PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS PLAN - Prepared by: Highland Planning - GBNRTC
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PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT AND
COMMUNICATIONS
PLAN
Prepared for:
GBNRTC
In partnership with:
Stantec Prepared by:
May 5, 2021 Highland PlanningTable of Contents
page page page page page
3 10 16 18 24
Engagement Overview Public Engagement Public Engagement Communications Plan Contact Us
Activities Timeline
| 2Engagement Decision Statement and
Scope of Engagement
Study Area
KeyTakeaways from Pre-
Engagement Interviews
Overview Stakeholders
Pre-Engagement
InterviewsDecision Statement Working with our neighbors to envision our shared future, by
Spring 2022 GBNRTC will adopt a plan that shapes the future of
and Scope of mobility in Region Central, strengthens our communities, and
Engagement creates a safer and more equitable and prosperous city and
region.
GBNRTC is seeking input on the local and regional context for
planning in the Region Central area including:
• Needs and goals of area neighborhoods
• Issues and opportunities related to economic and community
development, housing, equity, environmental quality, and
education in the area
• Ideas for restoration and renewal of waterways and the Olmsted
Park system legacy
• Plans for growth and development of area educational and
cultural institutions
GBNRTC will use this input to develop a comprehensive vision for
Region Central and identify mobility improvements related to
roadways (speed and traffic calming, design, safety, integration with
surrounding areas), bike and pedestrian facilities, transit, and smart
technology.
| 4Study Area Region Central is the area centrally located within the Buffalo-
Niagara Region, comprising Delaware Park, Buffalo State
College, Forest Lawn Cemetery, and numerous cultural
institutions. Buffalo neighborhoods in this area include Black
Rock, Delavan Grider, Elmwood Bidwell, Fillmore-Leroy,
Grant-Amherst, Hamlin Park, Masten Park, Parkside, and
Upper West Side.
| 5•
Stakeholders Highland Planning has
developed a database of •
Government agencies
Cultural institutions
organizations and contacts • Advocacy groups
that includes key stakeholders • Neighborhoods
from across the Region • Civic organizations
Central area and beyond.
• Developers
Major categories of
• Residential complexes
stakeholders include:
• Educational institutions
• Faith-based institutions
• Medical institutions
| 6Pre-Engagement Highland Planning conducted pre-engagement interviews with
the following key stakeholders:
Interviews • Laura Barnum, Buffalo State College
• Bradley Bethel, Restore Our Community Coalition
• Dan Castle, Erie County
• Brian Dold, Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy
• Norah Fletchall, Buffalo Zoo
• Charley Fisher, Trinidad Neighborhood Association
| 7Focus conversation on higher-level A positive outcome will couple
Key Takeaways from issues and common ground. Past
efforts have gotten stuck in the
short-term actions with a long-
term vision. While the purpose of
Pre-Engagement weeds or started from each
stakeholders’ preferred outcome
the project is to build a long-term
vision, including action items that can
Interviews
instead of building a common vision be accomplished more quickly will
from the ground up. help sustain momentum and give
participants assurance that their input
Try novel and innovative is being heard.
engagement techniques to get the
community excited about the Capitalize on overlap with other
planning process. Go beyond formal projects in the area. The Buffalo Zoo
public hearings and restrictive and Olmsted Parks Conservancy are
comment periods to engage the developing Master Plans and Buffalo
public where they are and listen State College is working on a vision
deeply. for a redeveloped Dart Street parcel.
Synergies between these projects and
Build education into the others can help create a shared vision
engagement process but do not for the region.
show up with a solution already in
mind. Any shared vision for Region Members of the community
Central will involve trade-offs and outside of Region Central should
having stakeholders step outside of be included in the process. Most
their own perspective. The visitors to Region Central’s cultural
engagement process should be institutions come from outside the
informative without pushing one immediate area. Given the economic
solution or vision onto participants. benefits these visitors bring, any plan
should account for ensuring their
Include voices who haven’t been return to Region Central.
heard before. Equity is essential to a
successful engagement process. Not
all communities are equally equipped
to organize and respond to projects,
so the outreach process should be as
inclusive as possible. | 8Public Engagement Risk Factor
Mitigation
Strategies
Risk Assessment
Perception of Inequity • Prioritize outreach to typically
Public outrage can hinder the forward underrepresented
movement of any project. Assessing communities.
the risk of public opposition and • Supplement online materials
outrage and developing strategies to and outreach with in-person
mitigate that risk is critical to avoiding engagement.
