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TPO accepts 2022–2024 public participation measures, board endorses recommendations to improve outreach
Summary
The Hillsborough TPO board accepted a measures-of-effectiveness report covering 2022–2024 and approved recommendations on ADA-compliant surveys, signage policy and use of focus groups; board members asked for more year-over-year metrics.
The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization on March 12 accepted its Public Participation Plan Measures of Effectiveness report for 2022–2024 and endorsed a series of staff recommendations to strengthen outreach and accessibility.
TPO staff member Harmony McGee presented the report, which used a star-rating scorecard across four measures — visibility and productivity, participation opportunities, public interest and feedback, and response to public input — and highlighted outreach results including 68,000 Facebook impressions, 165 TIP signs in English and Spanish and 30,000 mailed flyers. McGee said the Access 2050 long-range plan drew more than 4,000 survey responses and that the Community Air Monitoring Network held its first summit in 2024.
Staff recommended several procedural changes: move to ArcGIS Survey123 for ADA-compliant surveys, prioritize TIP signage for TIP amendments (but keep signage for roll-forward amendments per CAC request), use focus groups to mitigate survey fatigue and expand the TPO’s YouTube presence for engagement. The Citizens Advisory Committee recommended keeping signage for roll-forward amendments and adding post-meeting evaluations; McGee said CAC comments were included verbatim in the advanced comments packet.
Board members asked for additional year-over-year comparison data to make the report’s outreach numbers more meaningful. Board member Frey asked how focus groups would be selected to ensure representative samples; McGee said methodology would depend on project scope and that some upcoming studies will use both surveys and focused outreach. Council member Clendenin moved acceptance of the report; Commissioner Cohen seconded. The motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The board directed staff to pursue the recommendations and to continue improving methods for measuring participation quality and outcomes, including better reporting of trends over time.
