Public involvement and engagement were built upon previous MMT planning efforts, as well as leveraging relationships from recent transportation planning efforts, such as ConnectCOS.
Multiple strategies were employed to share information about the project, and receive feedback from key audiences, stakeholders, and the public.
Stakeholder Interviews
To begin the public involvement process, stakeholders were interviewed in December 2023 and January 2024 to understand their familiarity with the current transit system and what they believe is going well or needs improvement. The feedback shared during these interviews informed the technical process including the existing conditions and gap analysis. Table 1 summarizes the stakeholder interviewees and their affiliated organizations.
Table 1. Stakeholder Interviews
| Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Yolanda Avila | City of Colorado Springs City Council |
| Jessie Kimber | City of Colorado Springs Economic Development |
| Sharon Thompson | City of Fountain |
| Erin Maruzzella | Innovations in Aging |
| Jill Gaebler | Pikes Peak Housing Network Front Range Passenger Rail District Board Member |
| Jim Godfrey | Pikes Peak Rural Transit Authority Community Advisory Committee |
Additionally, a memo summarizing the stakeholder interviews is included as Appendix A.
Focus Groups
To engage various community leaders and organizations in the planning area, the project team hosted the following four focus groups:
- January 17, 2024, – On-Demand Travel Focus Group
- February 7, 2024, – Education Focus Group
- February 7, 2024, – Health and Human Services Focus Group
- February 7, 2024, – Business, Development, and Residential Focus Group
The On-Demand Travel Focus Group was an in-person event hosted at The Independence Center. The three focus groups on February 7, 2024, were virtual meetings. Table 2 summarizes the focus group participants, their organization, and which focus group they attended.
The goal of each focus group was to create a common understanding of the plans, to learn more about how the community utilizes transit, and to identify potential successes or improvements to inform plan recommendations and strategies. Feedback themes collected during each focus group informed the technical analysis including existing conditions and identifying gaps in the current system.
Additionally, a memo summarizing the stakeholder focus groups is included as Appendix B.
Table 2. Focus Group Participants
| Name | Organization | Focus Group |
|---|---|---|
| Cathly Buckley | Colorado College | Education |
| Catherine Duarte | Colorado Springs Housing and Urban Development | Business, Development, and Residential |
| CJ McCampbell | District 11 | Education |
| Isabel Robben | District 11 | On-Demand Travel |
| Marla Luckey | El Paso County Public Health | Health and Human Services |
| Marsha Unruh | Homefront Military Network | Business, Development, and Residential |
| Buddy Castor | N/A | Paratransit and Specialized Transportation Rider |
| Jeannette Fortin | N/A | Paratransit and Specialized Transportation Rider |
| Loretta Houseman | N/A | Paratransit and Specialized Transportation Rider |
| Mary Kim McCarthy | N/A | Paratransit and Specialized Transportation Rider |
| Toby Cotter | N/A | Paratransit and Specialized Transportation Rider |
| Skyler Rorabaugh | Pikes Peak | Business, Development, and Residential |
| Kevin Coleman | Pikes Peak School District | Education |
| Aaron Simeraro | Silver Key | Health and Human Services |
| Edgar Morales | The Independence Center | Paratransit and Specialized Transportation Rider |
| Mary Rose Evans | The Independence Center | Paratransit and Specialized Transportation Rider |
| Paul Spotts | The Independence Center | Paratransit and Specialized Transportation Rider |
| Scott Land | The Independence Center | Paratransit and Specialized Transportation Rider |
| Jim Spice | University of Colorado – Colorado Springs | Education |
Stakeholder Advisory Committee
Each plan had a dedicated Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which included a diverse representation of the boarder community. The project team engaged both stakeholder committees at key milestones throughout the project.
2050 Specialized Transportation Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee
The 2050 Specialized Transportation Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee also met twice throughout the plan development process. Stakeholders were identified and invited based on the plan’s boundaries and goals to represent a cross-section of specialized transportation providers, riders, and social services providers. Table 3 reflects the commitee roster. Additional stakeholders were invited to participate on the committee; however, the roster reflects active participants only.
The first committee meeting took place on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. The goal of the meeting was to create a common understanding of:
- Project goals and objectives
- Planning landscape and intersections
- Roles and expectations of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee members
- Stakeholder engagement conducted to date and what we’ve heard
- Existing conditions
- Project Schedule and major technical milestones
The second committee meeting took place on Thursday, April 9, 2024. The goal of the second meeting was to:
- Share a recap of the first meeting
- Discuss current specialized transportation issues, potential near term strategies, and long-term solutions
- Understand stakeholders’ priorities related to the draft strategies.
- Preview open house materials and discuss what else should be included.
Full summaries of each 2050 Specialized Transportation Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings can be found in Appendix C.
