The U.S. Department of Transportation released its Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making document Oct. 13.

The document is the first of its kind, designed for DOT funding recipients and partners who conduct public involvement in the transportation sector, according to a DOT news release.

“We know that working with the community, early and often, is one of the best ways to successfully deliver good transportation projects on time,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the release. “This guide will help transportation projects get done faster and better serve the entire community.”

To aid in identifying potential obstacles to inclusion in the decision-making process and how to address them to satisfy the needs of all affected communities, the DOT collected information from multiple sources, including transportation stakeholders and communities, according to the release. Identified challenges include the use of one-size-fits-all strategies and the lack of accountability for acting on community inputs.

The guide provides effective practices and examples of what determines meaningful public involvement to help foster inclusion in the DOT's decision-making processes, the release reported. During the coming months, the DOT will be offering additional training and technical assistance regarding the guide.