ABSTRACT
This chapter examines case studies of actual decision making and describes the trends that have changed the transportation planner's role from a primarily technical one to a combined technical-participatory one. The "situation" may include the community's usual channels and style of decision making, previous events, the seriousness of the anticipated impacts, the need to involve all impacted groups, and available funding and skills. Citizens come to the planning process as taxpayers, voters, transportation users, and adversely or beneficially impacted residents. Land-use agencies are concerned with the growth patterns that may be stimulated by transportation improvements. The staff planner often has responsibilities to help organize citizen participation and meetings, and to employ suitable means of informing citizens and securing their contributions to the process. A small-group process in which ideas or proposals are generated nonvocally, then pooled, discussed, and ordered by priority. Advantages include the task force's specific, well defined objective, small size, agency staffing, and diverse viewpoints, which motivate participation.
