Thursday, June 20, 2024 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM (ET)
Meaningful participation in the transportation decision-making process is best achieved when citizens are empowered with information and knowledge to help them navigate complex topics. Many agencies are expanding their outreach using various virtual platforms and tools and are also shifting to hybrid models (virtual and in-person) for public participation. Similar approaches are also being considered for courses designed to educate community members on transportation as well as other civic activities.
Using insights from the 2021 and 2022 offerings of the Tampa Bay Citizens Academy on Transportation (TB-CAT), the TB-CAT facilitators developed a guidebook for virtual citizen academies. This guidebook is designed to be used by facilitators in other cities and regions across the nation to support their efforts in engaging and empowering citizens using a proven approach for a virtual citizen academy.
This session will provide an overview of the Guide for Developing Virtual Citizens Academies, and the facilitators will share their experiences and lessons learned when developing a virtual academy.
The Guidebook can be accessed online: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cutr_nicr/23/
About the Presenters:
Tia Boyd, AICP, is a research associate with the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. Her research focuses on transportation decision-making, with an emphasis on multimodal transportation planning, public participation, and the social impacts of transportation. She led several projects developing methods and tools that support transportation planning processes. Tia was a co-facilitator for the Tampa Citizens Academy on Transportation, a virtual academy geared toward community empowerment through education.
Mr. Jason Jackman is a Senior Research Associate with the ITS, Traffic Operations and Safety team at the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR). Mr. Jackman has extensive experience managing safety campaigns, safety education development, micromobility evaluation programs, outreach education strategies and implementation, communications development, project management, program analysis, and pedestrian and bicycle safety. More recently, Mr. Jackman has been heavily involved with both Safe System Approach efforts, as well as bringing Vision Zero education to multiple regions in Florida.
Mr. Jackman earned a Master of Public Administration at the University of South Florida. He has earned several safety certificates including a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program Management Certificate through the (NHTSA) and (TSI) Program, as well as becoming a certified STEP trainer through FHWA’s training program.
