Public Involvement Clearinghouse in Pennsylvania Keeps Preservationists in the Loop
A pilot project helps people plan for impacts to historic bridges and other transportation projects in Pennsylvania.
Transportation projects are often complex in terms of both the players and the length of time involved from start to finish. Often these same projects impact historic places.
Keeping the public plugged into the review process is an ongoing challenge that will become even more difficult as stimulus dollars start flowing and state leaders seek funding for "shovel-ready" projects. In general, the public is often unclear as to how to participate in the process, and perhaps unaware of what projects are even in the pipeline. This lack of involvement leads to an unconstructive consultation process and, at times, costly project delays.
In Pennsylvania, the statewide nonprofit organization, Preservation Pennsylvania, and the state transportation agency, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), have teamed up to develop an innovative solution to this challenge.
A soon-to-be-launched public involvement clearinghouse will offer the public educational resources and information about all transportation projects that have the potential to affect cultural resources. The proposed program will improve public involvement by increasing awareness early in the project development process.
With funding provided by PennDOT, Preservation Pennsylvania will design and administer the public involvement clearinghouse to:
- Develop and administer a publicly-accessible and frequently-updated website that will provide all available documentation related to important decision points in the Section 106 process for all active PennDOT projects that have the potential to affect cultural resources. This will include all classes of environmental review actions.
- Provide technical assistance to interested individuals through phone or e-mail to facilitate communication between the public and PennDOT transportation project staff.
- Conduct educational seminars to promote a better understanding of the public's role in transportation decision making and consultation under Section 106 and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In order to comply with NEPA and Section 106, the Federal Highway Administration (through PennDOT) must provide the public and interested parties the opportunity to consult and comment on the effects transportation projects may have on the state's cultural resources.
