3. Public Involvement

3. Public Involvement

The development of Mobility 2050 was guided by a collaborative and comprehensive public engagement strategy led by FHI Studio – IMEG. The outreach effort was designed to reach a broad cross-section of the community through both in-person and digital methods. The public involvement approach was organized into four key categories:

Two (2) virtual policy committee meetings were attended on October 22, 2024 and April 22, 2025. During the first meeting the project team shared the public involvement approach, got feedback on the virtual workshop/survey. At the second meeting the project team shared survey results from the first month of responses and gave a general update on public involvement, schedule, and ideas for future pop-ups.

Four (4) virtual stakeholder meetings were scheduled to convene business owners, community organizations, transit providers, trail enthusiasts, bike/ped advocates, engineers, town planners and others. These discussions were designed to better understand the values, perceptions, transportation opportunities, and constraints as well as aligning with future plans, and trends that entities see as a need.

Four (4) total pop-up events were held across Ulster County on May 30th and May 31st. These pop-ups were designed to engage community members in convenient, informal settings such as festivals, transit hubs, and community gathering spots, to raise awareness about Mobility 2050 and gather input directly from residents.

An interactive online workshop and survey allowed participants to identify specific locations where transportation infrastructure is working well or causing issues using an interactive pin drop map. In addition, users took part in a budgeting exercise, allocating resources to transportation priorities they’d most like to see improved.

Summary of Public Involvement Results

Stakeholder Focus Groups Results

The stakeholder focus groups gave feedback on six major areas. These categories and their major themes and subjects are listed below. Please see p. 24 of the LRTP for a full summary of feedback received.

  • Transit and Mobility Enhancements
  • Complete Streets and Roadway Improvements
  • Urban Infrastructure and Land Use
  • Sidewalk and Accessibility Issues
  • Rail and Freight Considerations
  • Connectivity Gaps
  • Foundation and Usage
  • Infrastructure and Design Constraints
  • Connectivity and Access
  • Emerging Modes
  • Behavior and Accessibility
  • Mode Shift and Policy Goals
  • Service Frequency and Coverage
  • Bus Stop Clarity and Infrastructure
  • Transit Center Location
  • Security and Safety
  • Communication and Coordination
  • Parking Challenges
  • Rail Access
  • Access to Employment
  • Speed and Traffic Control
  • Enforcement and Education
  • User Responsibility and Behavior
  • Road Design Approaches
  • Air Quality
  • Urban Forestry and Greenery
  • Green Infrastructure
  • Road Design and Wildlife Impact
  • Road Surface Treatment Concerns

Virtual Workshop/Online Survey

The survey (in English and Spanish) was published on April 1st, 2025 and remained open through June 30th, 2025. A total of 250 people responded to the workshop portion of the survey, and we received 314 individual geocoded pin drops on the interactive map portion of the workshop. Participants were also given a budget of $100 to spend on different categories for each exercise. The results below reflect the categories that were given the most “money.”

  1. Expanded shoulders on rural roads
  2. Road surface repair
  3. Sidewalk repair
  4. Active transportation
  1. Increase bus service area
  2. Increase bus service frequency
  3. Regional bus service connections
  4. Bus shelter amenities
  • General themes and goals from feedback on a vision for the future of transportation in Ulster County.
  • The desire for expanded and improved public transportation options, including more bus routes, increased frequency, and better connectivity across all areas of Ulster County, including rural areas.
  • The focus is on creating a transportation system that is safe, reliable, and accessible for all residents, including the elderly and disabled.
  • There is a strong emphasis on reducing reliance on personal vehicles, promoting alternative modes of transportation such as walking, biking, and public transit.
  • There are also concerns about road safety, infrastructure maintenance, and the need for better pedestrian and bike infrastructure.
  • The overall vision is for a more sustainable, equitable, and people-focused transportation system that enhances quality of life in Ulster County
2. Vision, Goals and Objectives
4. Profile of the Region