Public Participation Plan

The Regional Transportation Council approved a Public Participation Plan [PDF] in November 2018 (the plan was updated in March 2020 and last updated in November 2022). This plan outlines the metropolitan planning organization’s responsibility to inform and involve individuals and communities. The plan discusses the principles, goals and strategies NCTCOG employs to broadly engage the diverse audiences living and working in North Texas.

The NCTCOG Transportation Department begins by adhering to federal requirements for public involvement and then goes beyond these requirements by finding new ways to engage the public in the transportation planning and programming process.

Public participation by NCTCOG is guided by four principles.

  1. Consistent and comprehensive communication
  2. Commitment to diversity and inclusiveness
  3. Collaboration with audiences and stakeholders
  4. Consultation with committees


In keeping with federal regulations, NCTCOG provides information in alternative formats or languages upon request.

We would love your feedback!

Public Comment Procedures

The Public Participation Plan also outlines procedures for seeking public comments on the following documents and presenting these comments to the Regional Transportation Council.

Comments relevant to and received during specific public comment periods are provided to the RTC in advance of any meetings where they are scheduled to take action on the relevant policy, plan or program. All comments received outside these formal public comment periods, regardless of the topic, are compiled into a monthly report and presented to the RTC in advance of its next regularly scheduled meeting. These comments are accessible to the public in the RTC meeting agendas, public meeting minutes and monthly comment reports on the NCTCOG website.

Public Participation Plan
Transportation Planning Action Minimum
Public Involvement Opportunity
Length of Comment Period Minimum Notification of Opportunity
Development or update of the Public Participation Plan One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 45 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Update to one or more Public Participation Plan appendices or legislative references in the document Proposed changes posted online for public review and comment at www.nctcog.org/input 45 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Typographic or grammatical correction None Not applicable Not applicable
Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
Transportation Planning Action Minimum
Public Involvement Opportunity
Length of Comment Period Minimum Notification of Opportunity
Development of the UPWP One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Modifications Recommendations posted online for public review and comment at www.nctcog.org/input 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)
Transportation Planning Action Minimum
Public Involvement Opportunity
Length of Comment Period Minimum Notification of Opportunity
Development of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan A public meeting shall be held at least 60 days prior to requesting RTC approval. A second public meeting will be held at least 30 days prior to RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days following each meeting
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update A public meeting shall be held at least 60 days prior to requesting RTC approval. A second public meeting will be held at least 30 days prior to RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days following each meeting
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Metropolitan Transportation Plan Amendment One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Metropolitan Transportation Plan administrative revisions Summary of modifications accessible from www.nctcog.org/input
for informational purposes.
Not applicable
  • Availability of information included on next notice for a public input opportunity
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
Transportation Planning Action Minimum
Public Involvement Opportunity
Length of Comment Period Minimum Notification of Opportunity
Development of the Transportation Improvement Program One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
TIP Revisions requiring Regional Transportation Council approval Recommendations posted online for public review and comment at www.nctcog.org/input 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
TIP Administrative Amendments Summary of modifications accessible from www.nctcog.org/input
for informational purposes.
Not applicable
  • Availability of information included on next notice for a public input opportunity
Project changes not requiring TIP modification (i.e. staff action) and modifications supporting previous RTC action None Not applicable Not applicable
Transportation Conformity
Transportation Planning Action Proposed Minimum
Public Involvement Opportunity
Length of Comment Period Minimum Notification of Opportunity
Transportation Conformity determination draft related to development of the Transportation Improvement Program or Metropolitan Transportation Plan One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Transportation Conformity determination draft related to update or amendment of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Transportation Conformity draft related to changes to the transportation system One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Transportation Conformity draft related to changes in the emissions budget of the State Implementation Plan and/or nonattainment area boundary changes Draft conformity determination and supporting data posted online for public review and comment at www.nctcog.org/input 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Transportation Conformity approval by federal partners None, final approval available at www.nctcog.org/conformity Not applicable
  • News release announcing federal approval

 
Federal Transit Administration Funding
Transportation Planning Action Minimum
Public Involvement Opportunity
Length of Comment Period Minimum Notification of Opportunity
Draft Programs of Projects for Urbanized Area Formula Program funds (includes Job Access / Reverse Commute projects) One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Funding recommendations for other Federal Transit Administration formula programs, e.g., Bus and Bus Facilities, Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities and State of Good Repair One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release
Annual Listing of Obligated Projects
Transportation Planning Action Minimum
Public Involvement Opportunity
Length of Comment Period Minimum Notification of Opportunity
Publishing of Annual Listing of Obligated Projects Review only at www.nctcog.org/annual Not applicable
 
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
Congestion Management Process
Transportation Planning Action Minimum
Public Involvement Opportunity
Length of Comment Period Minimum Notification of Opportunity
Development of the Congestion Management Process One public meeting shall be held at least 30 days prior to requesting RTC approval. At a minimum, the meeting will be recorded and posted online at www.nctcog.org/video. Whenever possible, a livestream will be provided as well. 30 days
 
  • Information sent to public involvement contact list
  • NCTCOG publication article
  • Social media
  • Newspaper ad, including minority publications
  • News release

Evaluation

The Public Participation Plan provides measures for evaluating the effectiveness of NCTCOG Transportation Department's public involvement activities regarding the transportation and air quality planning process. Evaluation helps staff understand how to better engage the public and allocate time and resources. Since 2019, NCTCOG has published a report summarizing the efforts for each fiscal year.

FY2020 Public Involvement Annual Performance Report [PDF]
FY2019 Public Involvement Annual Performance Report [PDF]