US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

Stakeholder Collaboration


The transportation system is an integral part of the fabric of every community. Collaboration with community stakeholders provides transportation practitioners with information and understanding of an array of community needs and interests that may be impacted by transportation decisions. Transportation practitioners are aware of this reality; however, it can take time and significant effort to understand and consider the effects of transportation decision making on economic, environmental, and other community interests.

Stakeholders are groups or individuals who are interested in and potentially affected by the outcome of a transportation decision. Collaboration means inviting stakeholders to share their interests early in the process and maintaining engagement throughout. Collaborative decision making will keep stakeholders informed and engaged by providing timely feedback on the progress and the basis of decisions about their community's transportation system.

PlanWorks can help with stakeholder collaboration by presenting questions to consider, supporting data, and examples of success at key decisions. Use the Decision Guide image below to identify where collaboration with stakeholders is most important.

Hover over the highlighted Key Decisions to understand the specific relationship of stakeholder collaboration to the decision. Click on any highlighted Key Decision for more information about questions, data, and relationships that support this interface. Key Decisions that are greyed-out have no specific relevance to the individual application or topic area but are still accessible from this graphic.

LRP-1
This Key Decision is not associated with application
LRP-2
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/LRP-2

Invite stakeholders representing a broad array of perspectives to provide input on vision and goals for the community and transportation system.
LRP-3
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/LRP-3

Invite stakeholders to provide input to inform the development of criteria, methodology, and measures that will be used to evaluate the individual scenarios. Provide feedback to stakeholders on how their interests were incorporated into the evaluation.
LRP-4
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/LRP-4

Collect stakeholder perspective on transportation deficiencies, needs, and potential solutions.
LRP-5
This Key Decision is not associated with application
LRP-6
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/LRP-6

Gather and review strategies recommended by stakeholders
LRP-7
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/LRP-7

Review stakeholder feedback on scenarios being considered. Understand which scenarios stakeholders believe are missing or find undesirable, as well as those that best meet the community’s vision and goals.
LRP-8
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/LRP-8

Consider and address stakeholder input on the scenarios in selecting the preferred scenario. Provide feedback to stakeholders on the outcome and basis of the decision.
LRP-9
This Key Decision is not associated with application
LRP-10
This Key Decision is not associated with application
LRP-11
This Key Decision is not associated with application

PRO-1
This Key Decision is not associated with application
PRO-2
This Key Decision is not associated with application
PRO-3
This Key Decision is not associated with application
PRO-4
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/PRO-4

Obtain input from stakeholders on project priorities from the adopted plan scenario.
PRO-5
This Key Decision is not associated with application
PRO-6
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/PRO-6

Collect comments from stakeholders on Draft TIP prior to adoption. Provide basis for the adopted TIP, as needed.
PRO-7
This Key Decision is not associated with application
PRO-8
This Key Decision is not associated with application
PRO-9
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/PRO-9

Collect comments from stakeholders on the Draft STIP prior to approval. Provide feedback on approved STIP, as needed.

COR-1
This Key Decision is not associated with application
COR-2
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/COR-2

Solicit stakeholder input to identify problems along the corridor, how and where they travel, and what is important to them for consideration.
COR-3
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/COR-3

Collect stakeholder perspectives on the goals for the corridor for consideration by the partners. Develop justification for individual decisions, and communicate this to stakeholders.
COR-4
This Key Decision is not associated with application
COR-5
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/COR-5

Weigh stakeholder interests in developing evaluation criteria, methodology, and measures to compare solution sets. Provide feedback to stakeholders on how their interests were incorporated into the evaluation methods.
COR-6
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/COR-6

Invite stakeholders to provide input on potential solutions across the range of solution sets.
COR-7
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/COR-7

Identify solutions preferred by the stakeholders, those they consider undesirable, and issues that are not addressed by the solutions. Notify stakeholders of the preferred solution set.
COR-8
This Key Decision is not associated with application
COR-9
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/COR-9

Consider any new stakeholder input that may impact sequencing. If new information is incorporated, communicate the outcome of this decision to stakeholders.

ENV-1
This Key Decision is not associated with application
ENV-2
This Key Decision is not associated with application
ENV-3
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/ENV-3

Engage stakeholders for the first time in this phase on the need for the project. When purpose and need are approved, provide feedback to stakeholders as identified in the public involvement plan for the project.
ENV-4
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/ENV-4

Solicit stakeholder input on the proposed study area: what they value in the area, what is outside the area that should be considered, and any recommendations on changes to the study area.
ENV-5
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/ENV-5

Consider stakeholder interests and perspectives on characteristics that will demonstrate improvement when establishing evaluation criteria. Provide feedback to stakeholders on how their interests were incorporated into the evaluation methods, as appropriate.
ENV-6
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/ENV-6

Invite stakeholders to provide suggested solutions to address problems in the project area, and provide feedback on other proposed solutions.
ENV-7
This Key Decision is not associated with application
ENV-8
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/ENV-8

Collect stakeholder comments on alternatives before the Draft EIS is issued
ENV-9
This Key Decision is not associated with application
ENV-10
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/ENV-10

Evaluate the stakeholder perspective on the LEDPA/preferred alternative. Provide feedback to stakeholders regarding the decision reached.
ENV-11
This Key Decision is not associated with application
ENV-12
This Key Decision is not associated with application
ENV-13
https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworkst/DecisionGuide/Step/ENV-13

Collect final stakeholder input and notify individual stakeholders of Final EIS (FEIS) outcome, as needed.
ENV-14
This Key Decision is not associated with application