Ferry Boat Feasibility Study

Chapter 9 - Public Involvement Activities

The public involvement activities associated with the Passenger Ferry Boat Feasibility Study were designed to broadly disseminate information and gather input from affected local, state, and federal agencies and jurisdictions, transportation service providers, and study area residents. Activities were targeted to specific audiences and included a variety of formal and informal activities. Public involvement activities were scheduled to ensure timely consideration of public and agency input with respect to the technical work conducted.

The communications program began at program initiation and continued throughout the duration of the study. Elements of the program included a mailing database, study brochure, regional market survey, technical information meeting, meetings with agency and government representatives, press advisories, newspaper advertisements, and a citizen information meeting.

An important component of the communications program was the development and maintenance of a study mailing database. The mailing database was used to facilitate communication between members of the study team and the public. The database included local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials; representatives from homeowner, business, community, and civic associations/groups; private sector and government employers; federal and state transportation, environmental, and planning agencies; alternative transit providers; private ferry operators; local transportation and planning agencies; media contacts; and individuals residing and working within Fairfax, Prince William, and Stafford Counties in Virginia; Prince George’s and Charles Counties in Maryland; and the District of Columbia. The project mailing list contained over 1,130 names and addresses.

The study team developed and published a study brochure in January 2000 (Appendix 9-1 contains a copy of the brochure). This brochure introduced the Passenger Ferry Boat Feasibility Study to the public, outlined the study purpose and need, reviewed and graphically depicted preliminary alternatives on a detailed map of the study area, noted previous ferry initiatives, announced the February 2, 2000 citizen information meeting, reviewed results of the regional market survey, and discussed how the public could participate in the study. The brochure was disseminated to all individuals listed on the study’s mailing database. Copies of the brochure were also available at the citizen information meeting.

Team members researched the study area demographics and developed the methodology and questionnaire for a regional market survey. The telephone survey was conducted within the study area, which included Fairfax, Prince William, and Stafford Counties in Virginia and Charles and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. A total of 600 people (18 years of age and older) were interviewed between December 6-10, 1999. (Appendix 9-2).

Results indicated that:

• 57% (339 of 600) of respondents said they commute or travel regularly to one or more of the named locations.

• 41% of the respondents who travel regularly to potential passenger ferry boat service destinations and who described themselves as being very likely to use the service said they would use the service daily.

• Of the respondents who commute regularly to potential passenger ferry boat service destinations and who would use the service daily: 42% said that fare levels are the most important factor, followed by travel time (29%) and safety (15%).

A Technical Information Meeting was conducted on January 19, 2000 at the Virginia Department of Transportation in Northern Virginia. Participants were personally invited to the meeting. Representatives from local and state government agencies and jurisdictions, alternative transit providers, government employers, and transportation planning agencies and commissions, from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia were in attendance. (Appendix 9-3).

With their personal invitation, participants received a meeting agenda and background information about the study. At the meeting, the project manager reviewed the scope of work, schedule, and potential ferry routings; distributed informational materials; and provided an opportunity for participant discussion and feedback. A copy of the Technical Information Meeting summary and a list of attendees was mailed to all participants after the meeting.

As part of the public involvement program, the study team met with representatives of local, state, and federal agencies and governments within the study area. At these meetings, the study team provided informational briefings regarding the status of the project and study findings. Meetings were held with:

• NVTC,

• PRTC,

• Prince William County,

• NVPDC,

• WMATA,

• Fort Belvoir,

• USDOT,

• TCC Citizen Advisory Committee,

• Navy Yard,

• Pentagon,

• Woodbridge Marina,

• Fort Washington Marina,

• Neabsco Creek Marina,

• Potomac Riverjets,

• Metromarine Holdings, Inc.,

• District of Columbia Department of Public Works, and

• District of Columbia Harbor Master.

At key milestones, such as project initiation and prior to the public meeting, the study team prepared press advisories for the Virginia Department of Transportation. The Department placed the advisories in local and regional media outlets. Several radio, television, and newspaper outlets provided coverage about the Passenger Ferry Boat Feasibility Study and public meeting. Copies of news articles resulting from this media coverage were circulated to study team members. (Appendix 9-4).

In addition to press releases advertising the February 2, 2000 public meeting, the study team prepared a camera-ready newspaper advertisement to publicize the meeting. The Virginia Department of Transportation placed the newspaper advertisement in local and regional newspapers within the study area.

The general public was invited to attend a citizen information meeting on February 2, 2000 to hear about the Passenger Ferry Boat Feasibility Study. The meeting was conducted at 7:30 PM at Belmont Elementary School in Woodbridge, Virginia. The meeting provided the public with an opportunity to view informational materials, speak with team members, and provide comments and suggestions.

Forty-three (43) people attended the meeting, including Supervisor Ruth Griggs of Prince William County, a representative from Congressman Thomas Davis’ office, appointed representatives from local citizen transportation advisory committees, and members of the press representing the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Potomac News, Free Lance-Star, and Daily Journal. Meeting participants came from Alexandria, Dumfries, Fredericksburg, Gainesville, Haymarket, Lake Ridge, Lorton, Manassas, Prince William, Springfield, Warrenton, and Woodbridge in Virginia, and Camp Springs and Fort Washington in Maryland. (Appendix 9-5).

The study team advertised the citizen information meeting through the brochure, newspaper advertisements, press releases, a Washington Post news article, and a personal invitation to key stakeholders representing various homeowner associations and civic, community, transportation, and special interest groups.

The formal presentation included information on the purpose and need, previous ferry initiatives, ferry market potential, alternative ferry studies, ferry travel forecasts, access and docking issues, operations on the Potomac River, ferry service plan, and public outreach efforts. Following the presentation, citizens engaged in a question and answer session and were able to view the study map, a graphical depiction of scheduled peak hour travel times, and a history of previous ferry initiatives. Attendees were encouraged to complete and return a comment sheet.

The study team prepared a meeting summary report, which included a list of meeting attendees, participants’ questions/answers, and a synopsis of comments received.