Community Work Group

Community Work Groups are typically comprised of a broad range of representatives from organized interest groups in the project area and other stakeholders.   Key responsibilities of community work groups are to:

• Monitor the project from a community perspective
• Highlight needs versus desires as well as potential issues and concerns specific to their interest
• Coordinate project activities for the local interest group they represent
• Disseminate information and generate project interest throughout the community
• Offer strategies to resolve issues between competing interests

Staff Work Group

Staff from local, state and federal implementing agencies and authorities, local jurisdictions, utility companies, affected resource agencies and other interested agencies will meet on a regular basis to assess project development and review technical findings.  In general, the Staff Work Group:

• Assists the team in reaching key project milestones (e.g. definition and evaluation of project alternatives during the PE/EIS phase)
• Conducts and reviews technical studies and
  staff recommendations
• Coordinates agency activities and
  review functions
• Coordinates and arranges briefings with county/city elected officials

Committee Facilitator

The responsibility of facilitating CAC meetings can be designated to the Consultant Project Manager, an independent facilitator, a public involvement specialist, or a member of the committee who is elected to the position.  In general, a committee facilitator:

• Keeps meeting topics focused and moving according to the agenda and ensuring that all points on the agenda are covered unless there is consensus from the Committee to omit or revise topics.
• Maintains balanced participation by encouraging all members to express their views
• Uses conflict resolution techniques to discuss differences of opinion without being disruptive and to achieve mutual understanding.

Project Manager

The Project Manager is the link between the CAC, the project team, and decision-makers.  The PM provides technical information about the project and guidance to the CAC.  In turn, the CAC offers suggestions, thoughts, and concerns that should be brought to the table during the project development process. The Project Manager:

• Assists the Committee in the evaluation of the project in accordance with highway project development guidelines and design criteria
• Provides technical information to the CAC,  and as-needed invites technical experts from the team to brief CAC members on areas of concern.
• Provide owner perspective
• Communicates with CAC members and the project team between meetings as needed
• Updates the CAC on the progress of the project – schedule, milestones, future meetings, etc.
• Creates Meeting Reports and distributes them to the CAC and the project team

 

Additional information on how to establish a CAC, roles, responsibilities, and other public involvement techniques can be found in the USDOT FHWA manual: Public Involvement Techniques for Transportation Decision-making.  Available online at:  http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/pittd/cover.htm