Public Participation Plan - Background

Public Participation Plan - Development

To better connect with the people of Butte County and meet federal requirements, BCAG developed an updated Public Participation Plan (PPP) in 2016. This plan outlines how BCAG involves the public in transportation planning and decision-making.

The PPP was created in response to the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which replaced earlier legislation known as SAFETEA-LU. Although the current law is the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, public involvement requirements remain largely unchanged.

MAP-21 emphasized the importance of public input, requiring that participation plans be developed in consultation with interested parties and offer meaningful opportunities for public comment. BCAG’s PPP reflects this commitment and serves as a guide for how we engage the community in shaping transportation projects and policies.

Objectives of the Public Participation Plan:

• Raise level of understanding of the transportation planning process in Butte County and identify how interested citizens can participate.
• Maximize opportunity for public involvement in the transportation process.
• Maintain contact with interested citizens and key stakeholders throughout the process of developing plans and projects.

We Want to Hear From You!
BCAG encourages community members to share ideas and feedback that can help improve our Public Participation Plan (PPP). Your input plays a vital role in shaping how we involve the public in transportation planning.

Consultation with Tribal Governments in Transportation Planning
BCAG has also developed a new Policy for Government-to-Government Consultation with Federally Recognized Native American Tribal Governments. This policy aligns with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Order 5301.1, which ensures that DOT programs and policies are responsive to the needs and concerns of Tribal Governments. The Order provides a comprehensive overview of relevant federal regulations and Executive Orders.

To learn more, you can view the full DOT Order 5301.1 here.

https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/env_topics/tribal/tribal_consultation_guidelines.aspx

BCAG is committed to meaningful consultation with Tribal Governments as part of its transportation planning process. Federal law—specifically Title 23 of the U.S. Code, Section 135 (e) and (f)—requires that the concerns of Tribal Governments be considered when developing transportation plans and programs.

In addition, 23 CFR 450.316 outlines specific requirements for Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) like BCAG when Tribal lands are included in the planning area. These regulations state:

• Section 450.316(c): If the planning area includes Tribal lands, the MPO must appropriately involve Tribal Governments in developing both the long-range transportation plan and the short-range Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
• Section 450.316(e): MPOs must, to the extent practicable, create a documented process that defines roles, responsibilities, and key decision points for consulting with Tribal Governments. This process may be included in formal agreements under Section 450.314.

For BCAG, this means involving Tribal Governments in the development of:

• The Regional Transportation Plan / Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) – a long-range vision for transportation and land use.
• The Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) – a short-range plan that programs federal transportation funding.

These efforts ensure that Tribal perspectives are considered and respected in shaping the region’s transportation future.

2022 PPP UPDATE

Help Shape BCAG’s Public Participation Plan

As BCAG develops the new 2024 Regional Transportation Plan / Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), we’re also updating our Public Participation Plan (PPP). Since the last PPP was adopted in 2019, public engagement has evolved significantly—especially in response to COVID-19 and related health concerns.

Virtual tools like Zoom, WebEx, and conference calls have become widely accepted ways to participate in public meetings. The updated 2022 PPP will reflect new guidance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Caltrans, and will incorporate these modern engagement methods.

We’re inviting the public to share ideas and suggestions to help improve the PPP. Your input is valuable and will help ensure that our outreach efforts are inclusive and effective.

The updated PPP is scheduled for adoption by the BCAG Board on April 28, 2022.
For questions or to provide feedback, please contact Ivan Garcia at the BCAG offices.

You can view the current 2022 PPP below.

• Appendix B - Outreach Efforts & Publication Listing (See below postings for outreach efforts)   
• Appendix C - Comments Received (none)   

APPENDIX B - Outreach Efforts & Publications Listing:

Chico Pics at Bethel AME Church

Con el desarrollo del nuevo Plan Regional de Transporte de largo alcance 2024 / Estrategia de Comunidades Sostenibles, BCAG está revisando nuevamente su Plan de Participación Pública (PPP).  Desde que se preparó la APP de 2019, la participación pública ha cambiado significativamente con COVID-19 y las posteriores preocupaciones de salud pública relacionadas con COVID.  Desde 2019, la participación pública remota con zoom, webX, llamadas de conferencia y otras medidas de protección de distancia social ha sido ampliamente aceptada.  La actualización de PPP de 2022 reflejará la orientación actualizada de FHWA y Caltrans.  BCAG está solicitando aportes del público sobre los cambios recomendados y las sugerencias a considerar. La APP 2022 está programada para ser adoptada por la Junta de BCAG el 28 de abril de 2022.  Por favor, póngase en contacto con Iván García en las oficinas de BCAG para cualquier pregunta o entrada.  El PPP actual de 2019 se publica a continuación.

Contact Us

If you have comments, questions or would like to participate in the development of BCAG's Public Participation Plan, please contact Ivan Garcia, Programming Manager at (530) 809-4616 or via e-mail at igarcia@bcag.org.
If you would like to receive updates and/or notifications, please send an e-mail to igarcia@bcag.org and be sure to include your:

•   Name
•   Mailing or E-mail Address
•   Daytime Phone Number