Transportation has a tremendous impact on a wide range of regional activities and institutions. Transportation makes it possible for us to get where we want to go as well as to enjoy products and services from all over the world. It is a driving force behind our region’s economic health and ability to grow. In the Baltimore region, this vast transportation system includes the Port of Baltimore, Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, light rail, Metro, beltway, bus services, sidewalks, bike paths, and any of the many local or state roadways we drive on each day.

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) is designated by the federal government as the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), charged with coordinating transportation planning for the Baltimore metropolitan region. The BRTB is responsible for developing plans and programs that distribute most federal transportation funds to transportation projects in the region. This includes roadway construction and maintenance projects, as well as bus, rail, pedestrian, and bicycle projects.

Allocating transportation dollars for specific projects or programs is a huge responsibility. BRTB officials consider a number of federal requirements, such as the need to conform to federal air quality standards, in their decision making. In addition, they also must work with limited transportation funding made available by federal, state, and local resources to pay for projects.

The advice and input of a wide range of stakeholders is critical to making good transportation decisions. Stakeholders include individuals and groups alike. They include citizens, business leaders and business groups, environmental and civic organizations, advocacy groups that represent the needs of the underserved/under-represented - including low income, minority, elderly, and disabled populations. Each of these stakeholders has a different perspective, a different set of transportation needs and interests that the BRTB hears and considers during transportation decision making.

The process and the methods used by the BRTB to inform the public about transportation issues and involve them in the transportation planning process is called public involvement. Public involvement is required by federal law guiding metropolitan transportation planning. However, it is also a valued tool used by the BRTB to ensure that investments made by state and local governments utilizing public dollars are meaningful, meeting the needs of the public and other stakeholders.

Purpose of the BRTB Participation Plan

This Participation Plan contains the guidelines and expectations for public involvement during transportation planning activities and processes used by the BRTB. In particular, this plan outlines the procedures, tools, and expectations for outreach and education to the public on transportation issues. It also includes the techniques that will consistently be used to engage members of the public in the BRTB’s transportation planning process. The desired outcome is a process that is both engaging to the public as well as informed by public input.