RTPO Public Participation Plan

PUBLIC

PARTICIPATION PLAN

DECEMBER 2013

This plan completed by the Buckeye Hills – Hocking Valley Regional

Development District as part of the RTPO Pilot Program funded by the Ohio

Department of Transportation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents

IntroductionandAcknowledgements__________________________________________________________________ 1

ProgramBackgroundandPurpose_____________________________________________________________________ 2

PublicInvolvementProcess_____________________________________________________________________________ 3

PublicMeetings__________________________________________________________________________________________ 7

RTPOCommitteeStructure_____________________________________________________________________________ 8

ThisdocumentproducedbyBuckeyeHills–HockingValleyRegionalDevelopmentDistrict,inpartnership

withtheOhioDepartmentofTransportation.

December2013

Pleasedirectallquestionsandcommentsregardingthisdocumentto:

TransportationPlanningManager

P.O.Box520

Reno,Ohio45773

V740.374.9436F740.374.8038

www.buckeyehills.org

INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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IntroductionandAcknowledgements

TheBuckeyeHills-HockingValleyRegionalDevelopmentDistrict(BH-HVRDD) assistslocalcommunities,

andworkscooperativelytoimprovethequalityoflifefor residentsintheregion.Asavoluntaryorganization

oflocalgovernmentpolitical subdivisions,BuckeyeHillsserveseightcountiesinsoutheasternOhio(Athens,

Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington),securingfinancial resourcesandtranslating

ideasintoaction.

BuckeyeHillsassistscommunitiesinidentifyingurgentneedswhileassistinginsecuringgrant/ loanfundsto

improveinfrastructureandtheoverallqualityoflifefor localresidents.Thestaffoftenactsasthe'adjunct

staff'forcommunitiesof theDistrictbyprovidingtechnicalassistance,grantwriting,project administration,

andotherassistanceserviceswhichmayotherwisebelacking.

Since1968,BuckeyeHillshassecuredover$500millioninfundingforeducation, healthcare,infrastructure,

training,andsocialserviceprogramsintheregion.

Fromreachingouttotheregion’saginginneedofin-homeassistance,providing communitieswithplanning

support,orservingasadvocatesatthestateand nationallevel,theprofessionalstaffatBuckeyeHillsserves

withdedicationandcompassion.

VISION STATEMENT

Theeffectiveutilizationofpublicandprivateresourcesforanimprovedqualityof lifeforourconstituents.

MISSION STATEMENT

BuckeyeHillswillimprovethesocioeconomicconditionsoftheregionby promotingtheinterestsandneeds

ofourconstituentstopersonsandagencies empoweredtocreatepositivechange.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

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ProgramBackgroundandPurpose

Themostrecentsurfacetransportationbill,MovingAheadforProgressinthe21stCentury(MAP-21)wassignedinto

lawonJuly2,2012.LanguagefromMAP-21influencedtheOhioDepartmentofTransportation(ODOT)tocreate

theRegionalTransportationPlanningOrganization(RTPO)pilotprogramtoexpandtransportationplanning

activitiesinthestate.Inordertofacilitatetheexpandedtransportationplanningactivities,ODOThas

designatedruralmulti-countyplanningagenciesasRegionalTransportationPlanningOrganizations

(RTPOs)toprovideamechanismforruralcommunitiestoparticipateinthetransportationplanningprocess.

ThepilotprogramincludesthefollowingactionitemstobeundertakenbyBuckeyeHills:

• Theformationofthreetransportationrelatedadvisorycommittees–Policy,Technical,andCitizens,to

provideinputthroughouttheplanningprocess;

• Thecreationandadoptionofapublicparticipationplan;

• Thecreationandadoptionofacomprehensiveregionaltransportationplaninclusiveofallmodesof

transportation;

• Themoderationofacontinuousandcomprehensivepublicparticipationprocess,whichwilllastthe

durationofthepilotprogramperiod.

Inordertofulfilltheroleofliaisonbetweenlocalgovernments, constituents,interestedparties,andour

partnersatthestateandfederallevel, BuckeyeHillswillutilizeadecisionmakingprocessthathasprovento

be successfulinotherregionalendeavorsinthepast.

