Public Comment Opportunities: 2019 Public Involvement Plan and Federal Certification
The SJTPO announces the release for public comment of a draft update to its Public Involvement Plan (PIP). The PIP outlines the requirements and best practices the organization will follow to ensure that plans and programs maximize the involvement of the public.
A 55-day public comment period for the draft PIP begins Monday, February 18, 2019 and concludes on Sunday, April 14, 2019. Comments may be submitted via the online comment form (www.sjtpo.org/pip or www.sjtpo.org/public-comment), email (pip@sjtpo.org), mail (782 South Brewster Road, Unit B6, Vineland, NJ 08361), fax (856-794-2549), Facebook (www.facebook.com/SJTPO), or Twitter (twitter.com/SJTPO). Additionally, a public meeting to receive comments is scheduled for Monday, March 25, 2019, beginning at 5:30 PM at Vineland City Hall in the 2nd floor Caucus Room (Directions).
Staff will review comments as they arrive and will address and incorporate the comments into the PIP to the greatest degree reasonably possible. The public comments and SJTPO responses will be included as an appendix in the final PIP.
The final PIP will reflect comments received and will be made available to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in mid-May 2019. The TAC will then make a recommendation to the Policy Board to approve the plan. Once approved, the PIP will be posted to the SJTPO website. This PIP will replace the previously adopted PIP. Staff will begin to use the 2019 PIP to guide public participation efforts. The date of final approval is anticipated to be late-May 2019.
The SJTPO will also participate in a Federal Certification Review in late March 2019. Federal Certification is a multi-agency activity led by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Authority (FTA) and is required every four years to assess SJTPO’s transportation planning process for compliance with federal requirements. The certification determination is essential as it is the basis for providing ongoing allocations of federal funds to SJTPO. Staff requests public comments on the current planning process.
A 51-day public comment period for Certification begins on Monday, February 18, 2019 and concludes on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Comments may be submitted via online comment form (www.sjtpo.org/public-comment), email (certification@sjtpo.org), mail (782 South Brewster Road, Unit B6, Vineland, NJ 08361), fax (856-794-2549), Facebook (www.facebook.com/SJTPO), or Twitter (twitter.com/SJTPO). Additionally, a public meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 25, 2019, beginning at 6:00 PM at Vineland City Hall in the 2nd floor Caucus Room (Directions) to gather comments and answer questions. The public will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from the Federal Highway and Federal Transit Administrations directly.
The SJTPO fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. SJTPO public meetings are always held in ADA accessible facilities and in transit-accessible locations when possible. Individuals who need accessible communication aids and services or other accommodations to participate in programs and activities are invited to make their needs known by calling the SJTPO office at (856) 794-1941. Please provide a 3 business day notice to adequately meet the request.