How do you create lasting public interest in a long-term planning study when there is no funding beyond planning and may not be for some time? You make it fun and easy for people to dream about the future with a clear understanding of the funding and schedule realities of today. EnviroIssues is helping Sound Transit and the City of Seattle strike this balance on the Ballard to Downtown Seattle Transit Expansion Study.
We created materials and messages that set the stage for honest engagement. They highlight the potential for rail in this corridor, without over-promising on the results. We also designed a fresh and interactive online map that lets people draw their ideal transit routes. Using Google maps as the platform made it familiar and easy for people to use.
The broad and representative input received during our first round of outreach – more than 150 people at the open house and more than 270 online maps created – speaks to the success of this approach.