Attheendofthetwoyearpilotprogram,thisPublicParticipationPlanwillbereviewedand/oramendedas

needed. Updatesmaytakeplaceatany timetoensurecompliancewithsurfacetransportationlegislation

thatmay supersedeorreplacethecurrentbill.

Thisdocumentwillprovidethestructurebywhichlocalgovernments,local electedofficials,businesses,

organizations,privatecitizens,andanyother interestedpartiesfromacrosstheregioncanparticipateinthe

continuous comprehensivetransportationplanningprocess.

BuckeyeHillswillabidebyallapplicableFederalandStateregulationsduringtheexecutionofthisprogram.

Theseregulationsinclude,butarenotlimitedto;TitleVIoftheCivilRightsAct,theAmericanwith

DisabilitiesAct,theFederalHighwayAdministration–publicinvolvementrequirements,theExecutiveOrder

requiringEnvironmentalJustice,andtheOhioPublicRecordsAct(sunshineLaw).

Note: Please refer to the Appendix for further information on legal and statutory requirements.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS

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PublicInvolvementProcess

PublicparticipationiskeytothesuccessoftheRTPOpilotprograminOhioandcentraltoinclusivelocal

governmentandstrongdecisionmaking.Maintaininganopenandflexiblepublicparticipationprocesswill

promotecollaborationbetweenallpartiesandmitigatestakeholderalienation.Thisdocumentandthe

activitiesdescribedwithinwillproducealastingcontributiontothewell-beingofourneighborhoods,

cities,counties,andtheregionthroughcollaborativegoalsetting,analysis,andpolicydecisions.

OBJECTIVES

1. EnsurethatstakeholdersareidentifiedandgiventheopportunitytobecomepartofBuckeye

Hills’transportationplanningprocessthroughavarietyofmethods.

2. Utilizeavailablemediaoutletsforwidecirculationofpublicmeetingnotices,plandocuments,

andpublicationavailability,toprovidenoticeofpubliccommentperiodsaswellasanyother

timelyinformationregardingthetransportationplanningprocess.Theseoutletswillinclude

butarenotlimitedto;television,radio,newspapers,newsletters,andinternetwebsites.

3. Providetransparencyofallinformationgatheredanddevelopedduringthetransportation

planningprocess.

Iden�fy and Engage Stakeholders

Publicinvolvementisanopportunityforthepublictopositivelyinfluencetransportationdecisionmaking.

BuckeyeHillswillworkwithitscommittees,staff,boardrepresentatives,members,andotherpartnersto

ensurethattheneedsofallsegmentsofthepopulationarerepresentedinthiseffort.Stakeholderinterest

inthisprocesscanbepublic,private,orprofessional,andrepresentativeofanytransportationmode.In

ordertofacilitatecollaborationinimplementingtransportationimprovementsitistheresponsibilityof

BuckeyeHillstoprovidegovernment,industry,andcitizenswiththeinformationneededtounderstand

whattheproblemsare,whatimprovementsarenecessary,whattheeffectswillbe,andwheneachelement

oftheprogramwillbereadyforpublicuseand/orinput.

Duringthestakeholderidentificationprocess,itisimportanttoidentifylow-income,minority,elderly,and

disabledpopulationswithintheregion.Ensuringthattheplanningprocessdoesnotresultin

disproportionatenegativeimpactsforthesepopulationsiscalledEnvironmentalJustice.Inorderto

accuratelycommunicatethestateandexistenceofEnvironmentalJusticepopulationswithintheregion,a

seriesofGISmapshavebeencreatedutilizingcurrentpopulationandhousinginformationfromtheU.S.

CensusBureau.Thesemapsillustratetherelativelocationsandtheregionaldistributionsofthefollowing

citizenry–minorities,seniors,impoverishedindividuals,andtotalfactorsinallgroups.Thetablebelow

illustratessomeoftheEnvironmentalJusticestatisticsfortheregion.


