How can you communicate complex transportation plans to the public?

2 Use simple language

Transportation planning involves a lot of technical terms, acronyms, and jargon that may not be easily understood by the public. You need to avoid or explain these terms and use simple and plain language instead. You also need to avoid long and complex sentences and paragraphs that may confuse or bore your audience. You need to use active and direct verbs, concrete and specific nouns, and short and simple words. You need to write as if you are talking to a friend or a neighbor, not a colleague or a boss.

3 Use visuals and stories

One of the most effective ways to communicate complex transportation plans to the public is to use visuals and stories. Visuals can help you illustrate your data, concepts, and scenarios in a more appealing and memorable way. You can use maps, charts, graphs, diagrams, photos, videos, animations, or infographics to show the current and future conditions, the problems and solutions, and the impacts and benefits of your plans. Stories can help you connect with your audience on an emotional and personal level. You can use anecdotes, examples, testimonials, or narratives to show how your plans affect real people and places, how they address their needs and concerns, and how they create positive change.

4 Provide context and relevance

Another way to communicate complex transportation plans to the public is to provide context and relevance. Context can help you explain why your plans are important, how they fit into the bigger picture, and what are the assumptions and constraints behind them. Relevance can help you show how your plans relate to your audience's values, goals, and interests, and how they can benefit from them. You need to answer the questions of why, how, and what for your audience. Why do you need to plan for transportation? How do you plan for transportation? What are the outcomes and implications of your plans?

5 Invite feedback and dialogue

The final tip to communicate complex transportation plans to the public is to invite feedback and dialogue. Feedback can help you gather input, opinions, and suggestions from your audience, and improve your plans accordingly. Dialogue can help you build trust, rapport, and understanding with your audience, and address their questions, doubts, and objections. You need to create opportunities and channels for feedback and dialogue, such as surveys, polls, forums, workshops, webinars, or social media. You also need to acknowledge, respond, and incorporate the feedback and dialogue you receive, and show how they influence your plans.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?