Carson City US 395 Freeway
Public Awareness Plan
Prepared by In Association with
Prepared for September 30, 1999
Randy Bowling Consulting
5310 Kietzke Lane, Suite 204
Reno, NV 89511
PBS&J
5310 Kietzke Lane, Suite 101
Reno, NV 89511
Nevada Department of Transportation
1263 South Stewart Street
Carson City, NV 89712
The Nevada Department of
Transportation (NDOT) has developed a preliminary design for the US 395 freeway in Carson City. The project limits reach from the beginning point at the intersection of US 395 south (South Carson Street) and US 50, northerly
approximately eight miles to its connection with existing US 395 north of Bonanza Road. Divided into two phases, the project's Phase 1 is 3.8 miles long and is between US 50 east and the project's northern ending point. Phase 2 is
between the project's southern terminus and US 50 east. Phase 1 is additionally divided into Phase 1A (four bridge structures) and Phase 1B (remainder of the Phase 1 project). The scope of this Public Awareness Plan
includes the entire Carson City Freeway corridor. This Public Awareness Plan describes the avenues that will be used to convey project information to the public.
BACKGROUND
During the planning and preliminary design of the freeway project, the community, including local government officials, has closely followed the evolution of the project through NDOT's public
involvement efforts. The focus of NDOT's public involvement program has been to inform the public and to invite input relating to features of the project and its design. As elements of the project proceed from preliminary design
through final design and into construction, the consultant design team's objective is to maintain the public's project awareness and understanding of the project.
The consultant team in concert with NDOT will execute a program comprising six strategic elements to accomplish the project's public awareness objective. A comprehensive public awareness program will include the following:
- Develop and distribute a project newsletter
- Develop presentations and provide speakers for groups and committees
- Develop and maintain a project Web site
- Install a computer kiosk
- Develop Public Access Television information element
- Establish and maintain a project telephone information line
- Prepare project press releases
The objective of the public awareness program is to convey information to the public and interested groups. By utilizing a multi-faceted approach to convey information, the success of the effort is optimized. For example, individuals wanting specific information about a certain area of the project may feel more comfortable leaving a message on the telephone information line, instead of asking a speaker a question in front of a group, or sending an email or written letter to the project office. The Public Awareness Plan describes the general approach and specific benefits of each element of the program.
NEWSLETTERS
Newsletters will be written to include project progress and information, calendars of events, telephone
numbers, information about the Web site and kiosk, location maps, and photographic simulation of certain design features. The newsletters will be printed and distributed at fundamental intervals throughout project design.
Newsletters differ from press releases in that a newsletter will have a smaller audience, greater depth of reporting, and more issues presented than a press release. Each newsletter will explain how to provide project input.
Newsletter distribution points are identified to be the following locations:
- NDOT offices
- City Hall and Carson City Utility Division office
- Carson City Library
- Community Center
- Regional Transportation Commission office
- Chamber of Commerce
- Shopping Centers
- Senior Citizens center
Newsletter distribution points will be identified on the project Web site, on the kiosk, and via press releases distributed to the local media. Although the primary method of distribution will be at established distribution points, newsletters will be mailed out upon specific request. Based on a demonstrated need, newsletters can be translated and printed in non-English or large-type formats.
As important project events take place, or in anticipation of these events, newsletter editions will be prepared with an emphasis on project progress. The following table presents a summary of proposed distribution dates and those project events or activities for which the newsletter will be distributed.
Six Month Schedule of |
||
Scheduled Date |
Key Events or Activities |
Topics |
11/99 |
Final design begins; Phase 1A public hearing held, Bidding process, Bike Path Workshop, VE's, etc. |
Include Project Intro, standard information and Project Progress Details |
1/00 |
Project Bids, Phase 1B at 30% |
Aesthetics, Sound Walls, Bridge Types, Construction Impacts, etc. |
3/00 |
Construction Begins, Partnering Workshop |
Construction details, ITS features, |
5/00 |
Design Reaches 60% (Phase 1B), Construction Progresses (Phase 1A) |
Same as 1/00 newsletter, but with more detail |
Articles contained in the newsletters will focus on timely or current major events or activities. In addition to stories, each newsletter will include a items that will appear consistently from newsletter to newsletter. Such items are question and answer columns, invitations for questions and comments, kiosk locations, the Web site address, a calendar of events and project related telephone numbers.
SPEAKERS BUREAU
With the Carson City Freeway project approaching construction and many of the elements still under design, this aspect of the plan offers the public an opportunity listen to the
consultant team discuss significant aspects of the project with Carson City committees, political bodies and advisory groups. The public meetings conducted by these groups are
televised on local access television. This offers the public a convenient opportunity to take advantage of this information. Project directors of the consultant team will address
these groups and organizations to present and describe the project and its significant elements.
