Your voice is important to shape the Washington region's transportation system now, and in the future. The Transportation Planning Board (TPB) addresses some of the region's important challenges like roadway and transit congestion, efficient freight movement, safety, public health, climate change, and equity.
Understand the transportation decision-making process.
A People's Guide to Transportation Decision-Making in the National Capital Region is a great starting point for learning how transportation funding and planning decisions are made in the region. This booklet explains how, where, and by whom transportation decisions are made, the role the TPB plays in coordinating the process, and how community members can participate in the process.
How can you get involved?
There are different ways for community members to stay informed and involved with the transportation planning process. We recommend getting involved early in the decision-making process! Here are some of the possibilities.
Get Involved in regional transportation issues at the TPB:
- Express yourself for the record. Community can make statements for the record in different ways. This could be at a formal public hearing or informational meeting about a plan or project. Similar to the TPB, most local governments and planning commissions have public comment periods on their meeting agendas.
Community members can make brief comments on transportation issues being considered by the TPB. There are two ways to give public comment at TPB meetings.
1) You may register to give in-person public comment at TPB meetings held at COG by noon on the day before the TPB meeting, or
2) You can provide comments to be shared by TPB staff on your behalf by emailing, mailing a letter, or leaving a voicemail with a short statement by noon on the day before the TPB meeting.
Verbal comments are limited to no more than three minutes and must be made at in-person TPB meetings. Virtual meetings do not have the opportunity for verbal public comment, but you are welcome to submit comments via email, letter, or voicemail.
Written comments should be 375 words or less. Please email TPBcomment@mwcog.org with the subject line "Item 1 Public Comment Opportunity" or call 202-962-3315 to register attendance, or to provide the statement.
- Put it in writing. Send a letter or submit a written statement to key decision makers. A list of TPB members and their jurisdictions is available in the Committees directory of the COG website.
- Volunteer to serve. Volunteer to serve as a member of the TPB's Access for All Advisory Committee (AFA) or the TPB’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC and the AFA are advisory committees that community members can join. Read more about the membership application process on their web pages.
- Stay connected via email and social media. Learn about TPB activities, programs, and comment opportunities through the TPB News e-newsletter and TPB social media channels: Facebook and Twitter @NatCapRegTPB.
There are many other ways to become active in transportation decision-making. Many projects are formulated based on local needs. State agencies often determine which projects to pursue. The following represent several of the many ways citizens can have an impact on transportation challenges facing the region.
- Stay informed. Follow transportation issues in the media. Search the internet for information about projects and plans. Register for mailing or e-mail lists to receive newsletters or regular updates.
Contact local, regional and state transportation planning agencies to ask for information about projects in which you are interested. Find out how community members are involved in these projects.
- Get out there. Attend public meetings on projects or plans. These sessions are often advertised in local papers, on neighborhood community forums, or posted on the Internet by local or state agencies.
- Talk with decision makers. Contact your elected officials or the staff at transportation agencies to request information about projects or plans. Find out how community members can get involved.
- Coordinate with your neighbors. Contact your neighborhood or civic association to see if their members are interested in a particular transportation issue and if they plan to take any action.
- Join a group. Join an organized group that promotes a specific transportation project or advocates broad policy changes about transportation investments in your community or across the region.