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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: REGIONAL TOTALS AND PERCENTAGES

DESCRIPTION INDIVIDUALS OVER 65

MINORITY INDIVIDUALS

INDIVIDUALS IN POVERTY

RegionalTotal 37,400 11,452 29,920

Pct.OfPopulation 14.39% 4.41% 11.51%

Source: 2011 ACS 5 Year Estimate (2007-2011)

ComparingtheseregionalaveragestothevaluesfoundinCensusBlockGroupsintheregionfoundthat93,

or43.9%,oftheregion’s212BlockGroupsareovertheregionalaverageforindividualsover65yearsof

age;76,or35.8%,areovertheregionalaverageforminorityindividuals;and88,or41.5%,areoverthe

regionalaverageforindividualsinpoverty.Intotal,189ofthe212totalBlockGroupsintheregionwere

aboveaverageinatleastonefactor,106wereaboveaverageinatleasttwofactors,and26wereabove

averageinallthreefactors.Forreference,thepopulationoftheBuckeyeHillsregionduringthetime

reflectedforthedataabovewas260,054.

Anyactivitiesundertakenaspartof,orresultingfromtheRTPOpilotprogramwilltakeallavailablesteps

tominimizeanydisproportionatenegativeimpactstoareaswithidentifiedEnvironmentalJusticefactorsin

theregion.

ForfurtherinformationaboutEnvironmentalJusticeregulations,pleasevisitthelinkbelowontheFederal

Highwaywebsite;

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/environmental_justice/ej_at_dot/order_56102a/index.cfm

Media Outlets for Wide Circula�on of Informa�on

Meetingnotices,pressreleases,noticesofplandocumentsandpublications,andinvitationstosubmit

commentswillbepublishedinnewspapersofcirculationandothermediaoutletsintheeightcounty

regiontoprovideinformationtothepublic.InformationregardingmediaoutletsintheBuckeyeHills

regionisfoundbelow.

COUNTY RADIO TELEVISION NEWSPAPERS Athens WATH AM 970

WXTQ FM 105.5 WOUB FM 91.3 WOUC FM 89.1 WOUZ FM 90.1 WSEO FM 107.7 WJKW FM 96.9 WYWH FM 104.5 WEAK FM 106.7

WOUB TV Columbus WBNS Columbus WCMH Columbus WSYX Columbus WTTE

Athens Messenger Athens News OU Post

Hocking WKNA FM 98.3 WLOH FM 99.3 WWTL FM 106.3

Columbus WBNS Columbus WCMH Columbus WSYX

Logan Daily News


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WLGN AM 1510 Columbus WTTE Meigs WNTO FM 93.1

WVRR FM 97.1 Parkersburg WTAP Huntington WOWK Huntington WSAZ Charleston WCHS Charleston WVAH

Daily Sentinel

Monroe WBVN FM 93.5 Parkersburg WTAP Wheeling WTRF Steubenville WTOV

Monroe County Beacon

Morgan WOUZ FM 90.1 WJAW FM 100.9

Parkersburg WTAP Zanesville WHIZ

Morgan County Herald

Noble WWKC FM 104.9 WILE FM 97.7

Parkersburg WTAP Zanesville WHIZ

Journal & Noble County Leader

Perry WWJM FM 105.9 Zanesville WHIZ Columbus WBNS Columbus WCMH Columbus WSYX Columbus WTTE

Perry Tribune

Washington WVV FM 96.1 WCMO FM 98.5 WDMX FM 100.1 WHNK AM 1450 WLTP AM 910 WNUS FM 107.1 WMOA AM 1490 WVRB FM 102.1 WVVV FM 96.9 WRZZ FM 106.1 WXIL FM 95.0 WHBR FM 103.1 WGGE FM 99.0 WADC AM 1050 WVNT AM 1230 WMRT FM 88.3 WRRR FM 93.0

Parkersburg WTAP Huntington WOWK Huntington WSAZ Charleston WCHS Charleston WVAH

Marietta Times Marietta A.M. The Anchor

Informationregardingthetransportationprogramwillalsobedisseminatedusingotherformsof

communicationincludingpublicmeetings,conferencecalls,webinars,oneononepresentations,

newsletters,flyers,agencywebsites,aswellassocialmediaoutlets.