• Vet the process with a core
• Harm to a project's schedule, budget group of stakeholders.
or overall viability
Planning Fatigue • Define the decision and the
• Harm to the relationship between opportunity for influence.
the decision-maker and stakeholders • Emphasize the project’s
uniquely comprehensive and
• Harm to the decision-maker's
visionary nature.
reputation • Make engagement enjoyable.
Given the long planning history of the • Prepare clear messaging
Scajaquada Corridor and its Emergence of a Crisis
points.
surrounding neighborhoods, it is our • Identify a crisis
assessment that some risk of public communications point person.
opposition and/or outrage in response
to the Region Central project does Unclear Project Goals • Have a clear decision
exist. statement.
• Define a clear scope of
Read the full risk assessment here. engagement.
| 9Public Public Engagement
Strategy
Build the Vision, April –
Final Mobility Plan,
February 2022
Engagement
June 2021
Refine the Vision, July –
October 2021
Activities Draft Mobility Plan, Nov
2021 –January 2022Public Engagement
Strategy
Within and around Region Central, Our public involvement strategy
hundreds of stakeholders will focuses engagement resources on
undoubtedly wish to be involved in ensuring a comprehensive, inclusive,
the planning process. We recognize and equitable opportunity for
that not all of these organizations stakeholders to participate in the
and groups have the same roles, planning process. Events and
responsibilities, and capacity to meetings in areas of the region that
participate. have traditionally had less access to
planning processes are prioritized,
We have designed our approach to while multiple opportunities remain
accommodate these differences, for everyone to be involved in
considering the information needs, regionwide meetings, online forums,
resource availability, level of and small groups.
influence, and stake in the project of
various groups.
| 11Engagement Build the Vision
Activities April – June 2021
Deep-Dive Interviews (April) Interactive Website (May)
The project team will conduct up to The project website will feature an
40 phone interviews with key “idea wall” to get input on elements
stakeholders to identify elements of a of the vision.
shared vision (e.g., concepts, goals,
opportunities, constraints)
Public Meeting (June) Stakeholder Advisory Group
(May – June)
The project team will hold a public
meeting to get input on elements of
The project team will invite key
the vision.
stakeholders to a series of
meetings:
1. Orientation meeting (virtual)
2. Test elements of vision statement
(virtual meeting)
3. Draft vision (in-person meeting)
4. SAG subgroup: Design survey
and outreach events (virtual
meeting)
| 12Engagement Refine the Vision
Activities July – October 2021
Interactive Website (Ongoing) Survey (July – August)
The project website will feature We will conduct an online survey to
interactive elements including a get public feedback on the shared
survey, prioritization exercises, vision developed by the SAG and the
comment fields, and/or a virtual project team.
event.
Outreach Events (July – Stakeholder Advisory Group
August) (September)
We will conduct in-person outreach The SAG will meet to finalize the
events and workshops in various vision and give input on options for
neighborhoods within the study area future mobility.
to educate the public about the
project and get feedback on the
shared vision.
Public Webinar (October)
The project team will hold a webinar
to review the shared vision with the
public and get input on possible ways
forward. | 13Engagement Draft Mobility Plan
Activities November 2021 – January 2022
Interactive Website (Ongoing) Stakeholder Focus Groups
(November)
The project website will continue to
provide project updates and accept
The project team will conduct up to 4
comments on the process.
focus groups to inform specific
recommendations for the mobility
plan.
Stakeholder Advisory Group Webinar (January)
(November – December)
The project team will hold a public
meeting (virtual) to vet draft
The SAG will hold two meetings:
recommendations.
1. Give input on options for draft
mobility plan (November)
2. Review draft mobility plan
(December)
| 14Engagement Final Mobility Plan
Activities February 2022
Stakeholder Advisory Group Public Meeting (February)
(January)
The project team will hold a public
meeting to present the final plan to
The SAG will meet to hear and give
the public.
feedback on final plan
recommendations.
| 15Public Engagement Timeline
Public Engagement
Timeline
| 17Communications Communications Goal
Audience and Messaging
Plan
Strategies andTacticsCommunications A strong communications plan can help ensure the
effectiveness of public engagement efforts by building
Goal awareness of the planning process and its goals and
encouraging participation in outreach activities. It can also
serve to build relationships with stakeholders who share the
goal of spreading the word about the planning process and
opportunities for public input. The communications plan
outlined here stresses a proactive approach to engaging the
public by continually sharing information about the planning
process to the media, the public, and partner organizations.
