Virtually all public works projects require a substantial planning effort to identify impacts, costs, and alternatives. Federal and state laws and regulations call for certain levels of public involvement during planning, but meaningful, collaborative public involvement entails doing more than the minimum requirements. This is particularly true when there appears to be an imbalance in public input, where one viewpoint is heard above others. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) has undertaken efforts on two corridor projects to expand its public involvement in ways that maximize the range of community views, enhance project design, and build support for the project. In addition to the traditional public meetings, newsletters, and open houses, MTDB has used public relations firms, neutral facilitators, and staff outreach to achieve expanded public involvement goals. MTDB has found that, while there are risks and costs associated with these approaches, they ultimately result in better projects that receive more widespread public and political acceptance.
