Public Engagement Spotlight
Jacobs, on behalf of MoDOT
What does public engagement look like in action?
Did you know Interstate 70 connects Maryland to Utah? In the St. Louis region, I-70 is one of the most traveled interstates for both cars and freight. Several years ago, the Missouri Department of Transportation began a high-level Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study to plan for the future of this important corridor. StratCommRx was honored to be chosen to work with project leaders Jacobs on this PEL study.
A challenge for long-range planning studies, rather than immediate projects, is how to engage the public in a meaningful way when there is not an imminent change happening in their area. To tackle this challenge, StratCommRx created the Envision I-70 campaign ( Envision70.com), conducted media outreach, created a number of active key advisory groups, interviewed stakeholders, held public meetings, and created an interactive online engagement tool. This tool, created on the MetroQuest platform, allowed members of the public to provide a significant amount of information to the project team on their own time. More than 2,600 people in the region used the tool – far more than could have participated at in-person meetings alone.
 
True public engagement is a process, not an event. The use of MetroQuest gave residents who would otherwise not have attend a public meeting the chance to submit their comments digitally. More voices at the table makes for more informed decision-making.
Are you interested in learning more about how StratCommRx is rethinking public engagement? Contact Kelly Ferrara at [email protected].
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