2 2020 Public Participation Plan NORTH CENTRAL RURAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION 2 Adoption April 2020 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS NOTICE OF DOCUMENT AND SERVICES AVAILABILITY .................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................... 7 RPO HISTORY & DYNAMICS ............................................................................................................................................. 8 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN GOAL ............................................................................................................................... 8 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................. 9 STATE & FEDERAL REGULATIONS & REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................... 10 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, THE SUNSHINE ACT .................................................................................................. 10 PUBLIC LAWS ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT .................................................................................................................................. 11 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ................................................................................................................................ 12 EXECUTIVE ORDERS ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Environmental Justice (EJ) ...................................................................................................................................... 12 ENVIROMENTAL jUSTICE (ej) cONTINUED ............................................................................................................... 29 Limited English Proficiency ...................................................................................................................................... 29 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES..................................................................................................................... 32 OUTREACH EFFORTS ....................................................................................................................................................... 32 North Central Long Range Transportation Plan (LTRP) ..................................................................................................... 34 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM .......................................................................................................... 35 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN................................................................................................................................. 36 STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ............................................................................................................................ 36 PUBLIC MEETINGS .......................................................................................................................................................... 37 SOCIAL MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................................... 38 VISUALIZATION TOOLS ................................................................................................................................................... 38 RPO WEBSITE ................................................................................................................................................................ 40 RPO NEWSLETTER .......................................................................................................................................................... 40 RADIO/PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOWS ...................................................................................................................................... 40 ONLINE SURVEY ............................................................................................................................................................. 40 RPO LOGO ..................................................................................................................................................................... 41 DATA REQUESTS ............................................................................................................................................................ 41 EVALUATION ................................................................................................................................................................. 41 CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 42 CLOSING REMARKS ............................................................................................................................................................. 43 APPENDIX ...................................................................................................................................................................... 44 A. UNITED STATES & REGIONAL BACKGROUND POPULATION CHANGE ...................................................................................... 44 B. LOW INCOME POPULATION .......................................................................................................................................... 44 C. COMMUTE TO WORK ................................................................................................................................................... 45 D. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ........................................................................................................................................ 45 E. AGE BREAKOUTS ........................................................................................................................................................ 46 F. LOCATION TO REVIEW DOCUMENTS ...................................................................................................................................... 47 G. LOCAL MEDIA INFORMATION .............................................................................................................................................. 47 H. SAMPLE MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT AND ADVERTISEMENT ........................................................................................................... 48 I. INTERESTED PARTIES ....................................................................................................................................................... 50 J. SPECIAL STUDIES: SCOPING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND CORRIDOR STUDIES.......................................................................... 51 K. RPO VOTING AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS ...................................................................................................................... 52 L. MAJOR PLAN UPDATES ..................................................................................................................................................... 53 M. NON-DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT FORM ............................................................................................................................... 54 NORTH CENTRAL RURAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION 2 3 NORTH CENTRAL RURAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION 3 4 NORTH CENTRAL RURAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION 4 5 NOTICE OF DOCUMENT AND SERVICES AVAILABILITY North Central will make every effort to fulfill all reasonable requests for assistance when needed. North Central will also take into consideration the choice of aid or service requested, however North Central may substitute with a demonstrated equally effective means of communication. Furthermore, there are situations when providing a particular aid or service may result in significant difficulty or expense. If this occurs, North Central will provide another aid or service, if possible that does not result in an undue burden. This is accomplished on a case by case basis. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, documents in alternative formats or languages, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity, please contact North Central at (814) 773-3162. If assistance required is for a public meeting, please call five (5) days prior to the meeting event so that special assistance may be accommodated. North Central RPO will provide translated documents upon request. Also all public plans and documents on our website are available for free translation using Google translation services. https://rpo.ncentral.com/ North Central will not place a surcharge on an individual with a disability or those with limited English proficiency to cover the costs of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy. For more information on effective communication requirements for Americans with disabilities, please visit: https://www.ada.gov/effective-comm.htm If you feel you have been unlawfully