The majority of groups requesting speakers are the political bodies within Carson City government with occasional requests from community service organizations and business groups. Each of these groups will be provided the opportunities to discuss the project with the consultant and/or NDOT staff.
Project manager Jim Dodson will address technical advisory committees and
engineering-based groups. Because of his overall responsibility for project planning, organization, and scheduling, Mr. Dodson's expertise forms the most appropriate foundation for addressing project objectives and engineering issues. Newsletters, Web site, kiosk, and press releases will advertise the availability of project personnel to discuss features of the project.
The number of presentations that will be made throughout the life of the project will be limited to a reasonable number. Presentations will be scheduled as a part of the plan with groups that may request presentations or periodic updates such as the Chamber of Commerce, Carson City's Open Space Advisory Committee, Parks & Recreation Commission, and RTC. Additional presentations will be scheduled as time and resources allow.
WEB SITE The consultant team will provide graphic design services, as described in the consultant's design proposal. Not only does the design team bring superb graphic design services, but
it also establishes the foundation for updating the site with current information. Scheduled updates of the site are shown below and will allow the consultant team to focus on
developing new information as the design and construction activity progresses. Frequent updating of site information leads to constant evolution of the site, making it interesting for
the viewer. The target date for operation of the initial project homepage is October 31, 1999.
With the rapid growth of the Internet and World Wide Web, information conveyed with this medium is bountiful. To capitalize on this technology, a Carson City Freeway Web site
will make project information available to those with such resources. The site will be designed to complement the existing NDOT home page and those of Carson City and
Douglas County. Development of a project Web site will allow information to be updated constantly. Initial elements contained in the project Web site will be the following:
KIOSKS
Kiosks, when placed in well-visited public areas, allow larger audience access to project information. Individuals without Internet access can retrieve the same type of information
via the kiosk. Initial sites under consideration are the City Hall lobby and a high-foot traffic location in the northern part of Carson City. No more than two project kiosks will be installed.
Computerized kiosks provide the public with useful information without requiring technical knowledge to operate. The hardware will consist of PC-type computers with a touch screen input device.
PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION
Public access television broadcasts meetings of several community boards and
commissions. Periodic updates and related presentations to interested groups will be shown on the station. Specific freeway presentations will be fruitful if the information is
offered at intervals that maintain interest with the viewers. Three shows will be effective and maintain viewer interest. If the shows prove successful, more shows will be
developed. Issues relating to the freeway design, phasing of construction, interesting design challenges and related solutions provide solid foundations for show content.
TELEPHONE INFORMATION LINE
A dedicated telephone line will be installed at the project office to provide access for interested parties to leave questions or comments on a voice mail system. Callers may leave
messages and questions for senior project staff to address. The availability of the telephone line will be listed in newsletters and press releases.
Either Project Manager Jim Dodson or Public Awareness Director Randy Bowling will respond to questions. A call log will be maintained and forwarded weekly to the NDOT Project Manager and the Public Information Officer. During construction phases or in responding to an urgent request or issue, notification to NDOT will be daily.
The telephone line will not include project update recordings. Here again, experience demonstrates that callers lose interest unless the message is brief; brief messages do not convey meaningful information. The telephone information line has been installed at the consultant project office. The telephone number is (775) 828-4797.
PRESS RELEASES
At milestones in the project schedule, the consultant team will prepare press releases for
NDOT review and distribution. Because the NDOT Public Information Officer has developed professional relationships with news media throughout the project area, the
consultant team will only work through the Public Information Officer. The consultant team will support NDOT.
While newsletters address several issues with depth, press releases are limited on the number of items discussed and typically are constrained on the depth to which it addresses an issue. Press releases also have a wider audience than do newsletters. As with newsletters, press releases will be prepared at intervals when public awareness of the project's status is encouraged or when significant milestones occur. The following table summarizes a preliminary schedule of press releases:
Six Month Schedule of Press Release Distribution & Topics |
||
Scheduled Date |
Key Event or Activity |
Comments |
12/99 |
Advertisement for Phase 1A bids |
|
1/00 |
Award of Phase 1A |
Include graphics |
3/00 |
Construction begins |
Possible ground-breaking ceremony announcement |
5/00 |
Design progress/public meeting |
Press release #1 |
To optimize the benefit of press releases and newsletters, both elements of the Public Awareness Plan must be coordinated. Coordinating the distribution of both forms of information dissemination optimizes the public awareness process.
SUMMARY
A Public Awareness Plan is effective when several facets are implemented as part of a coordinated program. In certain situations, single elements of the Plan may be more
effective than other elements. Combining several techniques in conveying project information to the public creates an optimal approach.
Interlaced throughout the design of the public awareness program is flexibility. While the public awareness program is structured, it is flexible enough to respond to changing
project requirements and public demands. This Public Awareness Plan sets the direction of the public communication avenues. Effectively responding and anticipating the public's
questions and concerns measure the success of the plan.
