Stakeholders can be the users or those affected by construction or traffic. Since the Federal-aid Highway Act of 1950 and the Federal Transit Laws originally enacted in 1964, we have worked to ensure that all interested persons have the opportunity for a voice in how our transportation system is developed. It is the intent of NEPA that agencies encourage and facilitate public involvement in decisions which affect the quality of the human environment. It has long been a challenge to grab and hold people's interest in a project or plan, convince them that active involvement is worthwhile, and provide the means for them to have direcet and meaningful impact on its decisions.
Public involvement is more than just a hearing, or one meeting near the end of the process.
It needs to be an early and continuing part of the process. Public involvement allows the State and resource agencies to know the impacts as viewed by the community. The public also knows the things they would like to change and promote within their community. This committee has prepared a Directory of Transportation Agency Public Participation Officials which provides contacts at the State DOT, MPO, and major transit provider level. The Directory is on line at the website.