Central Phoenix/East Valley LRT Project Public Involvement Program for Final Design & Construction Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Purpose of the Program........................................................................... 3 3.0 Goals and Objectives of the Public Involvement Program ................................................................................ 5 4.0 Structure of the Program......................................................................... 7 Figure 1 – Program Structure............................................................. 8 4.1 Valley Metro Rail Board.............................................................................. 8 4.2 City Councils................................................................................................ 8 4.3 Technical Teams........................................................................................ 9 4.4 Regional Agencies..................................................................................... 9 4.5 Project Task Forces and Committees..................................................10 4.6 Stakeholders .............................................................................................10 4.7 General Public...........................................................................................11 5.0 Public Involvement During Final Design & Construction 13 Figure 2 – LRT Construction Line Sections & PI Assignments..14 5.1 Public Involvement Activities During Final Design .............................15 Table 1 – Activities/Goals Matrix......................................................16 Table 2 – Activities Audiences Matrix .............................................17 Milestone 1: Design Team Meet & Greet (4th Quarter 2002 – 2nd Quarter 2003) ...................................................17 Milestone 2: On-Board Review (2nd – 3rd Quarter 2003)............................................................................18 Milestone 3: 65% Completion of Final Design (2nd – 3rd Quarter 2003) ..................................................................19 Milestone 4: 95% Completion of Final Design (4th Quarter 2003 – 1st Quarter 2004)...........................................20 5.2 Public Involvement Activities During Construction .............................21 September 8, 2003 i Central Phoenix/East Valley LRT Project Public Involvement Program for Final Design & Construction 6.0 Media Plan......................................................................................................23 7.0 Incorporating Information from the Public................................25 8.0 Evaluation and Modification ..............................................................26 9.0 Documentation............................................................................................28 Appendix A: Valley Metro Rail Board Members ................................................A -1 Appendix B: Technical Teams Members.......................................................... B - 1 Appendix C: Organized Groups...........................................................................C - 1 Appendix D: Regional Agencies..........................................................................D - 1 Appendix E: Public Involvement Working Group Members ......................... E - 1 Appendix F: Public Involvement Materials Review Processes....................F - 1 Appendix G: CP/EV LRT Project Construction Mitigation Plan.....................G - 1 September 8, 2003 ii Central Phoenix/East Valley LRT Project Public Involvement Program for Final Design & Construction Public Involvement Program 1.0 Introduction The cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, Arizona joined together in the mid- 1990s to study potential solutions for existing and projected transportation problems in a corridor connecting central Phoenix, Tempe, and downtown Mesa (the Central Phoenix/East Valley Corridor). Studies in the corridor project increased traffic congestion and indicate that improved transit in this corridor is critical to maintain and enhance quality of life and economic competitiveness. The Central Phoenix/East Valley Major Investment Study (MIS) was completed in May 1998. The purpose of that study was to identify and evaluate technology and alignment options for transportation improvements in this corridor. In other words, what should go where to help solve our transportation problems. Evolving from the MIS was the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit Project, a joint effort by the cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa in partnership with Valley Metro/RPTA, the Maricopa Association of Governments and the Federal Transit Administration to develop a regional light rail transit line connecting the three cities. With the results of the previous study serving as a base, the project moved to the next phase of study, which encompassed conceptual engineering and development of the draft environmental impact statement, and provided a more detailed analysis of: • The LRT route; • Environmental issues; • LRT station locations and design standards; • LRT operating plans; and • Cost estimates and ridership. That phase of the project included extensive input from the general public; project stakeholders (e.g., adjacent neighborhoods, business owners, etc.); and local, state and federal agencies. During the next phase of the project, which encompassed preliminary engineering and development of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), right of way impacts began to be identified, and the project definition and local funding agreements were developed with the anticipation of a fifty percent (50%) match from the federal government. Extensive public involvement continued during this phase, with special emphasis on right of way September 8, 2003 1 Central Phoenix/East Valley LRT Project Public Involvement Program for Final Design & Construction impacts. The Project received a Record of Decision on the FEIS from the Federal Transit Administration in January of 2003. After receipt of the FEIS, the project entered into advanced preliminary engineering until it received formal approval to enter into the final design phase from the Federal Transit Administration in a letter dated July 18, 2003. That letter also allowed the cities to begin acquiring the right-of-way required to build the project and also permitted the utility relocation process to begin. Managing Agency During the preliminary engineering phase of the project, a non-profit corporation, Valley Metro Rail, Inc., was formed to implement the Valley’s new regional light rail program. Valley Metro Rail, Inc. includes on its Board of Directors the mayors of the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Glendale. (In November 2001, Glendale residents approved the Glendale Onboard Transportation Program, which includes a light rail component that will develop into a future light rail project.) Valley Metro Rail is the managing agency for design and construction of the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit Project. September 8, 2003 2 Central Phoenix/East Valley LRT Project Public Involvement Program for Final Design & Construction 2.0 Purpose of the Program The benefits of involving the public in a participatory process are multifold. First, it increases the prospects for agreement on a solution or at a minimum, informed consent, and the chances for ultimate implementation of a project. It enables identification of community issues early in the project development process so that those issues may be adequately addressed. Public involvement also greatly reduces the probability of project delays and litigation. Finally, it enhances the legitimacy of a project and that project’s sponsoring agency(ies). Ultimately, a public involvement program sincerely committed to involving the public and taking action on their input yields a significantly more popular and sustainable result. In addition, federal requirements necessitate meaningful citizen participation as a significant element in projects like the Central Phoenix/East Valley LRT project. The purpose of this public involvement program is to facilitate successful completion of the CP/EV Light Rail Transit Project by actively seeking input from the public throughout the planning and design phases of the Project and using that input to maximize the benefit of the system to the region. The purpose of the program during light rail construction is to minimize impacts of construction by working closely with stakeholders along the light rail alignment to keep them apprised of the construction schedule and progress and ensure that their issues and concerns are addressed by Project and contractor staff. The Public Involvement Program is built on the following guiding principles: • Public involvement activities directly linked to project milestones, technical activities, and decision-making. • Adequate opportunities for public involvement and time for public review and comment. • Reasonable access to technical and policy information. • Demonstration of explicit consideration and response to public input obtained. When significant written and oral comments are received, a summary, analysis and report on the disposition of comments shall be made part of the final report. • Solicitation and consideration of the needs of those traditionally underserved by existing transportation systems to ensure their involvement in decision-making,