Programnoticesmayalsobepostedatvariouscommunitygatheringplacessuchasvillageoffices,senior

centers,andothercommunitylocationsinordertoensurethewidestpossiblelevelofcommunication.

Advocacygroupsandotherregionalpartnersmaybeutilizedtohelpengagetheirrespectiveconstituencies

inRTPOplanningprocesses.

Publicmeetingnotices,andothernoticesseekingpubliccommentwillbepublishedatleast15daysprior

tothemeetingdateorendofthecommentperiod.Allnoticeswillincludeataminimumthedate,time,and

locationofmeetings;ordates,times,addresses,andotherinformationwheredocumentswillbeavailable


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forrevieworcomments.Followingpublicmeetingsorotherpublicnotices,individualswillbegiven45

daysfromthedateofthenoticebeingpublishedtocommentondocumentsorplanspresented.

Duringallcommentperiods,physicalcopiesofdocumentsandplanswillbemadeavailableforpublic

reviewatlibraries,countycourthouses,ODOTdistrictofficesandBuckeyeHills’offices.Electroniccopies

willbeavailableontheBuckeyeHillswebsiteatwww.buckeyehills.org.Commentsmaybesubmittedon

BuckeyeHills’website(www.buckeyehills.org),byelectronicmail,orUSmail.Writtencommentsmayalso

bedeliveredinpersontotheBuckeyeHillsoffice.AllcommentsshouldbeaddressedtotheTransportation

PlanningManager,P.O.Box520,Reno,Ohio45773.

Transparency of Informa�on

Alldocuments,plans,maps,tables,commentsandotherinformationgatheredorcreatedaspartofthis

projectareavailableforpublicreviewuponrequest.Allrequestsforcopiesorduplicationofmaterials

mustbeprovidedinwritingandmustrefertoinformationthatisalreadyinexistence.Requestsshouldbe

addressedtotheBuckeyeHillsTransportationPlanningManager.BuckeyeHillsstaffwillrequirea

reasonableamountoftime(upto10businessdays)torespondtoanyrequest.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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PublicMeetings

AllpublicmeetingsheldaspartoftheRTPOpilotprogramwillbefreeandopentothepublic.Asign-in

sheetwillbeprovidedtoallowparticipantsleavetheirnameandcontactinformationinordertofacilitate

communicationbetweenthemselvesandBuckeyeHillsstaff.Attendeesatpublicmeetingswillbegiven

opportunitiestoprovidecommentsdirectly,inwriting,orthroughinteractivemethodssuchasthe

completionofsurveys,viewingandeditingofmaps,andanyothermethoddeemedeffectivebyBuckeye

Hillsstaff.Handoutsandothermaterialsmaybeprovidedifnecessary.Ifthemeetingisformaloriftimeis

limited,participantswhowishtospeakmaybetimelimitedasnecessarytoensurethatallstakeholders

havetheopportunitytocommentonplansordocumentation.BuckeyeHillswillcontinuetoencourage

municipalitiesandstateagenciestocoordinatetheiroutreachactivities,whenpossible,withrelevant

BuckeyeHillsmeetingstoconsolidateandenhancepublicoutreachopportunities.

RTPO COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

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RTPOCommitteeStructure

Inordertofacilitateinputduringthetransportationplanningprocess,BuckeyeHillswillconveneand

maintainthreestandingtransportationrelatedcommittees:

• PolicyCommittee

• TechnicalAdvisoryCommittee

• CitizensAdvisoryCommittee

Thesecommitteeswillprovideinput,advice,andoversighttoBuckeyeHills’staffastheRTPOpilot

programactivitiesarecarriedout.

TheTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeandtheCitizensAdvisoryCommitteewillmeetquarterlyataminimum.

