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 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
2. Vision, Goals and Objectives
4. Profile of the Region