Phase One Public Comment Summary Report
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Phase One: Planning Assumptions Public Comment Summary Report February 23, 2016 Overview Public Involvement Objectives The objectives of the 2040 Plan’s public involvement and outreach efforts are: Provide multiple opportunities for stakeholders and the public to review plan-related information and obtain updates on the progress being made by the Plan to identify projects to address regional goals. Provide stakeholders and the public with multiple opportunities through which they can provide feedback to OKI staff on the Plan’s development. Tie in the Plan to OKI’s overall work activities and mission to communicate a clear, coordinated and comprehensive public message. Update community members who participated in the previous update, performed in 2012, while identifying and reaching out to new, previously untapped community members and stakeholders. Purpose of this Document OKI views comprehensive, strategic stakeholder outreach and public involvement as essential to the success of the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan, 2016 Update and, ultimately, to the completion of the vital improvements throughout the Tristate. As such, this Public Comment Summary Report has been developed to record public involvement activities undertaken and the input received during the first of two phases of the 2016 Update. Phase One: Planning Assumptions Phase One of the 2016 Update can be summarized as the Planning Assumptions Phase. This phase was implemented between September 8, 2015 and January 8, 2016. The September start date of this phase was marked by the OKI Intermodal Coordinating Committee (ICC) presentation and the 2040 Plan’s website going “live.” The January end date of this phase was denoted by the conclusion of the public online survey. As part of Phase One, OKI’s 2016 Update staff presented data and analysis on key factors pertinent to the region’s long range transportation planning process: Demographics, Congestion Management, Land Use & Environment, Safety and Security. This work presented existing data and projected trends for the OKI region, which provide better understanding of transportation needs and assist OKI staff in planning recommendations to address these needs. Planning Assumption information was made available to the public under the 2040 Plan website’s Planning Assumptions tab, 2040.oki.org. Survey In the survey created for Phase One, OKI staff’s focus was on listening to the public to learn of their transportation needs and issues of greatest importance. OKI staff is considering public input collected from this survey, along with the Planning Assumptions data and input from OKI members, to draft the project recommendation list that will be presented in Phase Two of the 2016 Update process. The eight-question survey was accessible online via SurveyMonkey and in paper format. In the six weeks the survey was open (November 30, 2015 to January 8, 2016), 2,302 surveys were submitted online and received by OKI staff. Survey Outreach In accordance with the 2040 Plan’s Pubic Involvement Plan (PIP), extensive outreach across a variety of channels was conducted to engage residents to complete the survey. To encourage survey completion, survey respondents had the opportunity to win a one-year Cincy Red Bike membership. Brad Bowers, a University of Cincinnati student and Clifton Heights resident, was randomly drawn as the winner of this membership. Social Media: OKI uses OKI’s Facebook page and Twitter account for all Social Media networking activities. During Phase One, the survey was promoted on Facebook in five posts reaching a total of 43,171 people. To promote the survey beyond OKI’s Facebook followers, two of the five posts were upgraded from organic posts to paid ads, significantly increasing impressions and engagement among Facebook users across the OKI region. OKI’s posts were shared more than 50 times by individuals and civic organizations, including the Ohio Department of Transportation, Dearborn County Planning and Zoning, Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Southwestern Ohio and Cincinnati City Council Members. The survey was promoted via one Tweet for a total of 911 impressions. Constant Contact Messages and Email: To ensure consistency in communications and facilitate promotion of the survey by non-OKI staff, a sample message was disseminated to OKI members and regional partners for their use in sharing with their email networks. See Appendix A for a copy of the message. This sample message was sent via Constant Contact to OKI’s Executive Committee and Intermodal Coordinating Committee. OKI’s Environmental Justice Committee received the message via email. The following officials, organizations and municipalities also received the message via email: Central Ohio River Business Association, Cincinnati City Council, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, Clermont County Chamber of Commerce, Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Green Umbrella, Hamilton