The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Board today adopted  an update to the region’s Public Participation Plan, which outlines ARC’s policies and procedures for public participation in the region’s transportation planning process.

The public review and comment period runs through Oct. 18, 2025, with ARC Board approval expected in November.

The plan provides a set of preferred tactics and related tools designed to improve public participation efforts in the Atlanta region.

Recommended public participation tactics include blog posts, e-newsletters, community presentations, surveys, open houses, advisory committees, focus groups, and partnerships with local governments and community-based organizations.

The plan also suggests ARC explore innovative tools to reach members of the community. This includes providing childcare and food at in-person meetings, collecting stories through video diaries and interviews, compensating community-based organizations for providing expertise, and funding micro-grants for neighborhood-scale projects.

“Public engagement is absolutely essential to the development of an effective regional planning process,” said Anna Roach, ARC’s Executive Director & CEO. “This plan provides the strategies and related tactics that are needed to drive meaningful public participation, from all parts of our region.”

The recommended tools are aligned with a framework developed by the International Association of Public Participation that categories different levels of participation: Inform, Consult, Involve, Collaborate, and Empower.