Collaboration and public engagement are paramount to successful transportation projects, and transformational partnerships have the potential to increase positive transportation outcomes. Beyond Community Participation Plans, transportation practitioners can develop deeper community relationships to improve local well-being and make transportation investments more impactful. TRB hosted a webinar on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM Eastern that aimed to advance the state of the practice in partnership development with traditional and nontraditional partners, including developing relationships with community-based organizations that represent underserved constituents participating in transportation planning and projects.

This webinar was sponsored by TRB’s Standing Technical Committee on Community Resources and Impacts.

The slides are linked in the meeting materials. View the recorded webinar below.

Webinar agenda and presenters

1. Historically underserved communities in transportation planning – Sarah Elizabeth McCullough, University of California, Davis

2. Lessons from the field on developing meaningful partnerships for public engagement – Chandra Ward, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

3. U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration overview of the federal goals for strategic partnerships and meaningful public involvement – Faith Hall, FHWA and Mariia Zimmerman, USDOT

4. Question and answer session moderated by Veronica Murphy, New Jersey DOT

The first 60 minutes of the webinar were for presentations and the final 30 minutes were reserved for audience questions.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this webinar, participants can:

1. Build successful partnerships using practical tactics that will lead to better public participation and improved community trust

2. Determine partnership objectives, be accountable in commitments, seek community benefit, and understand common issues in engagement of community-based organizations

3. Use essential partnership strategies to establish trust and build rapport with potential partners

Professional Development Hours

This webinar was delivered as a scheduled – e-learning live event and is categorized within RCEP as Technical, Health and Safety.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) earned on completion of this program were reported to the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Certificates of Completion are issued to all participants via the RCEP.net online system. Complaints about registered providers may be addressed to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Fl., Washington, DC, 20005.

American Institute of Certified Planners Certification Maintenance Credits

This webinar was approved by the American Planning Association (APA) for 1.5 Certification Maintenance (CM) Credits. CM credits provide continuing education opportunities for AICP Certified Planners to continue their professional skills and knowledge. To receive CM credits, Certified Planners should visit the TRB event webpage on American Planning Association and register their participation. If you have problems reporting your CM credits or have general questions about the CM program, please contact the APA.