The Viability of Public Hearings in Transportation Planning

Abstract

Despite the development of numerous new techniques of citizen participation, and continued criticism of public hearings, hearings are still the predominant vehicle for citizen involvement in transportation planning. To review the effectiveness of hearings more objectively, the study discussed in this article employed content analysis to examine the transcripts of more than 30 hearings conducted in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri during the design stage of proposed highway improvements. The resulting analysis assessed the level of citizen frustration evident at the meetings and provided support for a more positive view of public hearings or at least those conducted in the target area. The hearings reviewed invited participation by citizens with a wide range of interests and concerns, and they helped to further understanding of if not agreement on specific highway projects.