Community engagement to inform bus rapid transit and land use planning in the City’s most diverse area
In early 2023, the City of Fort Collins adopted a plan that guides recommendations for bus rapid transit service on North College Avenue, a rapidly growing area that is culturally and economically diverse. In partnership with Fehr & Peers, IBE designed and implemented a Public Involvement Plan and activities for the twelve-month planning effort. IBE elevated the voices of the entire community — particularly those who are historically underrepresented — including Hispanics, low-income residents, youth, people with disabilities, and older adults. As part of the work, IBE facilitated focus groups and workshops, collaborated with community-based organizations to ensure diverse input, designed messaging and public questionnaires, and supported City working groups and advisory committees. IBE facilitated conversations – at times contentious due to community concerns regarding land use and gentrification – and ultimately synthesized community-driven recommendations that guided the plan.
Key Outcomes
- Provided a robust, adaptive, inclusive outreach process for impacted populations
- Engaged community members in participating in important issues that impact their daily lives and advocating for themselves
- Documented public input and showed how the plan incorporated it
- Helped build community capacity for civic engagement
- Illustrated the level of public support for bus rapid transit service on North College Avenue
Deliverables
- Public Involvement Plan
- Public Involvement reports for three phases of engagement