HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MPO 2035 LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Public Engagement Technical Memorandum Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization 601 East Kennedy Blvd. – 18th Floor Tampa, FL 33601 (813) 272-5940 www.hillsboroughmpo.org The preparation of this report has been financed in part through grant(s) from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, under the Metropolitan Planning Program, Section 104(f) of Title 23, U.S. Code. The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. June 2010 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan Public Engagement Technical Memorandum TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES Section Page Table Page 1 Autumn 2008 Mobility Focus Newsletter Survey Results ................................................ 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 2 MPO Outreach Calendar ................................................................................................. 3 Setting Goals and Objectives (November 2008 through February 2009) ................................... 1 3 Public Comment Database through June 2009 ............................................................. 10 Identifying Needs (March through June 2009) ........................................................................... 3 4 Spring 2009 Mobility Focus Newsletter Survey Results ................................................ 22 Community Meetings & Presentations ............................................................................. 3 5 Transportation Task Force Public Workshop Comments .............................................. 31 Public Comments Received............................................................................................. 9 6 Fall 2009 Mobility Focus Newsletter Survey on Draft Cost Affordable Plan .................. 50 Public Survey (Spring 2009) .......................................................................................... 22 7 Public Comment Database (January through December 2009) .................................... 57 Transportation Task Force “Listening Tour” .................................................................. 30 Results of the “Money Game” vs. Newsletter Survey .................................................... 30 Selecting Projects for Funding (July through December 2009) ................................................ 49 Newsletters, Comment Cards, and Public Comments Received ................................... 49 LIST OF APPENDICES Town Call Meetings .................................................................................................................. 82 Appendix Page Town Call Meeting Summary......................................................................................... 82 Tuesday, November 10, 2009 – 7:00 p.m. .......................................................... 82 1 2035 Plan Public Engagement Summary .................................................................... 106 Town Call Additional Questions and Comments (Off-Line) ........................................... 86 2 2035 Plan Overview (Public Hearing Presentation) ..................................................... 111 Tuesday, November 10, 2009 – 7:00 p.m. .......................................................... 86 Town Call Meeting Summary......................................................................................... 93 Tuesday, November 19, 2009 – 7:00 p.m. .......................................................... 93 Town Call Additional Questions and Comments (Off-Line) ........................................... 97 Tuesday, November 19, 2009 – 7:00 p.m. .......................................................... 97 Public Hearing to Adopt the 2035 Plan................................................................................... 105 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Public Preferences for Investing by Mode ..................................................................... 30 2 Public Comments by Mode ............................................................................................ 49 i 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan Public Engagement Technical Memorandum Introduction This technical memorandum compiles the results of public outreach undertaken by the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in the course of preparing the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan. Chapter 2 of the 2035 Plan fully describes the MPO‟s approach to communicating with and engaging the public in the developing the 2035 Plan. Details of the MPO‟s public surveys and interaction with the public are provided here. The MPO formally kicked off its public engagement campaign for the 2035 Plan in October 2008 and concluded it in December 2009. Comments and inquiries received from thousands of participants during this period are compiled in this technical memorandum. However, this is only a snapshot of the MPO‟s ongoing strategy to involve the public in the planning process. The MPO‟s Public Participation Plan was in place and being used before the 2035 Plan process and continues guide the outreach efforts after the Plan was adopted. Results of the MPO‟s public engagement are compiled in chronological order and follow the major steps in the preparation of the 2035 Plan. A summary presentation on the MPO‟s Public Engagement for the 2035 Plan is provided as Appendix 1. Setting Goals and Objectives (November 2008 through February 2009) The 2035 Plan‟s overall goals, objectives and policies were developed by the MPO, its advisory committees and the public at large. Starting with a postage paid comment card survey in the fall 2008 issue of the MPO‟s Mobility Focus newsletter, the public had an opportunity to express their relative level of agreement or disagreement with a number of transportation objectives. Forty seven citizens returned the survey card, with results summarized in Table 1 and Chart 1. 1 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan Public Engagement Technical Memorandum Table 1: Autumn 2008 Mobility Focus Newsletter Survey Results Raw Tabulation Disagree Agree Do you agree or disagree? Please circle a number from 1 - 5. 1 2 3 4 5 Weighted Tabulation TOTAL Responses Wt. Avg. a Future land use decisions are important to a better transportation network. 3 8 36 0 0 9 32 180 221 47 4.70 b Saving money would be a factor in taking a bus or a train instead of driving my car. 2 1 5 5 34 2 2 15 20 170 209 47 4.45 c Saving time would be a factor in taking a bus or a train instead of driving my car. 4 1 4 9 29 4 2 12 36 145 199 47 4.23 d Having a rail transit system would give me more choices for getting around Tampa Bay. 4 4 4 3 32 4 8 12 12 160 196 47 4.17 e Preserving the environment is most important when considering development. 2 3 8 8 26 2 6 24 32 130 194 47 4.13 f If for some reason I could not drive, I have alternative ways to get where I need to go. 3 6 5 4 29 3 12 15 16 145 191 47 4.06 g I would bike more if there were a more complete bike lane system. 7 6 7 8 15 7 12 21 32 75 147 43 3.42 h I would walk more if there were a more complete sidewalk system. 5 8 15 5 13 5 16 45 20 65 151 46 3.28 i Widening our roads will solve our traffic problems. 19 6 8 7 7 19 12 24 28 35 118 47 2.51 Comments: question g: already ride = 200 miles per week (commuter cyclist) question i: heard this before and added another question (j): some of the older North/South Avenues need widening (Himes, Aremenia, etc.) = Agree (5) question f: dangerous to walk and question g: N/A Don't make any more big roads - HOV or bus lanes question g: bikes and cars do not mix; ; question h: Also, roads first question i: Agree - but its too late; Keep in mind, no density, i.e. you would have to drive to the station; plus where would you park? Rail system will not work in Tampa area. One reason (of many) - no density. I was in the transportation field for 30 years. 2 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan Public Engagement Technical Memorandum Identifying Needs (March through June 2009) Community Meetings & Presentations The MPO continuously sought opportunities to meet with diverse groups for the purpose of presenting plans and receiving feedback. More than 100 civic and community groups were invited to get involved. The MPO proactively sought input from business, environmental, and neighborhood organizations, as well as attending public events, festivals and educational opportunities to engage members of the public. In an effort to reach the maximum number of people, in most cases the MPO went to meeting and event venues. Table 2 is the calendar of meetings and events at which the 2035 Plan was presented or made available for input by the public. Table 2: MPO Outreach Calendar Event Date Time Organization/Event/Location Format Prep Notes Result # 200 ppl Surveys, Newsletters, Ride Guides, Citizens Guides 20th Annual Temple Terrace Senior Expo 3/13 9:00 am - distributed 1 Temple Terrace Family Recreation Complex Display Table Lynn faxed form to City; estimated attendance 250+ FRI 1:00 pm Comments regarding more mobility for seniors and multi- 6610 Whiteway Drive modal options & a trail for Hillsborough like Pinellas that actually connects to things Lynn has confirmed Display/ URS to meet Lynn @ 7:15 a.m. to set up display Open House & 3/21 8:00 am - Hillsborough County Neighborhood Conference Planning Commission will have table next to