LEHIGH VALLEY TRANSPORTATION STUDY PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN Prepared by: Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study October 2017 LVTS Public Participation Plan a b LVTS Public Participation Plan INTRODUCTION Public involvement is a vital component of the transportation planning process. Providing full dis- closure of plans and programs not only during the development phase but also after the adoption of these plans and programs allows the general public the opportunity to be involved, comment on, and influence the development process. Every person, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gen- der, disability, or socio-economic status should have the opportunity to take part in and influence the transportation planning process. This Public Participation Plan provides for and documents the methods utilized by the LVTS to achieve this outcome. A draft of the current plan was developed in consultation with both LANTA and PennDOT District 5 office as members of the Metropolitan Planning Organization. Consultation was attempted with six tribal nations, four dozen social service organizations representing those traditionally underrepre- sented in the transportation planning process, bicycle/pedestrian interests, and the general public. MPO STRUCTURE The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Lehigh and Northampton counties is the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS). LVTS was created in 1964 through a legal agreement between the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton; the counties of Lehigh and Northampton; and the Department of Highways of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (now PennDOT). LVTS was found- ed in response to the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962 which stated, in part, that any urban area of more than fifty thousand population must maintain a continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative (“3C”) transportation planning process consistent with the comprehensively planned development of the urbanized area in order to be eligible to receive Federal funds for transportation projects. LVTS satisfies this planning requirement and assures the region continued eligibility to receive state and federal funding for highway and transit system capital improvements and operating assistance. LVTS is made up of two committees – the Technical Committee and Coordinating Committee. The Technical Committee reviews items brought before the group and recommends actions to the Co- ordinating Committee. The Coordinating Committee is the policy body which formally adopts items reviewed by the Technical Committee. The role of the MPO is to promote transportation projects, plans, programs, and policies that are consistent with the locally adopted transportation improve- ment program (TIP) and long range transportation plan (LRTP) in accordance with the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP 21) and Clean Air Act legislations. LVTS Technical Committee membership consists of representatives from PennDOT Central Office (Chair), Pen- nDOT District 5-0, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC), Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA), and the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority (LNAA). The Coordinating Committee membership consists of representatives from Penn- DOT Central Office, PennDOT District 5-0 (Chair), Lehigh County, Northampton County, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, LVPC, LANTA, and LNAA. The transportation planning staff of the LVPC serves as technical staff for the LVTS, preparing plans and programs for MPO consideration. The LVPC staff biennially prepares the Lehigh Valley Trans- portation Improvement Program, the Lehigh Valley Transportation Plan every 4 years, and other planning studies for the LVTS, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Admin- LVTS Public Participation Plan 1 istration (FTA) and PennDOT. The LVPC consists of 37 members comprised of 19 elected officials (mayors, county executives, members of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners, members of Northampton County Council, and representatives of boroughs and townships) and 18 citizen mem- bers. The LVPC and LVTS jurisdictions include 62 municipalities in Lehigh and Northampton coun- ties in the central eastern portion of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The region encompasses 731 square miles and is home to 647,232 persons according to the 2010 Census. FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIONS/REQUIREMENTS Through the implementation of the ISTEA, TEA-21, SAFETEA-LU, MAP-21, and FAST ACT leg- islations, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Environmental Justice, Limited English Proficien- cy, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 resulted in a renewed emphasis in the field of transportation. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance. Specifically, Title VI provides that “no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be ex- cluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” (42 U.S.C. Section 2000d). Executive Order on Environmental Justice Presidential Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, was signed on February 11, 1994. The Order requires Federal agencies to achieve environmental justice by identifying and addressing disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including the interrelated social and economic effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low income populations. On April 15, 1997, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued its Order to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (DOT Order 5610.2) to summarize and expand upon the requirements of Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice. Consequently, State DOTs and MPOs are responsible for identifying and addressing environmental justice issues. Specifically, MPOs must: ● Enhance their analytical capabilities to ensure long range transportation plan and Trans- portation Improvement Program compliance with Title VI/Environmental Justice; ● Identify residential, employment, and transportation patterns of minority and low-income populations to identify and address their needs; ● Evaluate and improve, if necessary, the public involvement process to eliminate partic- ipation barriers and engage minority and low-income populations in the transportation decision making process. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, as a member of the MPO, has taken proactive steps to ad- dress issues associated with environmental justice (EJ). In 1998, a Lehigh County Welfare-to-Work Study was undertaken. It identified the locations of welfare recipients, licensed day care centers, 2 LVTS Public Participation Plan employers, and LANTA’s fixed route bus system. The spatial relationships of these groups were mapped to show proximity to the bus system. During development of the 2013 – 2016 Transportation Improvement Program and Lehigh Valley Surface Transportation Plan 2011 - 2030, staff identified, through a series of maps, the locations of Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations as well as income below poverty level. LANTA developed a Regionwide Job Access & Reverse Commute Transpor- tation Plan in 2001 which: identified the geographic distributions of welfare recipients, low-income persons, and employment centers in the region; identified the existing public, private, non-profit and human service transportation services in the region; identified transportation gaps between the geographic distributions of groups; and identified a prioritized list of projects addressing these gaps in service. The plan was completed early in April 2001. Several projects were selected for im- plementation and funding. A mobility manager position was developed as a result of LANTA’s Job Access & Reverse Commute Transportation Plan and staffed by the Private Industry Council. The main task of this position was to serve as a one-stop shopping source for transportation information and assistance that reacts to individual needs and provides a central point of contact. In addition, LANTA enhanced Saturday bus service and reinstated Sunday service. More recently, a Coordinat- ed Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan for the Lehigh Valley: 2007 was completed. This plan was developed to fill the mobility gaps in public transportation for people with disabilities and persons who are financially disadvantaged. This plan identified the gaps in existing public trans- portation services and sought solutions to fill these gaps through a Request for Proposals process. Most recently, LVPC staff participated in an environmental justice training course in February 2013 conducted by a PennDOT consultant. The course reviewed revised strategies, a Department of Transportation Order, FTA issued policy guidance on environmental justice, an Executive Order on Limited English Proficiency, and the use of social media outlets. Data from the 2010 U.S. Census confirms the growth and locations of minority groups. Region- wide, the Lehigh Valley population totals 647,232. 15.0% of this population is Hispanic/Latino while 5.6% are Black/African American. Among Lehigh County’s 349,497 persons, 6.1% are Black/Afri- can American