Consultation with Nonmetropolitan Local Officials

26.	As of March 2010, does your state DOT have any contracts in place with rural planning organizations to conduct transportation planning activities in your state?
	(Check one.)
	1.		Yes
	2.		No (Skip to 28.)
	3.		Don't know (Skip to 28.)

27.	(If "Yes" to 26) How many rural planning organizations are currently under contract with the state DOT to conduct transportation planning activities in your state? (Enter number.)
	RPOs

28.	Do any other organizations conduct rural transportation planning activities in your state without a contract with the state DOT?
	(Check one.)
	1.		Yes
	2.		No (Skip to 30.)
	3.		Don't know (Skip to 30.)

29.	(If "Yes" to 28) How many noncontracted rural planning organizations exist in your state? (Enter number)
	Noncontracted RPOs

30.	Did your state DOT perform any of the following activities to consult with nonmetropolitan local officials in the statewide planning process?

	Meetings

		Yes	No	Don't know
	a. State DOT officials conducted annual meetings with local officials in nonmetropolitan areas
	b. State DOT officials conducted statewide road show or consultation tour
	c. State DOT held workshops, open houses, or other interactive forums with local officials in nonmetropolitan areas
	d. State DOT held public hearings in locations across the state to gather feedback on the state's long-range transportation plan
	e. State DOT held public hearings in locations across the state to gather feedback on the state's STIP
	f. State DOT officials regularly attended regional or rural planning organization board or committee meetings (regular attendance means about half of the meetings or more)

	Planning and Priorities

		Yes	No	Don't know
	g. State DOT asked nonmetropolitan officials for input on identifying the state's priority transportation needs or projects (e.g., through requests for proposals, project nominations, needs assessments, or other structured processes)
	h. State DOT asked officials in nonmetropolitan regions or RPOs to develop their own long-range transportation plans
	i. State DOT asked officials in nonmetropolitan regions or RPOs to prioritize projects or develop their own transportation improvement programs (TIPs)
	j. State DOT asked nonmetropolitan local officials to serve on state policy-making or advisory bodies (e.g., highway or transportation commissions or boards)

	Providing Resources

		Yes	No	Don't know
	k. State DOT provided funding to nonmetropolitan areas to conduct transportation planning activities
	l. State DOT provided technical assistance or training to improve transportation planning activities in nonmetropolitan areas (e.g., workshop, webinar or other)

	Other

		Yes	No	Don't know
	m. Other

	(If "Other") Please specify.

31.	As you may know, federal regulations have required states to review, at least once every 5 years beginning on February 24, 2006, the state's process for consulting with nonmetropolitan local officials on statewide transportation planning (23 C.F.R. 450.210 (b)(1)). Has your state completed this requirement due February 24, 2011?
	(Check one.)
	1.		Yes
	2.		No, not yet (Skip to 33.)
	3.		Don't know (Skip to 33.)

32.	(If "Yes" to 31) What was the date of completion?
	(ENTER DATE USING YYYY-MM-DD FORMAT)

33.	Did your state conduct any of the following activities to involve the public in the development of the long-range transportation plan or the STIP?

	Communication Activities

		Performed for long-range plan	Performed for STIP	Performed for both long-range plan and STIP	Not performed for either	Don't know
	a. Presented long-range plan or STIP in statewide road shows
	b. Provided information in multiple languages
	c. Reached out to special needs populations (e.g., low-income, disabled, elderly)
	d. Held meetings with freight industry representatives
	e. Communicated through networks of local community groups
	f. Solicited feedback from the public on effectiveness of public outreach efforts

	Identifying Needs

		Performed for long-range plan	Performed for STIP	Performed for both long-range plan and STIP	Not performed for either	Don't know
	g. Relied on rural planning organizations to identify needs of nonmetropolitan areas
	h. Tasked state DOT personnel or contractors to identify needs in nonmetropolitan areas

	Media

		Performed for long-range plan	Performed for STIP	Performed for both long-range plan and STIP	Not performed for either	Don't know
	i. Participated in radio or TV call-in shows (e.g., public access)
	j. Maintained Web site to inform and receive public feedback
	k. Engaged the public through interactive media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, electronic town hall meetings)

	Other

		Performed for long-range plan	Performed for STIP	Performed for both long-range plan and STIP	Not performed for either	Don't know
	l. Other

	(If "Other") Please specify.

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Full Report: GAO-11-77

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