ThePolicyCommitteewillmeetonthefirstFridayofeachmonth,coincidingwiththeBuckeyeHills

ExecutiveCommittee.Additionalmeetingsofeachcommitteecanbeheldifcircumstancesrequire.

Meetingsaregenerallyexpectedtolastonetotwohours.

Aconceptualdiagramillustratingtheactivitiesofthecommittees isshownbelow:


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POLICY COMMITTEE

ThePolicyCommitteewillconsistofBuckeyeHills’existingExecutiveCommittee.Asestablishedinthe

bylawsofBuckeyeHills,theExecutiveCommitteeconsistsofatotalof15persons. Themembersare

composedof2/3dulyelectedpublicofficialsand1/3privatecitizenswhoareneitherelectpublicofficialsof,

noremployeesof,ageneralpurposeunitofgovernment. Eachcountyshallappointanelectedpublicofficial

andanalternate,withthemayorsortheirdesignatedalternatesofthedistricts’twolargestcities,servingon

theExecutiveCommittee.AtnotimeshallanycountyhavemorethantworepresentativesontheExecutive

Committee. MembersoftheExecutiveCommitteeshallremainmembersofthePolicyCommitteeforthe

durationoftheirtermwithBuckeyeHills. RemovalorresignationfromtheExecutiveCommitteeconstitutes

simultaneousremovalfromtheRTPOPolicyCommittee.

Thiscommittee,uponrecommendationsfromtheTechnicalAdvisoryandthe CitizensAdvisorycommittees,

cantakeactiononitemsrelatedtotransportation policyortransportationactivitiesbeingundertakenby

BuckeyeHillsaspartoftheRTPOprogram. ThePolicy Committeewillberesponsibleforthefinalreview

andadoptionofallRTPO planningdocuments.Apermanentstandingagendaitemhasbeenaddedtothe

ExecutiveCommitteeagendaforRTPOrelatedbusiness. TheBuckeyeHillsExecutiveCommitteemeetsthe

firstFridayofeverymonthattheBuckeyeHills officesinMarietta,Ohio. Allmeetingsadvertisedwithinthe

regionarefree andopentothepublic.

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

TheTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeisformedtoprovidespecifictechnicalinputontopicssuchasdesign

standards,bestpractices,materialsinput,constructionorengineeringtechniques,andotherdetailrelated

informationthatwillbeofusetoBuckeyeHillsstaffastheycompletethecomprehensivetransportation

planfortheregion.Membersofthiscommitteewillgenerallybeindividualswithrelevantexperiencethat

istechnicalinnaturewhocanserveassubjectmatterexpertsinanymodeoftransport.

TheTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee(TAC)willbeinitiallycomprisedofmembersoftheOhioPublicWorks

CommissionDistrict18ExecutiveCommittee.Additionalstakeholderswillbeappointedtoensureall

modesoftransportationarerepresented.AllrecommendationsmadebymembersoftheTechnical

AdvisoryCommitteewillbepresentedtothePolicyCommitteeandrelevantBuckeyeHills’staff.

MembersoftheTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeareaskedtoserveatwoyeartermofservice.Thereisno

limitonhowlongamembermayserveaslongastheyremainactiveandingoodstandingwithother

membersandBuckeyeHillsstaff.Membersofthiscommitteecanberecommendedbymembersofthe

PolicyCommittee,localelectedofficials,orBuckeyeHills’staff.Resignationfromthecommitteewillbe

acceptedinwriting30dayspriortoameetingofthecommittee.Thiscommitteewillmeetquarterly,with

regularcommunicationtakingplaceviaemail,webconference,telephone,andphysicalmail.Typical

meetingsareexpectedtolastonetotwohours.Additionalmeetingscanbeheldtosatisfymemberissues

ortoaddressspecialissuesthatmayariseduringtheprogram.


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Membership Goals

CurrentmembersoftheOhioPublicWorksCommissionDistrict18ExecutiveCommittee(withthe

exceptionofBelmontandMuskingumcounties)willinitiallyserveasmembersoftheTechnicalAdvisory

Committee.Thiscommitteeistypicallycomposedofcountyengineers,township,andvillage

representativesfromacrosstheregion.

