Advancing Transit Improvement Measures Through Effective Community Outreach

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Advancing Transit Improvement Measures Through
Effective Community Outreach
Lyndon Henry Data Analyst Capital Metro Austin,
Tx
CFTE Transit Initiatives Conference Austin,
Texas 11 June 2007
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Experience from Rail Transit Ballot Measures

• Austin 2000, 2004
• San Antonio 2000
• Kansas City 2001, 2006
• Cincinnati 2002
• Houston 2003
• Tucson 2003, 2006

Won Lost
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Rail Transit Ballot Measures Are Very Different!

• Not like most electoral campaigns
• Rail (and sometimes Quality Bus) is usually
  unfamiliar
• Rail conjures images of freight trains
• Prominent attracts intense scrutiny
• Impacts an entire corridor of neighborhoods
• Unites diverse range of opponents
• Well-funded brigade of professional critics

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3 Main Allies in Transit Improvement Efforts

• Grassroots pro-transit groups
• Transit agency leadership and staff
• Local civic leadership

Hang together, or hang separately Translation
Be on the same page
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Transit Coalition Strategy

• Transit agency's image is important
• Make sure accomplishments are emphasized
• Don't miss opportunities
• Don't promise the impossible (Rail project will
  solve congestion)
• Emphasize value of real-world, achievable goals
  (Rail line will carry 30 of peak travel in the
  Lamar corridor by 2020)
• Always assume its an uphill struggle
• Grassroots organizers critical its not all
  mass media and official forums
• GOTV and dont forget early voting!

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Responding to Critics

• Don't ignore them
• Don't miss opportunities, including debates
  (ostrich tactic doesn't work)
• Don't echo opponents' slogans (They say Transit
  Sucks! We say No!)
• Don't try to respond to every single detail
• Avoid confusing, mind-numbing "numbers trivia
• Focus on refuting 2-3 critical points to
  establish credibility try using humor
• Supporters credibility vs. opponents
• Keep larger vision and message in view
• Beware late-campaign bombshells (endorsements,
  research reports, etc.)

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Austin Light Rail Campaign (2000)

• Legacy of strong grassroots support for rail
  transit
• Excellent transit plan no new taxes!
• 600 million plan big risk
• Awful transit agency image legacy of scandal
• We can't lose attitude
• Early disorganization and missed opportunities
• Resources expended on branding and Light rail
  will cure congestion message
• No clearly defined message everyone on a
  different page
• Surprised by critics claims, numbers game
• Effective coordination only in last few months

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Austin All Systems Go Campaign (2004)

• Legacy of grassroots support for rail transit
• Much less ambitious, less costly plan
• 90 million much smaller risk
• Plan backed by some former opponents broader
  community buy-in
• Agency image boosted by excellent transit
  awareness campaign (You've gotta ride! and All
  Systems Go)
• Strong campaign organization coordinated, clear
  message
• Uphill struggle attitude

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Conclusions
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Grassroots Pro-Transit Groups

• Major role in informing, educating, and
  mobilizing the public
• Valuable source of ideas and information for
  transit agency
• Need to avoid adversarial role with transit
  agency
• Need to understand dynamics of transit agency
• Need to learn art of persuasion

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Transit Agency

• Need to respect listen to grassroots input
• Transit agency's image is important
• Make sure accomplishments are emphasized
• Provide facts figures
• Avoid answer panic
• Be aware of informational resources

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Civic Leadership

• Grand Vision important - but so are facts
• Public voters expect some solid answers
• Focus on 2-3 most critical or vulnerable issues
• Don't echo opponents' slogans
• Don't miss opportunities, including debates
  (ostrich tactic doesn't work)
• Organize coordinate campaign and message
  ensure everyone on the same page

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Valuable Informational Resources

• Center for Transportation Excellence (CFTE)
  CFTE.org
• Light Rail Now - LightRailNow.org
• Victoria Transport Policy Institute - VTPI.org
• APTA Public Transportation website -
  PublicTransportation.org
• PublicTransit.us
• Regional transit advocacy sites (e.g., Denver
  Transit Alliance)

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Lyndon Henry
Data Analyst 512.369-7756 Lyndon.henry_at_capmetro.or
g
512.441-3014 Nawdry_at_bga.com