I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Initial Project Activities and Construction Public Outreach Plan UPDATED AUGUST 23, 2022
I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Public Outreach Plan Page 2 of 9 I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project SBCTA, the County of San Bernardino, City of Fontana, and City of Rialto will improve Cedar Avenue between Bloomington Avenue and Orange Street in the unincorporated community of Bloomington. As a major north-south arterial that experiences high levels of traffic congestion resulting in low levels of service, the project is designed to reduce congestion, improve safety, and improve traffic operations. The project will: • Widen the Cedar Avenue over the I-10 • Replace Cedar Avenue over the railroad. • Provide for roadway improvements along Cedar Avenue. • Add capacity to the on- and off-ramps from Cedar Avenue to the I-10. The goal of this plan is to develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan to inform and educate the public regarding construction for the I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project (project) and seek to minimize potential impacts to stakeholders. Objectives • Generate local/regional awareness of the project. • Take a proactive approach to construction outreach. • Implement an outreach plan that is equitable, inclusive of, and accessible to the needs of diverse project stakeholders. • Build and maintain trust with project stakeholders. Timeline • Groundbreaking: Early December 2022 • Construction Start: December 2022 • Anticipated Project Completion: 28 months Initial Project Start Activities (beginning in Fall 2022) 1. Meet with local government partners, provide project update and contact information/collaterals: a. County of San Bernardino (May 13, 2022) b. Bloomington MAC (June 1, 2022) c. City of Rialto d. City of Fontana 2. Meet with Colton Joint Unified School District to introduce project, provide contact information, and identify contacts for coordination. 3. Coordinate with trucking association and UPRR. 4. Conduct business canvass to introduce project, provide contact information, and obtain point of contact at business. 5. Send postcard with construction information and contact information to residential radius (as below).
I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Public Outreach Plan Page 3 of 9
6. Host First Responders briefing/webinar with police, fire, ambulatory, school, public transportation, and UPRR to provide overview of project and timeline and identify contacts for emergency situations. Groundbreaking (tentative December 2022) As a coordinated effort with the County of San Bernardino, we will identify the timing to host both groundbreaking and ribbon cutting events to mark the start and end of construction. We will work collaboratively to identify the venues, invite regional and local decision makers and the community via online and in-person flyers, coordinate all logistics (stage, podium, A/V, refreshments, shovels, canopy, tables/chairs, name badges, sign-in sheets), identify and manage all vendors (photographer), create the press kit, work with the media consultant to invite the press, and develop and facilitate the programs. Ascertainment/Notification Radius:
I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Public Outreach Plan Page 4 of 9 CONSTRUCTION PUBLIC OUTREACH PLAN OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES TOOLS/TACTICS 1. Generate awareness of the project among stakeholders, including residents, businesses, schools, and trucking companies.
1. Develop collateral for distribution to residents and businesses near project area. 2. Leverage established channels of communication to tap into existing networks to share project information. 3. Coordinate with local government partners to share information. 4. Utilize existing SBCTA platforms to reach the public and key stakeholders with important project updates.
In addition to Initial Project Start Activities above: o Continue to coordinate with and share information with County of San Bernardino, Bloomington MAC, City of Rialto, City of Fontana, Colton Joint Unified School District, and First Responders (police, fire, ambulatory, school, public transportation, UPRR) o Update collaterals including project Fact Sheet, FAQs o Utilize SBCTA project email ([email protected]) and hotline (877-55-SBCTA) to manage public outreach communications and field stakeholder inquires o Build out/update project database/stakeholder log o Work with partner agencies and businesses to share project communications o Coordinate key project messaging/information with schools and businesses to mitigate traffic impacts o Develop and update project collateral, graphics, social media content, videos, and other assets, as needed o Work with media consultant to garner coverage of closures, detours, and project updates.
I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Public Outreach Plan Page 5 of 9 OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES TOOLS/TACTICS 2. Take a proactive approach to construction outreach, characterized by timely construction information and regular updates to mitigate potential impacts, and promote safety throughout the corridor by elevating awareness of the project and related construction activities.
1. Establish communications protocols between the outreach team and local government partners, school districts, and First Responders. 2. Identify and develop construction-related messaging and collaterals to inform stakeholders about closures, detours, and updates. 3. Coordinate with neighboring stakeholders o Develop crisis communications plan with alert protocols and obtain key contacts list including how to contact, when to contact and where to contact (cell, email, etc.) for local government partners, school districts, and First Responders o Disseminate construction alert eblasts (Fridays/Mondays) o Targeted canvassing o Social media content o Business and neighborhood specific webinars/in-person meet-ups o Business posters o Content for network newsletters o Interactive Google map (closures, detours, project improvements) updated in real-time o Project information and construction alerts on the project website – linked from local government partner websites) 3. Implement an outreach plan that is equitable, inclusive of, and accessible to the needs of diverse project stakeholders.
1. Employ a holistic approach to diverse community outreach, taking into consideration the reach for all project messaging and communication methods. 2. Develop collaterals to meet the needs of in-language communications. 3. Identify community organizations, leaders, faith-based communities to help us reach traditionally underrepresented groups. o Provide/offer options to request project information and collateral materials in-language o Partner with service organizations, civic groups, faith-based organizations to reach traditionally underrepresented stakeholders
I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Public Outreach Plan Page 6 of 9 OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES TOOLS/TACTICS 4. Build and maintain trust with project stakeholders.
1. Build relationships with key project stakeholders and partner with trusted voices to convey project messaging/information. 2. Identify response protocols and timelines for responding to all stakeholder inquiries (emails, phone calls, social media comments/questions). 3. Establish a project helpline to field inquiries, comments, concerns during construction. 4. Develop and maintain a Stakeholder Log to track all stakeholder inquiries, outreach type (call, email, in-person), contact information, preferred method of communication, date of inquiry, date of response, resolution, tone, and other relevant notes. 5. “Listen to understand, not to respond.” Demonstrate our commitment to listening to the needs, concerns, questions of project stakeholders and demonstrate empathy, care, and consideration in response. 6. Provide proactive, timely construction information/updates so stakeholders understand work being performed, know what to expect, can plan around closures/detours. o Interactive project Google map with real-time updates for closures, detours, and updates o Project hotline and SBCTA email o Social media o Targeted canvassing o Weekly Construction Alerts o Identify opportunities to connect with traditionally underserved/underrepresented stakeholders
I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Public Outreach Plan Page 7 of 9 SAMPLE COLLATERALS Project Door Hanger Street Banners (English and Spanish)
I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Public Outreach Plan Page 8 of 9 Construction Alert
I-10/Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Public Outreach Plan Page 9 of 9 Project Webpage Updates/Interactive Google Map
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