Table 3. 2050 Specialized Transportation Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee Roster
| Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Jenn Nimmo | CCHACares |
| Sharon Thompson | City of Fountain |
| Eric Esch | Envida |
| Gail Nehls | Envida |
| Sean Martin | Goodwheels |
| Sharon King | On-Demand Transportation Group |
| DeAnna Rumsey | PPACG Mobility Coordinating Committee |
| Raquel Dominguez | Resource Exchange Center Board |
| Aaron Simerone | Silver Key |
| Jason DeaBueno | Silver Key |
| Valerie Anders | Silver Key |
| Kathy Lowry | Teller Senior Coalition |
| Roni Gordon | Teller Senior Coalition |
| Phil Young | The Independence Center |
| Scott Land | The Independence Center |
| Matt Heafner | Transdev |
| Tom Lathrop | YMCA Colorado Springs Senior Center |
2050 Regional Transit Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee
The 2050 Regional Transit Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee met twice throughout the development of the plan. Stakeholders were identified and invited to the committee based on the plan’s boundaries and with the goal of representing a cross-section of jurisdictions, community organizations, state and county representatives, military installations, businesses, and educational institutions. Table 4 provides a list of committee members and their affiliated organizations. Additional stakeholders were invited to participate on the committee; however, the roster reflects active participants only.
The first committee meeting took place on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. The goal of the meeting was to create a common understanding of:
- Project goals and objectives
- Planning landscape and intersections
- Roles and expectations of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee members
- Stakeholder engagement conducted to date and what we’ve heard
- Existing conditions
- Project Schedule and major technical milestones
The second committee meeting took place on Thursday, April 9, 2024. The goal of the second meeting was to:
- Share a brief project update
- Explain the technical scenario development process
- Preview potential recommendations, investment options, and open house materials
- Understand the Stakeholder Advisory Committee members’ priorities related to the potential recommendations.
- Discuss the open house format and materials
Full summaries of each 2050 Regional Transit Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings can be found in Appendix D.
Table 4. 2050 Regional Transit Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee Roster
| Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Carlos Perez | Citizens Transportation Advisory Board |
| Jessie Kimber | City of Colorado Springs Economic Development Division |
| Catherine Duarte | City of Colorado Springs Housing and Community Vitality |
| Katie Sunderlin | City of Colorado Springs Housing and Community Vitality |
| Morgan Hester | City of Colorado Springs Long Range Planning |
| Gayle Sturdivant | City of Colorado Springs Public Works |
| Todd Frisbie | City of Colorado Springs Public Works |
| Sharon Thompson | City of Fountain |
| Juan Alvarez | City of Manitou Springs |
| Roy Chaney | City of Manitou Springs |
| Pete Zeitz | Colorado College |
| Emily Barden | Colorado Department of Transportation |
| George Gromke | Colorado Department of Transportation |
| Scott Skinner | Colorado Department of Transportation |
| Chris Padilla | Colorado Springs Airport |
| Chelsea Gondeck | Downtown Partnership |
| Tara McCarthy | PikeRide |
| Jim Godfrey | Pikes Peak Rural Transit Authority |
| Traci Marques | Pikes Peak Workforce Center |
| Darren Horstmeier | Schriever Space Force Base |
| Laura Zapien | TransDev |
| Salvador Pozos | TransDev |
| Hannah Parsons | Transportation Commission of Colorado |
| Amy Kelley | United States Air Force Academy |
| Matthew Fitzsimmons | United States Air Force Academy |
| Jim Spice | University of Colorado – Colorado Springs |
Public Meeting
The project team hosted an in-person open house on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the City of Colorado Springs’ City Administration Building. The in-person open house featured a series of informational stations arranged around the room to encourage active public participation. In addition to the in-person open house, MMT in partnership with PPACG hosted two additional events that encouraged the community to view, interact, and provide feedback on the materials in-person and digitally.
Approximately, 114 community members provided feedback or attended a virtual or in-person event. The open house had 45 in-person attendees over a two-hour period, and 66 unique digital comment card responses were collected.
The public open house and subsequent events required an extensive promotional campaign, which included community leaders assisting in disseminating information, sending public e-blasts, creating media toolkits, coordinating and distributing flyers to MMT buses and community gathering locations, and utilizing social and conventional media channels.
A brief description of each event is included here, and a full summary can be found in Appendix E.
Public Open House – Tuesday, April 30, 2024
The open house featured a series of informational stations that encouraged participants to interact with the material and project team staff. The stations summarized the plan process, existing conditions, the proposed 2050 Transit Vision, the proposed 2050 Specialized Transportation strategies, and feedback shared with the project team. Project staff were available at each station to answer participant questions or discuss specific topics. Before leaving the open house, participants were encouraged to fill out either a print or digital comment card.
In partnership with the public open house, a self-guided virtual open house was launched on the project website on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, for members of the public to view materials. The self-guided open house featured the same materials as the in-person event and could provide their feedback through the digital comment card, programmed through SurveyMonkey.
2050 Specialized Transportation Plan Pop-Up Open House – Tuesday, May 14, 2024
PPACG hosted an additional in-person open house at The Independence Center on May 14, 2024. The event ensured members of the specialized transportation could provide their feedback and ask questions of the project team.
Virtual Office Hour Session – Friday, May 17, 2024
A virtual office hour was hosted on Friday, May 17, 2024, which included a brief presentation and an opportunity for the community to ask questions of the project team.
Digital Engagement
MMT provided the community with up-to-date digital materials throughout the planning process. The project team maintained an updated website to educate stakeholders and the community and promote upcoming engagement opportunities. Throughout the study, the website had about 3,177 visits from 2,532 unique users. Peaks in website views corresponded with the plan’s public open house.
In addition to the plan’s website, the project team utilized public e-blasts and MMT’s social media channels to inform and educate the community on study updates and upcoming events. The MMT e-mail database utilized those who had previously subscribed to ConnectCOS and PlanCOS updates with an option to update their email subscription settings.
