In the transportation decision-making process, public involvement is a key component of integrating land use and transportation issues. FHWA's role in this arena includes:
Learning the viewpoints and opinions of the stakeholders in transportation projects is one of the chief elements of the FHWA project development process. Stakeholders can be the users or those affected by the construction or traffic related to the project. Since the Federal-aid Highway Act of 1950 and the Federal Transit laws originally enacted in 1964, USDOT has worked to ensure that all interested persons have the opportunity for a voice in how the transportation system is developed. In conjunction with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the opportunity has been extended for public involvement throughout the location and design process for specific transportation projects. It is the intent of NEPA that agencies encourage and facilitate public involvement in decisions which affect the quality of the human environment.
