notice • Notices published generally a week apart • Comments/hearing requests submitted must be documented and subsequently addressed • If a hearing is held, a transcript must be prepared including a transcription of verbal comments presented during public comment session at hearing • Documents & materials must be made available to public for viewing • Publisher’s affidavits • Mailings and/or electronic notification is strongly encouraged • Check Office of Public Involvement web page for updated notice templates • http://www.in.gov/indot/2366.htm

11. Offering of Public Hearing Categorical Exclusion (CE) projects meeting criteria requiring formal public involvement, a public hearing can be held OR the public may be offered an opportunity to request a hearing For lower level documents, the public is notified of planned improvement and also offered the opportunity to request a public hearing be held Reasonable measures are taken to notify project stakeholders including mailing notices, e-mail/electronic notification, media contact & coordination . Public comments are reviewed and addressed by project team. The Office of Public Involvement is responsible for ensuring responses to comments are provided to those submitting comments Following certification, project team is notified and environmental document can be finalized by Environmental Services This activity allows INDOT to formally solicit input by informing the public of a proposed project in the area Publish notice in local paper(s) within project area, publish in non-traditional & minority papers (where applicable) Ensure public comments have been adequately addressed, provide response to stakeholder NEPA document cannot be finalized without completion of public involvement activities

12. Public Hearing Held Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) level projects require a public hearing ; CEs can require a hearing or an offering Public comments are reviewed, considered and addressed by project team. The Office of Public Involvement is responsible for preparing an official transcript of public hearing For documents where there is public interest and also considerable environmental impact, the public is notified and a public hearing held Reasonable measures are taken to notify project stakeholders including mailing notices, e-mail/electronic notification, media contact & coordination . Following certification, project team is notified and environmental document can be finalized by Environmental Services This activity allows INDOT to formally solicit input by informing the public of a proposed project in the area Publish notice in local paper(s) within project area, publish in non-traditional & minority papers (where applicable) NEPA document cannot be finalized without completion of public involvement activities Ensure public comments have been adequately addressed, provide response to stakeholders by making final/approved document available for public viewing. Implement reasonable notification efforts

13. Post-Public Hearing Activity

14. Additional Information If an Additional Information (AI) document is prepared following the approval of an environmental document, public involvement may be required. The Office of Public Involvement and Environmental Services will make determination

15. Informal Public Involvement • Public meetings, hearings, Open Houses • Community Advisory Committees • Project Websites – INDOT Website • Newsletters; electronic notification • Social Media; Media coordination • Customer Service Center outreach • Stakeholders group meetings • Brochures, subject specific materials • Activities and/or events not required per federal and state regulation

16. Open House

17. Public Involvement State Statutes

18. US 50 North Vernon • Public Involvement Plan • Assess level of project impact to local community • Discuss/determine appropriate level of public involvement • Identification of key stakeholders • Project messaging • Public Involvement Goals • Maximize opportunities to engage public • Notice of Survey • Early Coordination • Outreach Elements • Website • Media Releases • Social Media • Key stakeholder, small group meetings, Elected Officials meetings • Public Meetings, Open Houses, Hearings

19. Public Involvement Plans are NOT One Size Fits All

20. Custom Fit Your Public Involvement Plan

21. Be Flexible with Your Public Involvement Plan Typical noise barrier has a panel design

22. State Road 62 Projects Vary so Your Public Involvement Approach Should Also

23. Office of Public Involvement Rickie Clark, INDOT Office of Public Involvement 317.232.6601 rclark@indot.in.gov Mary Wright, INDOT Hearings Examiner 317.234.0796 mwright@indot.in.gov www.in.gov/indot/2366.htm INDOT Procedures updated every 2 - 4 years. Next update summer 2016