Thursday August 11, 2022, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Why and How to Make Advocacy Community Involvement Count

Course Overview

There are a myriad of legal and practical reasons why transportation designers, planners and managers should engage in healthy and ongoing relationships with senior, disability, pedestrian, bicycle and other transit-focused advocacy communities. This course will begin by identifying several federal laws which require public participation and/or program/service equity among key groups of transit stakeholders, along with a number of obvious and not-so-obvious benefits that result from building a meaningful and sustained relationship with local and/or regional advocacy communities. The course will also provide an overview along with potential use cases for several approaches for interacting with different advocacy communities, including community user groups, advisory committees, relationships with specific community organizations and advisory groups, and ongoing public engagement through social media and other channels. Finally, the course will cover typical concerns and objections that might be raised by transit agency CEOs, Board members and other local leaders and specific strategies for mitigating these concerns.

Format – The class will include lecture, discussion and small-group discussions and exercises. Reading materials will include federal public participation guidelines and other materials intended to illustrate some of the more typical perspectives on the value of and concerns about working with local and regional citizens groups and advocacy committees.

Audience: People who are responsible for planning and managing transit service and people who are involved in community outreach and engagement.

Presented by: Ron Brooks, Accessible Avenue

Cost: $49. PPTA cancellation policy applies.

Lodging: PennTRAIN has secured a room block at the Harrisburg Hilton, one North Second Street. The rate is $117. DEADLINE to reserve your room is July 20, 2022. CLICK HERE to reserve.

If you have difficulties reserving online, please call (717) 233 6000 and give them the code: PETRAI

Meals: Lunch and breaks will be provided during the training. Please inform Kristen Joyner at penntrain@ppta.net of any dietary restrictions at least one week in advance.

Attire: Casual. Because it can be a challenge to keep the meeting room at a temperature that accommodates everyone, we recommend bringing a sweater or jacket to stay comfortable.

Available Seats: 24

All training will take place at: Harrisburg Hilton

One North Second Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17101-1601