Trip-Planning: More Than Just Road Signs

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Trip-Planning More Than Just Road Signs

• Michele Ackles
• Delaware Department of Transportation
• Work Zone Safety Conference

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The Context in Delaware

• Small state with emphasis on personal
  relationships
• Extensive state road system
• - 88 of roads are state-maintained
• Population becoming more diverse

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Routes for DelDOT Communication

• Ongoing, general DelDOT Outreach
• Project-Specific Outreach
• - Pre-Construction
• - During Construction

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General DelDOT Outreach

• Website
• Email Subscription Notices
• Print Construction Report
• Events
• DelDOT AM Radio Station
• DelDOT 1-800 number

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DelDOT Web Site

• Press Releases
• Travel Advisories Live Traffic Camera
• Subscription Services
• Announcements of Public Meetings Workshops
• Capital Transportation Program
• Links to DART, RideShare, TMA
• Links to Project Sites

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Live Traffic Cameras
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Subscription Email Services
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Print Construction Reports

• Weekly traffic restriction information
• Summer Construction Report

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Events

• Transportation Festival, Home Show, Trade Shows
• Meet people in a non-confrontational setting
• General DelDOT information, job openings, project
  information

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DelDOT RadioWTCM AM 1280

• Daily real-time traffic information
• Weekly construction information
• Transit information
• Public workshop announcements

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And theres more. . .

• DelDOT 1-800 number
• Work with MPOs
• Public information brochures
• Giveaways with website and radio station call
  numbers

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Project-Specific, Pre-Construction Outreach

• Working Groups/Planning Advisory Groups
• Public Workshops
• Internet
• Print Media
• Legislative Briefings
• Branding

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Working Groups/Planning Advisory Groups

• Range in size
• Include neighborhood residents, public officials,
  other government entities, business groups, etc.
• Help plan design mitigation
• Promote project to constituencies

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Public Workshops

• Go where people are
• Make it fun
• Target the workshop to your audience

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Internet

• Project Web Sites
• Virtual Workshops

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Print Media

• Press Briefings
• Press Releases
• Newspaper ads
• Survival Guides

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Legislative Briefings

• Legislators under time pressure and often do not
  attend working group meetings
• Important avenue for reaching constituents

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Branding

• Unified graphic design throughout the project
• Raises public awareness

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The I-95 Creep
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Project-Specific Outreach During Construction

• Continue Some Pre-Construction Activities
• Project Working Group
• Project Web Sites
• Press Releases

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Project-Specific Outreach During Construction

• Add New Activities
• Project Flyers
• Construction Working Group
• Construction Update Meetings
• Project 1-800 hotlines
• Employer Outreach

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Construction Update Meetings

• Meet with the public and the construction manager
  in the neighborhood
• Allows residents and construction manager to know
  each other

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Project Hotlines

• Provide taped information
• Outlet for people to comment
• I-95 hotline had 900 calls per month during peak

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Employer Outreach

• Transportation Management Association reaches
  70,000 employees via email
• Coordinate transit with employer needs

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Closing Thoughts

• Our publics are changing, so our methods must
  change.

Nothing substitutes for personal relationships.