TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2026 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE^*

OFFICERS

Chair:Joel M. Jundt,Secretary of Transportation, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Pierre

Vice Chair:Randell Iwasaki,President and CEO, Iwasaki Consulting Services, Walnut Creek, CA

Executive Director:Victoria Sheehan,Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC

MEMBERS

James F. Albaugh,President and CEO, The Boeing Company (retired), Scottsdale, AZ

Marsha Anderson Bomar,Strategic Transportation Advisor, GHD, Duluth, GA

Douglas C. Ceva,Vice President, Customer Lead Solutions, Prologis, Inc., Jupiter, FL

Nancy Daubenberger,Commissioner of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul

Garrett Eucalitto,Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Newington

Andrew Fremier,Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, San Francisco, CA

Martha Grabowski,Professor Emerita, Information Systems, Le Moyne College, Madden College of Business and Economics, Cazenovia, NY

Edward Hassinger,Director, Missouri Department of Transportation, Jefferson City

Shante Hastings,Cabinet Secretary, Delaware Department of Transportation, Dover

Carol A. Lewis,Professor, Transportation Studies, Texas Southern University, Houston

Ricardo Martinez,Adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, GA

Russell McMurry,Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta

Craig E. Philip,Research Professor and Director, VECTOR, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Steward T.A. Pickett,Distinguished Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY

Leslie S. Richards,Professor of Practice, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Tracy Larkin Thomason,Director, Nevada Department of Transportation, Carson City

Marc Williams,Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation, Austin

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS

Derek Barrs,Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Washington, DC

Steven G. Bradbury,Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

Stephen Carmel,Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration, Washington, DC

Tara Cavalline,Professor, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and Chair, TRB Technical Activities Council

David Fink,Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC

Firas Ibrahim,Director, Office of Research, Development, and Technology, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, Washington, DC

Jason Kelly,Deputy Commanding General for Civil Works and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC

Sandra Knight,President, WaterWonks, LLC, Washington, DC, and Chair, TRB Marine Board

Sean McMaster,Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC

Marcus J. Molinaro,Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Jonathan Morrison,Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC

Seval Oz,Senior Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, Washington, DC

Niloo Parvinashtiani,Engineer, Mobility Consultant Solutions, Iteris Inc., Fairfax, VA, and Chair, TRB Young Participants Council

Paul Roberti,Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Washington, DC

Paul P. Skoutelas,President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC

Jim Tymon,Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, DC

___________________________

^* Membership as of February 2026.

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1178

Improving Virtual Public Involvement in Transportation Agencies

Miriam Salerno

Voorhees Transportation Center

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, NJ

Pam Lebeaux

WSP

Washington, DC

Subscriber Categories

Administration and Management • Education and Training • Planning and Forecasting

Research sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration

2026

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

Systematic, well-designed, and implementable research is the most effective way to solve many problems facing state department of transportation (DOT) administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local or regional interest and can best be studied by state DOTs individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation results in increasingly complex problems of wide interest to highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research.

Recognizing this need, the leadership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1962 initiated an objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniques—the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of AASHTO and receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department of Transportation.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine was requested by AASHTO to administer the research program because of TRBʼs recognized objectivity and understanding of modern research practices. TRB is uniquely suited for this purpose for many reasons: TRB maintains an extensive committee structure from which authorities on any highway transportation subject may be drawn; TRB possesses avenues of communications and cooperation with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, universities, and industry; TRBʼs relationship to the National Academies is an insurance of objectivity; and TRB maintains a full-time staff of specialists in highway transportation matters to bring the findings of research directly to those in a position to use them.

The program is developed on the basis of research needs identified by chief administrators and other staff of the highway and transportation departments, by committees of AASHTO, and by the FHWA. Topics of the highest merit are selected by the AASHTO Special Committee on Research and Innovation (R&I), and each year R&Iʼs recommendations are proposed to the AASHTO Board of Directors, the FHWA, and the National Academies. Research projects to address these topics are defined by NCHRP, and qualified research agencies are selected from submitted proposals. Administration and oversight of research contracts are the responsibilities of NCHRP.

The needs for highway research are many, and NCHRP can make significant contributions to solving highway transportation problems of mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program, however, is intended to complement, rather than to substitute for or duplicate, other highway research programs.

NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1178

Project 08-142
ISSN 2572-3766 (Print)
ISSN 2572-3774 (Online)
ISBN 978-0-309-60386-7
Library of Congress Control Number 2026939699

© 2026 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Authors herein are responsible for the originality and accuracy of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) grants permission to reproduce written material in this publication for classroom and non-commercial purposes subject to the rights of any third parties and appropriate attribution. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply NAS, TRB, AASHTO, APTA, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, or NHTSA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. For other uses of the written material, users must request permission from the National Academies Press.

NOTICE

The research report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

This material is based upon work supported by the FHWA under Agreement No. 693JJ32350025. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed or implied in this document are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the FHWA; or the program sponsors.

The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or specifications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications.

The Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and the sponsors of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturersʼ names or logos appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.

Published research reports of the

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

are available from

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and can be ordered through the internet by going to

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Printed in the United States of America

The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. Tsu-Jae Liu is president.

The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.

The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.

Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.

The Transportation Research Board is one of four centers of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to mobilize expertise, experience, and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges. The Boardʼs varied activities annually engage more than 5,500 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state departments of transportation, federal agencies including component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation.

Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS

CRP STAFF FOR NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1178

Monique R. Evans,Director, Cooperative Research Programs

Waseem Dekelbab,Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs, and Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Trey Joseph Wadsworth,Senior Program Officer

Dajaih Bias-Johnson,Senior Program Assistant

Natalie Barnes,Director of Publications

Brian Haefs,Associate Director of Publications

Jeff Strong,Senior Editor

NCHRP PROJECT 08-142 PANEL
Field of Transportation Planning—Area of Planning Methods & Processes

Katina Lear,Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta, GA (Chair)

Eileen R. Barron,Utah Department of Transportation, Salt Lake City, UT

Kimberly Burton,Burton Planning Services, Westerville, OH

Jeff Dietrich,Howard Stein Hudson, Boston, MA

Larissa Newton,Mechanicsburg, PA

Robert Washington,FHWA Liaison

Maggie Kasperski,AASHTO Liaison

AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This guide is based on research conducted under National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 08-142, “Virtual Public Involvement: A Manual for Effective, Equitable, and Efficient Public Involvement.” The project team was led by Miriam Salerno (principal investigator) of the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University and Pam Lebeaux of WSP. Major contributions were made by David Ogunrinde of Inkroots; Andrea Lubin, Kiara Ryan, and Caroline Grant of Rutgers; and Sarah Parkins, Brittani Kaim, and Steff Hedenkamp of WSP.

The authors would like to acknowledge the many individuals who participated in the agency survey, interviews, focus groups, and user testing conducted as part of this research. We appreciate the time and valuable contributions of the many state departments of transportation and regional planning organization officials, private-sector practitioners, and nonprofit organization leaders who provided insights on their experiences with virtual public involvement during the early COVID years and adaptations since. We also learned a great deal from the user testing participants—findings that are reflected in this guide and can be immediately applied in practice.

FOREWORD

By Trey Joseph Wadsworth
Staff Officer
Transportation Research Board

NCHRP Research Report 1178: Improving Virtual Public Involvement in Transportation Agencies presents key principles and practical tips for virtual public involvement (VPI). The report helps state departments of transportation (DOTs) select, create, use, and evaluate VPI tools and techniques for transportation plans and projects. It is based on a literature review, survey, focus groups, and user testing. The guide is of immediate interest to public involvement practitioners, project managers, and other agency staff and serves as a valuable resource for state DOTs and other public transportation agencies.

Transportation agencies strive for robust engagement; however, people who want to participate may be unable to do so because of schedule conflicts or logistical challenges such as physical disability, childcare needs, or transportation inaccessibility. Using todayʼs communication technologies for VPI can overcome challenges of travel and time and enable outreach activities during an emergency. Research has been conducted on guidelines for engaging the public with in-person involvement activities, but these guidelines are not fully applicable to VPI tools and techniques.

Under NCHRP Project 08-142, “Virtual Public Involvement: A Manual for Effective and Accessible Practices for Transportation Agencies,” Rutgers University was asked (1) to evaluate the recent experience of transportation agencies in using VPI; and (2) to develop a manual for selecting, creating, and using VPI tools and techniques for each phase of the transportation decision-making process. The research included a literature review and scan of practice, outreach to the community of practice through a survey, focus groups, structured interviews, and usability testing.

In addition to the guide, the following materials are available on the publications page for NCHRP Research Report 1178: Improving Virtual Public Involvement in Transportation Agencies (https://doi.org/10.17226/29377):

• Implementation memo
• Virtual public involvement tool selection matrix
• Sample virtual meeting introductory slides

CONTENTS

Summary

Chapter 1 Getting Started with Virtual Public Involvement

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Federal Policy Context for VPI

1.3 Methodology and Development of Content

1.4 Whatʼs Inside: How to Use the Guide

1.5 Who Is This Guide For?

Chapter 2 Exploring the Toolkit

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Virtual Meetings and Events

2.3 Beyond Meetings: Interactive, Web-Based Engagement

2.4 Information and Presentation Tools to Support VPI

2.5 Promotional Tools

2.6 Comprehensive Engagement Platforms

Chapter 3 Preparing for VPI: A Co-Creation Strategy

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Co-Creating a Public Involvement Plan with Virtual Elements

3.3 Co-Creating VPI Tools and Content

Chapter 4 Addressing Access Considerations During VPI Use

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Addressing the Digital Divide

4.3 Building Skills: Individuals with Low Technological Proficiency

4.4 Addressing Language Barriers

4.5 Considerations for Individuals with Disabilities

4.6 Considerations for Varied Learning Styles and Persons with Developmental Disabilities

4.7 Addressing Cultural Differences

Chapter 5 Strategies for Effective Virtual Meetings

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Meeting Design

5.3 Accessibility Considerations for Virtual Meetings

5.4 Meeting Preparation

5.5 Running the Meeting

5.6 Post-Meeting Follow-Up

5.7 Hybrid Meetings

Chapter 6 Measuring Success: Gauging Effectiveness and Efficiency in VPI

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Gauging Effectiveness

6.3 Gauging Efficiency

6.4 Using Virtual Public Input

References

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Appendix A Sample Run-of-Show Document

Appendix B Case Examples by Tool/Engagement Strategy