NMDOT Public Involvement Toolkit
The NMDOT Public Involvement Toolkit provides guidance, training, templates, checklists, and resources to help practitioners working on transportation plans, projects, and programs carry out effective public involvement for NMDOT transportation plans, projects, and programs.
Meaningful public involvement is not one-size-fits-all. The appropriate approach depends on a project’s objectives, type, complexity, context, phase of development, level of involvement needed, and the audiences you are trying to reach. No single method will effectively reach everyone, and a combination of approaches may be needed to meaningfully engage stakeholders and community members.
Before developing public involvement materials for NMDOT, consult with NMDOT’s NEPA environmental and public engagement staff to determine the best communication strategies and tools to use. Use the Toolkit throughout the public involvement process to Plan, Prepare, Engage, and Document your efforts.
A note on terminology: Throughout NMDOT guidance, the terms public involvement and public engagement may be used interchangeably. Public involvement reflects terminology traditionally associated with the NEPA process, while public engagement emphasizes active, meaningful, and ongoing participation.
Looking for specific information on an NMDOT project?
EngageNMDOT is NMDOT’s digital engagement platform and the central location for project-specific public information, including project webpages, public meeting and event information, and opportunities to provide input online.
Members of the public can visit EngageNMDOT to find information about NMDOT projects and opportunities to participate. Project teams should be prepared to provide NMDOT staff with clear, accurate, and timely content for project webpages and updates throughout the life of the project.
Need Help?
Questions about NMDOT public involvement, Toolkit resources, or the appropriate approach for your project?
Coordinate with your NMDOT project manager or applicable NEPA environmental/public engagement staff for project-specific guidance and support.
NMDOT Public Involvement Contact:
Ben Gillock
Public Involvement Coordinator
Phone: 505-795-1157
Email: benjamin.gillock@dot.nm.gov
Already know what you need?
Quickly access NMDOT public involvement guidance, templates, branding resources, and training.
Start with the Right Guidance
Study & Design Development Projects
Use the NMDOT Guide to NEPA Public Involvement as the foundational resource for planning, conducting, and documenting public involvement for projects in the study/design development phase.
Use the Toolkit resources below, as appropriate, to help put applicable NMDOT guidance into practice.
Plan
Develop Your Public Involvement Plan
Start by understanding the project, the community context, and the people who may be affected or interested. Use what you learn to shape your engagement approach.
Your Public Involvement Plan (PIP) serves as the roadmap for engagement. Use it to document project and community context, identify stakeholders and interested parties, select appropriate engagement methods, and establish how public involvement will be conducted and documented.
Keep in mind: Your PIP is a living document. Update it as the project advances, new stakeholders are identified, and your understanding of the community evolves.
Prepare
Public Notifications, Outreach, & Meeting Materials
Put your PIP into action by developing clear, accessible, and consistent outreach and meeting materials appropriate for the audiences you are trying to reach.
Effective outreach goes beyond simply notifying people that something is happening. Help people understand why the project may matter to them, why their participation is valuable, and how they can get involved.
Consider who you are trying to reach, how they typically receive information, and what methods will give them the best opportunity to learn about the project and participate. Use multiple, complementary methods when appropriate, and consider community partners and trusted networks that can help extend your reach.
Always use current NMDOT branding guidance when developing public-facing materials. All of the following templates adhere to this guidance.
Engage
Create Meaningful Opportunities for Participation
Effective public involvement creates opportunities for people to understand the project, ask questions, share perspectives, and provide meaningful input. Engagement should reflect the project and community context established in your PIP and may evolve as the project advances.
Conducting an Effective Public Meeting
An effective public meeting is more than a presentation. Create a welcoming environment, set clear expectations, listen to understand, and provide a respectful process where different perspectives can be heard. Be prepared to answer questions clearly and neutrally, document questions requiring follow-up, and explain what happens next.
Document
Capture What You Heard and Carry It Forward
Documentation is an ongoing part of public involvement. Capture public input, project team responses, and commitments throughout the engagement process so they can be accurately considered and carried forward.
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- Capture the essence. Document the issue, concern, question, or suggestion.
- Document the response. Record how the project team responded.
- Track commitments. Record follow-up actions and track them through completion.
Develop Your Public Meeting Summary
Use the Public Meeting Summary to create a concise, accurate, and defensible record of the engagement activities, including outreach, participation, public input, project team responses, commitments, and supporting documentation.
Your NMDOT Public Involvement Toolbox
Below you will find everything you need to support your outreach efforts. View the file preview PDFs to check layouts, and download the editable PowerPoint template files. Adapt materials as appropriate for the project, community, and communication method. Before using these templates, you will need to download the correct NMDOT fonts as outlined in the NMDOT Brand and Style Guide.
Outreach Material Templates
Use these editable PowerPoint templates to inform the community about your project or study and to promote your public involvement events.
Flyers & Factsheets
Meeting Announcement Flyer (8.5×11 in)
Project Information Factsheet (8.5×11 in)
Social Media Images
Social Media Meeting Announcement (1350x1080px)
POSTCARDS & Mailers
Meeting Announcement Postcard (6.25×9 in)
Project Information Postcard (6.25×9 in)
Meeting Announcement Mailer (8.5×11 in, folded)
Project Information Mailer (8.5×11 in, folded)
BANNERS & Yard Signs
Meeting Announcement Roadside Banner (96×48 in)
Meeting Announcement Yard Sign (18×24 in)
Meeting Material Templates
Use these editable PowerPoint templates for your meeting preparation and presentations.
PRESENTATIONS
Meeting Slide Deck (PowerPoint)
Display Boards
Display Board – Landscape (24×36 in)
Display Boards – Portrait (36×24 in)
Wayfinding Signage
Wayfinding Sign (11×17 in)
A-frame Wayfinding Sign (24×36 in)
Resources
Use these NMDOT-branded Word Templates for public involvement plans, meeting checklist, sign-in sheet, and comment form, and for your public involvement summary.
Meeting Checklist
SIGN-IN SHEETS
COMMENT FORMS
Agency Logos
All materials must include the NMDOT logo. If your project is federally funded, you must include the FHWA logo.