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public engagement

Involving walkers and bikers in design can make streets safer

Posted on November 12, 2024

Including road users in a participatory “co-design” process can result in better safety interventions than those made by professional engineers alone, according to a new study. Participatory design incorporates the needs and views of end-users of what’s being designed—in this case, pedestrian crossings used by workers and students. 

Posted in Best Practices, Delivery, SafetyTagged design, pedestrians, public engagement, safety

Public perception risks being shaped by only those who have a voice at the table

Posted on October 23, 2023

Transportation agencies at all levels are rethinking how they engage with the public and using feedback to make more meaningful investments. Public perception can be skewed, however, especially when certain groups are excluded from the conversation. Two new studies highlight some of ways perceptions can vary and potentially lead decision-makers astray. 

Posted in Equity, Organizational Reform, UncategorizedTagged income, public engagement, public perception, safety, transit, trends

Highway widenings are losing steam in some states

Posted on May 31, 2022

A small but growing number of state DOTs are putting planned highway expansion projects on hold as they work to stretch their available funds and assess how to meet ambitious environmental goals. Certain environmental organizations, cities, and equity-focused advocates interested in rebuilding communities damaged by urban freeways are among those pressuring DOTs to change their long-standing practices.

Posted in DOTs, Economic Impact, Organizational ReformTagged equity, freight, highways, public engagement, reform

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