Hybrid Engagement - New Normal

Explore innovative outreach strategies – grassroots engagement and virtual tools – and their application to build trust, counter the spread of misinformation, and reach diverse populations.

The presentation highlights two transportation projects that implemented novel outreach approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first was a flexible-fleet project led by SANDAG. The agency established a paid, social-equity working group of 12 community-based organizations (CBOs) – representing equity-focus communities across the San Diego region – to bring an equity lens into decision making. The CBOs reached vulnerable groups through online surveys and virtual workshops, gathering input to tailor the program to community needs with geocoded data.

The second was a contentious light-rail project in Los Angeles. The team adapted to virtual outreach and continued engagement during COVID surges by investing in 3D video, virtual walking tours and surveys, and ArcGIS StoryMap web tools. Once it was safe, the team held in-person events to gather information first hand.

NPC Peer Reviewers assigned this presentation a learning level of Intermediate. For more on learning-level descriptions, visit our General Information Page.