Minutes - 11-3-14 Reg. Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

BK:00027 PG Section 1: Overview I. Introduction and Purpose The County of Lee divides this plan into two parts with the inclusion of a Limited English Proficiency Plan (LEP): Title VI (Environmental Justice) and the Public Involvement Process. Although they are separate, Environmental Justice and Public Involvement compliment one another in ensuring fair and equitable distribution of transportation services and facilities. Public participation is essential to the success of any public planning program or project. Without the involvement of local citizens, it is difficult to design a program that meets the needs of the public or to measure the project's success. Effective public involvement not only provides transportation officials with new ideas, but it also alerts them to potential environmental justice concerns during the planning stage of a project. Perhaps the most important element of public participation is to create a sense of ownership among the people, especially those who are often at the mercy of their surroundings. These reasons, combined with a national history of discrimination against persons on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, age, sex, disability, religion and economic status, has led federal and state governments to set requirements to ensure equity of public involvement in federally funded agencies and their associated organizations. It is through the details of these individual programs that the equity and democracy that we embrace in this country is exercised. Objectives 1. Comply with the public involvement and environmental justice requirements of the Federal and State regulations. The County of Lee is a recipient of Federal Financial Assistance for transit operations under the County of Lee Transit System. 2. Avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low- income populations. 3. Provide specific opportunities for local citizens and citizen -based organizations to discuss their views and provide input on the subject areas addressed in plans, projects or policies of. 4. Ensure full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision - making process. 5. Inform and educate citizens and other interested parties about ongoing County of Lee Transit System planning activities, and their potential role in those activities. II. Title VI Responsibilities and Objectives The principle of environmental justice in transportation planning ensures that transportation projects do not have a disproportionately negative impact on minority and low- income populations. The goal is to achieve environmental justice protection for all communities. For transportation, Title VI means assessing the nature, extent, and incidence of probable impacts, both negative and positive, from any transportation - related activity on minority, low- income and other disadvantaged populations.