This document  is intended to outline the guidelines used by the Macon Area Transportation Study (MATS) for public participation.  Herein, is presented a background of our MATS public participation process, applicable legal requirements and an overview of our public involvement goals, objectives and participation techniques along measures for evaluation. 

Our Public Participation Plan has been structured to be innovative in design, creative in public interaction and packed with communitywide education and outreach. 

Background

The Macon Area Transportation Study (MATS) is conducted for the Macon Urban Area which encompasses the City of Macon, the County of Bibb, the Municipality of Payne City, and a portion of Jones County.  The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is responsible for conducting a comprehensive transportation planning process as required by the “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU) - enacted in 2005.  Within this study area, the MPO has been designated by the State as the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission with the Policy Committee of MATS being the forum for a cooperative decision-making process for the conduct of the study.  The Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission, subject to the control of the Policy Committee, has the primary responsibility for carrying out the Planning Work Program, Transportation Plan, and Transportation Improvement Program.

The efficient movement of both people and goods is essential to the economic health of any urban area, particularly a growing one as Macon.  Comprehensive community planning gives consideration to the interaction of land development and transportation facilities and promotes the most desirable pattern and character of urban growth.

Urban transportation planning is designed to develop and continuously evaluate short and long-range highway and transportation plans, which are soundly conceived to meet the goals and standards of the State and our urban community.

The comprehensive character of the planning process requires that the economic, population, and land use elements be included; that estimates be made of the future demands  for all modes of transportation, both public and private, for both persons and goods; that terminal and transfer facilities and traffic control systems be included in the inventories and analyses; and that the entire area which is expected to be urbanized within the forecast period be included.

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