Public Participation
The MPO provides a continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) transportation planning process for the area. As part of a successful 3-C process, the MPO solicits public review and comment on the work, projects, and products we create and propose.
The MPO developed the Public Participation Plan (PPP), which intends to promote this effort by defining a process that provides citizens, stakeholder groups, and other interested parties with reasonable opportunities to be involved in the transportation planning process.
Stakeholders and Public Groups
The MPO has identified numerous groups with interest in involvement opportunities, including neighborhood organizations, homeowner associations, chambers of commerce, other business groups, transportation providers, advocacy groups, media, governmental agencies, schools, environmental organizations, social actions groups, and hospitals.
Outreach Techniques
Blog
The MPO maintains the blog in an effort to educate citizens and to improve upon its public participation strategies. MPO on the Go provides links to a variety of transportation-related items. The links pertained to specific projects in the Des Moines metropolitan area, to state-level transportation matters, and to national transportation issues. In FY 2010, the MPO staff also sought to educate the public about general planning-related issues occurring in the Des Moines metropolitan area. The MPO staff asked for thoughts and opinions regarding the posted news items to better understand the public perspective.
Public Input Meetings
All MPO meetings are open to the public. The Executive Committee, the Transportation Technical Committee (TTC), and the MPO Policy Committee (MPO) meet monthly, while roundtables and subcommittees also hold regular meetings. To find out more, visit our committees page.
The MPO holds a Citizen Transportation Congress semi-annually to educate the public on the MPO's role and to gather comments regarding general transportation issues. Public input meetings are held to solicit public review and comment on amendments to the long-range transportation plan and the Transportation Improvement Program.
Publications
InTouch is the MPO's newsletter and provides information on plans and programs, public discussions, whom to contact to register comments at the MPO, and upcoming events. In addition, the MPO publishes special editions of InTouch throughout the year to notify the public of scheduled input meetings and events. Occasionally, the MPO published pamphlets and informational brochures that provide summary information to the public.
Website
The MPO website provides information about the MPO, planning activities, committees, and upcoming events. It also includes links to related websites and a library where plans and other documents may be downloaded.