County Commissioners, Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA, Mill Creek Watershed Council of Communities, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Planning and Development Services on Kenton County, Springdale City Council, Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, and the 46 active community councils within the City of Cincinnati. Public Meetings OKI’s Public Involvement Specialist Florence Parker attended 16 community council meetings across Cincinnati, at which she discussed the survey and distributed paper copies of survey to those who preferred this version to the online survey. Of the 2,302 surveys submitted, 45 were paper surveys. OKI also had representation at the Community Development Corporations Association of Greater Cincinnati’s Holiday Reception on December 9, 2015 and the State of Metro Annual Meeting on December 11, 2015. Survey handouts, which featured a QR code connecting users to the survey on their smart phones, were distributed to attendees at both events. In addition, OKI’s Deputy Executive Director Robert Koehler distributed the flyers to his colleagues on the Metro Futures Task Force at their December 3, 2015 meeting. See Appendix B for a copy of the handout. Media Coverage A media advisory announcing the survey was sent to local media on December 3. See Appendix C for a copy of the advisory. The survey received the following coverage: Hamilton County Commissioner Chris Monzel highlighted the survey on-air with Brian Thomas on 55KRC- 550 AM on December 2, 2015. OKI CEO Mark Policinski referenced the survey in an interview with News 5 WLWT’s John London on December 3, 2015. Robyn Bancroft, 2016 Update Project Manager, discussed the survey in an interview with 91.7 FM-WVXU’s Tana Weingartner, which aired on December 3rd and 4th, 2015. Local 12 WKRC-TV mentioned the survey following an interview with OKI’s Andy Reser, Model Application Coordinator, on air quality model forecasts, which aired on December 8, 2015. Website In addition to providing an overview of the 2040 Plan 2016 Update and presenting the Planning Assumptions reports, the 2040.oki.org website had a link to the survey. The website also provided Project Manager Robyn Bancroft’s contact information, as well as an online comment form through which individuals could submit questions or comments on anything related to the Plan or survey. Public Input – Survey One Results Responses to each survey question are summarized as follows: 1. I currently live in <check box below> County. The majority of respondents, 53.1%, reside in Hamilton County. 15.4% of survey takers live in Kenton County, while 10.0% live in Butler County. Boone, Campbell, Clermont, Dearborn and Warren Counties each had 4.1% or less of total responses. The response breakdown reflects data from the 2010 Census of existing population distribution across the eight- county OKI region. This data is available under “Demographics” on the Assumptions tab of the 2040 website. The Census data shows that 43% of residents reside in Hamilton County, while 14% live in Kenton County and 17.4% live in Butler County. Clermont County is home to 9.6% of the region’s residents, which is slighty higher than the survey result. Boone, Campbell, Dearborn and Warren Counties each contain 5.5% or less of the region’s population. 2. I currently work in <check box below> County. The majority of respondents, 56.0%, work in Hamilton County. 11.6% of survey takers selected “Not applicable, I am not employed,” 7.7% work in Kenton County and 6.3% work in a county outside the OKI region. Boone, Butler, Campbell, Clermont, Dearborn and Warren each received 5.9% or less of total responses. These responses again reflect 2010 Census data of our region’s employment distribution. This data shows that Hamilton County has 52% of the region’s employment. 6.5% of workers are employed in Kenton County, and Boone, Campbell, Clermont, Dearborn and Warren Counties each have 7.8% or less of the region’s population. 14.6% of jobs are located in Butler County, which is slightly higher than the survey result. 3. My age category is: The most common age groups of respondents were 51-64 years old (26.6%) and 31-40 years old (23.2%). Response Response Answer Options Percent Count 16-20 0.8% 18 21-30 17.1% 393 31-40 23.2% 531 41-50 17.6% 403 51-64 26.6% 610 65 and over 14.7% 337 answered question 2292 skipped question 10 4. My most frequent mode of transportation is? Please select one. The overwhelming majority of respondents, 79.6%, drive their cars alone as their most frequent transportation mode. The next most selected modes were Bus (5.2%) and Walk (4.6%). This response breakdown is fairly consistent with 2009-2013 data from the America Community Survey. Nationwide, 86% of people most frequently drive their cars alone, while 2% take the bus and 2% walk. 5. Based on the mode you selected in the prior question, if we could improve an aspect of your trip to work/school or a route you travel frequently, what would it be? Please be specific, include road name and county, if applicable.