Communication with stakeholders is an essential and never-ending process. Activity outside of status quo and the introduction of new concepts can be met with resistance, especially if there is a lack of understanding or available information on the issue. The underpinning assumption is that more people are affected by a partnership than just the public officials and the private sector. Open and candid communication with stakeholders of all types is paramount to achieving public acquiescence.
The Capital Beltway is widely used by a broad range of stakeholders. Various government entities, surrounding communities, first responders, businesses, and mass transit are just a few. Several published interviewees responsible for urban planning and project development discussed the historic lack of public acceptance for widening the Capital Beltway in Virginia. Concerns ranged from displacement (right-of-way), anxiety over large price tags, and general opposition from surrounding communities and environmental groups. In order to bolster support and educate stakeholders on the benefits of improving 14-miles of congested corridor, Fluor embarked on an outreach campaign that involved polling and community meetings. Fluor invested considerable time educating the public on the benefits of HOT lanes and succeeded in moving public opinion about the project from eight percent in 2002 to 54 percent approval in 2004.
While Fluor provided a lion's share of the initial outreach, the PPTA legislation mandates that the Commonwealth provide a conduit for the public to provide input and make comment. Through the PPTA and NEPA processes, there have been multiple points of access for the public to engage officials and express their sentiments. Responding to public comments, concerns, and preferences, changes were integrated into the project. This was especially apparent with the integration of the final phase of the Springfield interchange, right-of-way eminent domain reductions, and changes to the interchanges with I-66.
Virginia has actively engaged the media at each step and has maintained a website cataloging past news releases and documents pertinent to the project. Beginning in earnest with the changes to the Springfield Interchange and Woodrow Wilson Bridge, VDOT embarked on a decade-long public outreach campaign that encourages commuters to make informed travel decisions and assisting employers to facilitate rideshare and tele-work programs for their employees. Virginia has also collaborated with partners in transportation such as the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, Fairfax County DOT, rideshare agencies, police, and other regional transportation agencies to ensure that the final plan anticipates and addresses all traffic management issues. The state will also operate three storefront project information centers in the area to facilitate field inquires from the public and increase awareness. Finally, Fluor-Transurban launched their public information website to provide the public with a central, comprehensive source of information for the HOT lanes on the Beltway and I-95/395.