Public Participation

The study will be directed by a Steering Committee that includes the communities of Gorham, South Portland, Westbrook and Scarborough, along with the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) the metropolitan planning organization for the Portland region. The funding partners - MTA and MaineDOT - also sit on the Steering Committee.

A broad-based stakeholder Advisory Committee, which will include such diverse interests as land use, conservation, economic growth, smart growth, truckers, transit experts, bike/pedestrian groups and others, will advise the Steering Committee. Please see Participant Team for a complete list. You may also wish to contact an Advisory Committee member directly to provide feedback on your views. John Duncan, of PACTS, will be chairing the committee.

The public participation approach will differ from a traditional approach in several ways. First, while public participation is always a key component in land use and transportation planning, this study will expand the public’s input by immediately soliciting stakeholder feedback on the preliminary scope of work. The scope is the defining legal document that describes the goals, objectives and tasks that make up the study. Using community and stakeholder input to shape the scope right from the start means the public will be able to make sure the study addresses the right issues. This ensures that resources are not wasted and the communities’ and stakeholders’ needs are met.




Another difference will be in the way the study team and committees solicit feedback from the public. Transportation/land use studies can be challenging because stakeholder groups often approach a problem with specific ~ and completely different ~ solutions in mind. This creates polarization and makes the process of finding the right solutions even more challenging. For this study, outreach efforts will focus on accurately identifying the problems before any discussion can take place regarding solutions.

In addition to the two committees, a series of public meetings, public workshops and topic-specific charettes will make it easy for the public to provide input. Please watch the Upcoming Meetings page for up-to-date information, or email cmorris@morriscomm.net.