Core Services Performed:
- Public Engagement
- Stakeholder Coordination
- Strategic Communications
- GIS
- ESRI Webmap Applications
- Story Maps
Client:
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Prime:
Michael Baker International
Timeline:
March 2020 – September 2021
Port Authority of Allegheny County Long Range Transportation Plan
Project Overview
True to its commitment to connecting people to jobs and resources, the Authority is embarking on a long-range visioning process to provide an action-oriented strategy for investments and enhancements to its system, called NEXTransit. NEXTransit will guide the Authority, its planning partners, the public, and regional stakeholders in setting priorities for major transit investments through its horizon year of 2045. The objective is an improved transit system, which will attract more riders, enhance mobility for the County’s residents, and support community development and redevelopment initiatives throughout Allegheny County – all while promoting regional equity and sustainability.
The Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAAC) provides public transportation throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and operates and services 108 bus routes, 2 inclines planes, and over 7,000 transit stops and stations.
Community Engagement
In addition to providing GIS and project management support, the E. Holdings, Inc. team also authored and executed the public outreach and project communication plan for outreach at each project step. As part of these efforts, graphic design and communication materials were created to convey key project ideas, milestones, and themes – including digital, print, web, and video pieces.
The E. Holdings, Inc. team also facilitated all in-person and digital stakeholder meetings and events, which included outdoor pop-up events designed to respect social distancing needs, and online video information sessions, presentations, and input-driven focus group events hosted through Zoom, PublicInput.com, Facebook, and other digital channels.
Key to the success of the project engagement, facilitation, and graphic communication was facility and creativity across a wide variety of graphic design and user interface platforms, experience in creating compelling graphic communication pieces, and a nuanced and responsive approach to working with the public.
- 1,615 survey responses with online, call-in, text, and paper options for surveys and comments
- 10 online public meeting with 420 participants. 5 meetings held with underrepresented/underserved community organizations including one meeting held entirely in Spanish.
- 37 outdoor pop-up tent events around the county in the summer of 2020 and spring of 2021
- A project website with over 14,000 unique visits. Social media accounts to facilitate input including online and call-in ‘office hours’ and ‘ask me anything’ engagement sessions with our transit planners
GIS and Mapping
In addition to providing GIS and project management support, the E. Holdings, Inc. team also authored and executed the public outreach and project communication plan for outreach at each project step. As part of these efforts, graphic design and communication materials were created to convey key project ideas, milestones, and themes – including digital, print, web, and video pieces.
The E. Holdings, Inc. team also facilitated all in-person and digital stakeholder meetings and events, which included outdoor pop-up events designed to respect social distancing needs, and online video information sessions, presentations, and input-driven focus group events hosted through Zoom, PublicInput.com, Facebook, and other digital channels.
Key to the success of the project engagement, facilitation, and graphic communication was facility and creativity across a wide variety of graphic design and user interface platforms, experience in creating compelling graphic communication pieces, and a nuanced and responsive approach to working with the public.
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