2. Resolut/MetroCog Trans Plan - Laserfiche WebLink

. Metro Website Alternative Survey Metro COG posted on its website an innovative survey to solicit public input on metro transportation needs. The interactive, on-line survey was heavily promoted through various media. Nearly 400 responses were received gauging public views on congestion, transit, road, bridge, railroad, pedestrian bicycle issues, preferred revenue sources, and land use development patterns. . Focus Group Meetings Metro COG organized and convened two diverse, multi-jurisdiction, intermoda1 focus groups composed of approximately eight citizens each. These meetings were generated specific responses to the key transportation issues presented. The residents were selected so as to accurately represent the diverse make-up of the metropolitan area and included public school officials, a representative from the downtown business association, local retail associates, public transit users, human rights advocates, developers, economic development representatives, environmentalists, college students, persons with disabilities and retirees. . Public Open House-style Meetings A well-publicized public meeting was held at the West Acres Mall Community Room, as the final early involvement effort. This site was chosen because a substantial amount of people work and shop at the Mall, and it was considered a method of "bringing the public process to the people", instead of the more traditional process which requires the public to come to the public input sites. Further, the Mall is a transit transfer hub; thereby making it quire accessible to large numbers if transit patrons. Finally, the Mall is ADA accessible. In great part due to these non-traditional and aggressive public outreach activities, the early input secured on the MTP update far surpassed past efforts, thereby generating a substantial input base to guide the MTP. This input had an immediate effect in the preparation of needs, goals and objectives for the new MTP. These goals and objectives were approved by the COG Policy Board in December 2002. Further, this exhaustive and project-specific input was later used in the development of project alternatives. Upon preparation of preliminary project alternative analysis, a second set of public input opportunities were held. In addition to posting the preliminary analysis results on Metro COG's MTP web site, two open house meetings were held in April 2004 to solicit public comment on the early findings. Uniquely, both meeting sites were held in locations considered to be areas of high concentrations of low-income individuals and minorities, according to Metro COG's Environmental Justice Maps (based on 2000 census data). Further, the Fargo Open House was held in a vacant, street-level retail establishment near numerous transit routes, and in the center of the central business district. The Fargo Open House also had extended hours (10:00 am to 5:00 pm) and captured substantial downtown walk-in traffic during the lunch hour. The Moorhead evening meeting was scheduled as a more traditional public input opportunity, and was held especially for those that were busy during the workday. Each meeting site was ADA accessible and provisions for those requiring special! accommodations (interpreting signing, etc. was available). Both meetings were well advertised and participation included transit patrons, bicycle enthusiasts, persons with disabilities, low-income people, businessmen Executive Summary - Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan Update Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments June 2004 Page 29