What role does public involvement play in the consideration of Environmental Justice?
A. Public involvement is an integral part of transportation planning and project development decision making. The USDOT Order 5610.2 on Environmental Justice directs NJDOT to provide minority and low-income populations much greater access to information and opportunities for public participation in human health and environmental impacts. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) also emphasizes the meaningful involvement by the public in transportation decision making. Effective public involvement in the planning process and the project development process can alert State and local agencies about Environmental Justice concerns so that they do not disrupt the project development stage. Continuous interaction between community members and transportation professionals is critical to successfully identifying and resolving potential Environmental Justice concerns. State, regional, local, and tribal agencies should have established public involvement procedures for consider