Movingforward,theTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteewillbecomprisedofmemberswiththefollowing

qualifications:

• Onerepresentativeordesigneefromeachcountyengineeringdepartment.

• Atleastonerepresentativewithrelevantengineering,planning,orprofessionalexperience,withagoal

ofhavingallmodesoftransportationrepresentedincludinghighway,bicycle/pedestrian,rail/freight,

maritime,aviation,andtransit.

• OnerepresentativefromCity(orVillage)SafetyService,Planning,orEngineering.

• AtleastonecurrentlyservingMayorortheirdesignee.

• AtleastoneCountyCommissionerortheirdesignee.

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

TheCitizensAdvisoryCommitteeisformedtoallowcitizenswhoareinterestedintransportationplanning

activitiesanopportunitytoprovideinputontheplanningprocess.Membersofthiscommitteewill

representcontingentsofthepopulationintheregionincludingneighborhoodgroups,clubsandenthusiast

groups(suchashikingormountainbiking),specialinterestgroups(suchaswildlife,agricultural,and

conservationgroups),oranyotherengagedcitizenswhohavetransportationinterests.

Itisourgoaltorepresentasmanymodesoftransportationonthiscommitteeaspossible,withagoalof

havingeachcountyrepresentedbyatleastonemember.Allrecommendationsmadebymembersofthe

CitizensAdvisoryCommitteewillbepresentedtothePolicyCommitteeandrelevantBuckeyeHills’staff.

MembersoftheCitizensAdvisoryCommitteewillbeaskedtoserveatwoyeartermofservice.Nolimitwill

besetonhowlongamembermayserveaslongastheyremainactiveandingoodstandingwithother

membersandBuckeyeHillsstaff.Resignationfromthecommitteewillbeacceptedinwriting30daysprior

toameetingofthecommittee.Thiscommitteewillmeetquarterly,withregularcommunicationtaking

placeviaemail,webconference,telephone,andphysicalmail.Typicalmeetingsareexpectedtolastoneto

twohours.Additionalmeetingscanbeheldtosatisfymemberissuesortoaddressspecialissuesthatmay

ariseduringtheprogram.

Membership Goals

• Onerepresentativefromtransportationdisadvantagedorenvironmentaljusticepopulations.

• Atleastonerepresentativefornon-highwaymodesoftransportationincludingbicycle/pedestrian,

rail/freight,maritime,aviation,andtransit.


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• Atleastonerepresentativefromanagriculturalorganization(i.e.NationalFarmersOrganizations,

FarmBureau,DepartmentofAgriculture,orotherForestryinterests).

• Atleastonerepresentativefrombusiness,commerce,realestate,economicdevelopment,orother

planningorganizations.

• Atleastonerepresentativefromatransportationproviderorganization.

• Atleastonerepresentativefromconservationgroups,environmentaladvocacyorganizations,outdoor

recreation,watershedprotectionorothersimilargroups.

GENERAL MEETING INFORMATION

CommitteemeetingswillgenerallybeheldattheBuckeyeHillsofficesinMarietta,Ohio.Ifneededor

desiredmeetingscanbeheldatalternatelocationstoallowforadditionalparticipationortofacilitate

specialpresentationstocommitteemembers.Meetingtimeswillbedictatedbytheavailabilityof

memberstoattendandparticipate.Allcommitteemeetingdates,times,andlocationswillbepostedonall

agencywebsitesandsocialmedia.