Communications Goal
Support an inclusive, effective engagement process by
generating awareness of and participation in the Region
Central planning process
| 19Audience and
Messaging
Promise Safe, healthy, equitable, and accessible mobility options for Region Central that respect the corridor’s
natural features and history
Target Audience Residents and users of Region Central neighborhoods, parks, roadways, institutions
Decision Statement Working with our neighbors to envision our shared future, by Spring 2022 GBNRTC will adopt a plan that
shapes the future of mobility in Region Central, strengthens our communities, respects our natural and
historic legacy, and creates a safer, more equitable, more environmentally responsible, and more
prosperous city and region.
Tone of Voice Trustworthy, Positive, Non-Jargony
Elevator Speech The Region Central planning effort takes a comprehensive look at the area’s economic, housing, mobility,
and social needs in order to envision a future transportation system that allows people to move around
the area safely, efficiently, economically, and equitably.
Messaging Pillars Inclusive Comprehensive Visionary
Headline Benefits Creating a better future for all Eliminating patchwork planning Prioritizing people over cars
who live, work, play, and travel in
Region Central
Supporting Examples • Boundaries of study area and • Looks at the region as a • Begins with crafting a shared
engagement extend beyond whole, not just the highway vision
Rt 198 corridor • Takes into account existing • Options and
• Enhanced engagement plans from around the study recommendations support
activities specifically for area the vision
underrepresented • Includes analysis of housing, • Intentionally future-oriented,
neighborhoods land use, economic considering regional needs
• Intentionally diverse development, and mobility over the next 50-100 years
stakeholder advisory group needs and opportunities
| 20Communications Our overall approach to
communications for Region
An interactive web presence
managed by GBNRTC will
Strategy and Tactics: Central is to be proactive in
allow interested stakeholders
to access relevant project
Overview explaining the project and the
outreach process, encouraging
news, sign up for project
alerts, and offer comments.
public input, and establishing Print materials will support
an open and inclusive outreach events described in
the public engagement section
environment for discussion.
of this plan.
Our strategies include ongoing
communication with media
outlets across the region as
well as direct outreach to
organizations, citizens,
elected officials, and affected
agencies. We also plan to work
with partner organizations
with extensive mailing lists to
broaden the reach of our
communications.
| 21Strategies and
Tactics
Media Relations Direct Outreach Website and Social Media
• Highland Planning will produce • To support direct outreach to GBNRTC, with support from Highland
and distribute press releases as stakeholders, our initial focus will Planning, will develop and host a
needed at key milestone of the be on building a mailing list of website that supports interactive
project interested organizations and public engagement. This may include
individuals posting relevant documents and
• At key milestones in the project, meeting recordings, announcing
• To ensure frequent interaction and
GBNRTC (along with partner meetings, allowing mailing list sign-
timely project updates, we will
organizations as appropriate) will ups and comments, and interactive
create and send a monthly
visit with media outlets and exercises. GBNRTC will also post
eNewsletter to elected officials,
reporters in forums such as project updates to its own social
partner agencies, and the public
• Radio show appearances media platforms.
• Project area tours/drive- • GBNRTC will maintain ongoing
throughs communications via conference
• Editorial Board meetings call with high-influence officials
• TV morning shows
and agencies
• Op eds | 22Strategies and
Tactics (cont’d)
Outreach Through Partners Print Materials
As we produce materials related to Print materials can support public
the project, we will contact engagement efforts, particularly pop-
stakeholder organizations who could up events. We will design materials
help us spread information to their for production by GBNRTC as
own mailing lists. Types of needed. These may include:
information to be shared include:
• Flyers
• Social media posts • Postcards
• Newsletter items • Signage for pop-ups
• Meeting/event announcements
• Website buttons
We will also explore the possibility of
variable message signs on local roads
and public service announcements in
the transit system.
| 23Contact Us
Project Team
The Region Central public engagement and communications team includes:
Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council:
Hal Morse, hmorse@gbnrtc.org
Amy Weymouth, aweymouth@gbnrtc.org
JohnMichael Mulderig, jmulderig@gbnrtc.org
Highland Planning:
Nancy Raca, Project Manager, nancy@highland-planning.com
Stantec:
Jeff Sauser, Project Manager, jeff.sauser@stantec.com
| 25You can also read
