Appendix Public Involvement

APPENDIX PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT | 171 ORANGE COUNTY LRTP 2045 OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT FOR LRTP 2045 The public participation approach for the Orange County Transportation Council (OCTC) Long- Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and Transpor- tation Improvement Program (TIP) update falls into four broad categories: 1. Public workshops; 2. Public sector planning partner outreach; Set-up at first public engagement workshop 3. Private sector, non-governmental organiza- in Newburgh, NY tions, and interest groups outreach; and initial data collection and analysis phase. 4. Supporting and creative public outreach Stakeholders were asked to review the iden- material. tified needs and issues, identify any areas of Work within these four categories is described in concern that are not represented in the data, further detail in the following sections. In addition and provide initial input on which needs and to specific outreach and documentation process issues are most critical to address. This input discussed below, presentations, draft and final helped to fill in gaps in the data, ensure that documents, and other key information were qualitative concerns are noted, and provide posted online via OCTC’s website using the initial input on identifying and prioritizing following link: https://www.orangecountygov. strategies, recommendations, and projects, com/1670/LRTP-2045-Update. including initial concepts for any new projects that might be part of the TIP update. Public Workshops The second public engagement workshop took place on July 24, 2019 at the Mulberry Three formal public workshops were held during House Senior Center in Middletown, NY and the course of this LRTP update. Each workshop focused on both soliciting additional input and was intended to provide information to the public presenting draft projects and strategies to the about the LRTP progress and elicit input from public and stakeholders, considering both proj- stakeholders about critical needs, issues, recom- ects recommended for the TIP and longer-term mendations, and strategies. A number of visual strategies and recommendations for the LRTP materials were developed to support the work- update. Feedback at this workshop influ- shops, including relevant maps, posters, presenta- enced project and strategy/recommendation tions materials, handouts, and surveys. selection for both documents. The first public engagement workshop took A third public engagement workshop took place on May 7, 2019 at State University of place on November 6, 2019 at the South New York (SUNY) Orange campus in New- Orange Family YMCA in Monroe, NY and burgh, NY and presented outputs from the focused on presenting each LRTP chapter and soliciting additional input on the Plan's 172 | APPENDIX: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ORANGE COUNTY LRTP 2045 structure and contents. Feedback at this » Federal Transit Administration (FTA) workshop helped gauge the public's reaction Region II Administrator; to the County's goals, objectives, proposed » Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) transportation enhancements, and environ- NY Division Administrator; mental/resiliency strategies. It also provided insight into which strategies that members of » New York State Bridge Authority; and the public feel are of highest priority for the » Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. County to implement. Input from these members was sought during All public workshops were held in accordance regularly scheduled OCTC meetings, and mem- with OCTC Operating Procedures. bers were invited to all workshops. CS project members attended OCTC meetings and provided Public Sector Planning Partner material to OCTC staff that was used to update Outreach members and obtain feedback from these participants. In addition, the OCTC distribution list includes a number of additional public sector OCTC includes a number of key public sector planning partners including transportation agencies and municipalities as both voting and providers such as fixed route local and commuter non-voting members including: buses as well as dial-a-bus, and human service Voting agency transportation providers. These organizations were invited to the workshops and were able » Orange County Executive; to view project material online. » New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner; Private Sector, Non- » City of Newburgh City Manager; Governmental Organizations » City of Middletown Mayor; (NGO), and Interest Groups » City of Port Jervis Mayor; Outreach » Metropolitan Transportation Authority Between March and June 2019, the consultant (MTA) Chairman / Chief Executive Officer; team connected with key private sector, NGO, and » New York State Thruway Authority interest group stakeholders. These interactions (NYSTA) Executive Director; were targeted to gain information on specific topics critical to Orange County. This outreach » Two voting members from the towns in was conducted by phone and in person via select each of the three transportation areas; and events, if they had been previously scheduled and » Two voting members from all of the vil- occur during the outreach period. For example, lages in Orange County. the consultant team attended and provided an update on the LRTP project at the Association of Non-Voting Mayors and Supervisors meeting on April 30, 2019. Due to privacy and business concerns, some » All municipalities in Orange County not information may not be attributed to specific presently serving as voting representatives; businesses or groups. APPENDIX: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT | 173 ORANGE COUNTY LRTP 2045 Supporting and Creative Public Outreach Material The consultant team aided OCTC in developing Business cards and posters (on board buses, supporting outreach material for use during in park & ride lot shelters, in other public individual or group stakeholder meetings. This venues, at festivals and farmers markets, etc.) material included PowerPoint presentation with a QR code link to a brief online survey; highlighting the project and work completed to-date, handouts that can be provided to Utilize online social media (Facebook, Twitter) stakeholders at meetings, and flyers and posters to distribute surveys or questionnaires; and for larger events, among other materials. Interactive displays and mechanisms to In addition, CS explored with OCTC about poten- attract attention to OCPD staff attending tially developing low-cost, innovative outreach events who can engage people in conversa- solutions that could be used to reach a wide tions about transportation in Orange County. range of people in the County, including: 174 | APPENDIX: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ORANGE COUNTY LRTP 2045 SUMMARY OF PUBLIC WORKSHOPS Public Workshop #1 The first public engagement workshop took place on May 7, 2019 at SUNY Orange campus in Newburgh, NY and presented outputs from the initial data collection and analysis phase. There were two sessions held for this workshop, the first from 3:30pm-5:00pm and the second from 5:30pm-7:00pm. Stakeholders were asked to review the identified needs and issues, identify any areas of concern that are not represented in the data, and provide initial input on which needs and issues are most critical to address. A summary of the feedback received from this public workshop is provided below. How well does Orange County’s Transportation System work for you? VOTES: 14 13 10 14 votes green happy face- comments include: Road conditions & transit doesn’t quite work Uber/Lyft Road in Newburgh needs repairing: do not know enough about public transportation. With Uber, taxi or bus, I can go where I need Bike lanes are needed to go, even when I didn’t have a car More options need to be available, got here Good inter-campus shuttle by car Train close to home 10 votes red sad/angry face- comments include: Low congestion Not a lot of public transportation near tourist 13 votes yellow OK face- comments include: attractions Kind of expensive Hard to get out of town reliably / affordably Newburgh good: no buses to New Paltz Lack of public transit within Orange County— Roads are getting too congested 9W maintenance during poor weather conditions Roads needs to be fixed in City of Newburgh There are many operators, but no real coordi- Need better enforcement nation - need to manage resources better Buses are too infrequent Traffic congestions – 9W around City of Newburgh It takes too long—Roads are trashed Public transit can be good in some towns + Public transit / Lack of options cities. Esp. for going to the city Does not come to my door Potholes damage cars in Newburgh City but driving is less stressful compared to NYC Public Transit is limited and infrequent APPENDIX: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT | 175 ORANGE COUNTY LRTP 2045 How Did You Get Here Today? Where do you live? 176 | APPENDIX: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ORANGE COUNTY LRTP 2045 Tell Us Your Vision for Transportation: A coordinated system that is reliable, steady and feeds central corridors to access jobs, recreation A call as need service within reason of time and cost A method to transport me where I need to go when I need to be there Connected Which of These is Most Important to You? Multimodal connectivity • Maintenance, Repair and Rehabilitation • • • Sustainability • Safety • Cost-effective • • Accessible • • • • • Comprehensive intermodal network • • • • • • • • Resiliency • Economic development • • • Energy efficiency • Environmental protection • Security Reliability • • System interconnectivity • • Quality of life • APPENDIX: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT | 177 ORANGE COUNTY LRTP 2045 What

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