PUBLIC

PARTICIPATION PLAN

APPENDIX

This plan completed by the Buckeye Hills – Hocking Valley Regional

Development District as part of the RTPO Pilot Program funded by the Ohio

Department of Transportation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents

RTPOResolution_________________________________________________________________________________________ 1

EnvironmentalJusticeMaps____________________________________________________________________________ 2

StateandFederalRequirements________________________________________________________________________ 7

RTPO RESOLUTION

Page1

RTPOResolution

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MAPS

Page2

EnvironmentalJusticeMaps

InordertohelpidentifyEnvironmentalJusticefactorsandaffectedareasintheBuckeyeHillsregion,the

followingmapswerecreated:

• HighConcentrationsofMinorities

• HighConcentrationsofElderly

• HighConcentrationofPoverty

• TotalFactorsinBlockGroups

AdditionalmapsandinformationareavailableontheBuckeyeHillswebsiteatwww.buckeyehills.org.For

specificquestionsanddatarequestspleasecontact:

GISSpecialist

P.O.Box520

Reno,Ohio45773

V740.374.9436F740.374.8038

www.buckeyehills.org


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Page4


Page5


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STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

Page7

StateandFederalRequirements

THE OHIO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT

TheOhioPublicRecordsAct,commonlyknownastheSunshineLaw,isbasedon theUnitedStates’historical

principlethattherecordsofgovernmentare“the people’srecords.”ThePublicRecordsActprovidescitizens

withstepstotakein ordertorequestrecordsfromanypublicofficeinOhiowhileprotectingspecific types

ofrecordsfromrelease.Thisactalsoestablishesalegalprocesstoenforce compliancewhenarequester

feelsthatapublicofficehasfailedtosatisfyits publicrecordsobligations.(O.R.C.Chapter149.)

Inordertofosteropen,transparentandaccountablegovernment,citizenshave thefollowingrightsunder

Ohio’sOpenRecordsLaw:

• Therighttorequestpublicrecordswithoutprovidingyournameorthe reasonforyourrequest.

• Therighttomakeapublicrecordsrequestorallyorinwriting.

• Therighttopromptlyinspectpublicrecords,whileallowingtheofficein questiona“reasonable”

amountoftimetoretrieve,reviewandredactthe requestedrecords.

• Therighttoreceivecopiesofpublicrecordsatcost.

• Therighttogetcopiesofpublicrecordsonpaper,onthemediumonwhich theyarekeptoronanyother

mediumyourequest(acompactdisc,for example),ifthekeeperoftherecordsdeterminesthatcanbe

done reasonablyaspartofnormaloperations.

• Therighttoanexplanationifanypartofyourpublicrecordsrequestisdenied.

• Therighttorevisearequestthattherecipientdeterminedwasoverly broadorambiguouswiththehelp

ofthatpublicoffice.

• Therighttohaveredactionsfrompublicrecordsmadeplainlyvisibleandto benotifiedofthe

redactions.

• Therighttofilealawsuitagainstapublicofficethatfailstocomplywiththe OhioPublicRecordsAct.

• Therighttorecovercourtcosts,reasonableattorneyfeesanddamagesif youwinaPublicRecordsAct

lawsuit.

AllaspectsoftheOhioPublicRecordsActwillbeobservedandenforcedduringthecompletionofRTPO

activitiesundertakenbyBuckeyeHills,itsstaff,andanypartiescontractuallyobligatedtoBuckeyeHills

duringtheprojectperiod.

TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT

TitleVIoftheCivilRightsActof1964protectsindividualsfromdiscriminationonthebasisoftheirrace,

color,ornationaloriginbygovernmentagenciesandprogramsthatreceivefederalfinancialassistance.


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Therearemanyformsofillegaldiscriminationbasedonrace,color,ornationaloriginthatcanlimitthe

opportunityofminoritiestogainequalaccesstoservicesandprograms.

Forexample,inoperatingafederallyassistedprogram,arecipientcannot,onthebasisofrace,color,or

nationalorigin,eitherdirectlyorthroughcontractualmeans:

“No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from

participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity

receiving federal financial assistance.”

• Denyprogramservices,aids,orbenefits;

• Provideadifferentservice,aid,orbenefit,orprovidetheminamanner differentthantheyareprovided

toothers;

• Segregateorseparatelytreatindividualsinanymatterrelatedtothe receiptofanyservices,aid,or

benefit.

AllaspectsoftheCivilRightsActwillbeobservedandenforcedduringthecompletionofRTPOactivities

undertakenbyBuckeyeHills,itsstaff,andanypartiescontractuallyobligatedtoBuckeyeHillsduringthe

projectperiod.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

"Each Federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and

addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its

programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations."

ExecutiveOrder12898,FederalActionstoAddressEnvironmentalJusticeinMinorityPopulationsand

Low-IncomePopulations,1994.

PublicparticipationintheBuckeyeHillsRTPOprogramwillalsotakeinto considerationPresidential

ExecutiveOrder12898regardingEnvironmental Justice. Thisorderensuresthefairtreatmentand

meaningfulinvolvementof peopleofallraces,cultures,andincomewithrespecttodevelopment,

implementationandenforcementofenvironmentallaws,regulations,programs, andpolicies. Fair

treatmentmeansthatnoracial,ethnicorsocioeconomicgroup shouldbearadisproportionateshareofthe

negativeenvironmentalconsequencesresultingfromtheoperationofindustrial,municipal,and commercial

enterprisesandfromtheexecutionoffederal,state,local,andtribal; programsandpolicies. Thesenegative

consequencescaninclude,butarenot limitedto:

• Bodilyimpairment,infirmity,illness,ordeath;

• Air,noise,andwaterpollution;

• Soilcontamination;


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• Destructionordisruptionofman-madeornaturalresources;

• Destructionordiminutionofaestheticvalues;

• Destructionordisruptionofcommunitycohesionoracommunity's economicvitality;

• Displacementofpersons,businesses,farms,ornonprofitorganizations;

• Adverseemploymenteffects.

BuckeyeHillsviewsEnvironmentalJusticecomplianceasmorethanasetoflegalandregulatory

obligations.Properlyimplementedenvironmentaljusticeprinciplesandproceduresimprovealllevelsof

transportationdecisionmaking.DuringthecompletionofRTPOactivities,BuckeyeHillswill:

• Supporttransportationdecisionsthatmeettheneedsofallpeople.

• Designtransportationfacilitiesthatfitharmoniouslyintoexistingcommunities.

• Strengthencommunity-basedpartnershipsinordertoprovideallpopulationswithopportunitiesto

learnaboutandimprovethequalityoftransportationintheirlives.

• Partnerwithotherpublicandprivateprogramstoleveragetransportationrelatedresourcestoachieve

acommonvisionforcommunities.

• Avoiddisproportionatelyhighandadverseimpactsonminorityandlow-incomepopulations.

• Minimizeand/ormitigateunavoidableimpactsbyidentifyingconcernsearlyintheplanningphaseand

providingoffsettinginitiativesandenhancementmeasurestobenefitaffectedcommunitiesand

neighborhoods.

• Wheneverpossible,publicmeetingswillbeheldinlocationsconvenienttolow-incomeandminority

populationsandthatareaccessibletopeoplewithdisabilities.Theselocationsmayincludepublic

libraries,schools,communitycenters,andchurches.Agenciesandorganizationsthatrepresentthese

populationswillbegivenadequatenoticeofpublicmeetingstakingplaceintheirlocalareas.

ADA COMPLIANCE

TheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)of1990isacivilrightsstatutewhichprohibitsdiscrimination

againstpeoplewithdisabilitiesinallaspectsoflife.TheADArequiresfederallyassistedprogramstobe

accessibletopeoplewithdisabilitiesofalltypes.AllRTPOpublicmeetingsconductedbyBuckeyeHillswill

beheldatlocationswithaccessiblefacilitiesinordertoaccommodatepeoplewithmobilitylimitations.

Specialaccommodationswillbemadetoensurethatindividualswithcommunicativedisabilitiescan

participateinmeetings.BuckeyeHillsasksthatrequestsforspecialcommunicationsaccommodationsare

madeoneweekpriortothescheduledmeetingtimeinordertoallowforanynecessaryarrangementsto

memade.

AllaspectsoftheAmericanswithDisabilitiesActwillbeobservedandenforcedduringthecompletionof

RTPOactivitiesundertakenbyBuckeyeHills,itsstaff,andanypartiescontractuallyobligatedtoBuckeye

Hillsduringtheprojectperiod.

Documents

RTPO Public Participation Plan