Skip to main content

New communications guide for state DOTs released

A research study conducted on behalf of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program concludes that now more than ever public agencies should communicate under an integrated structure using strategic communications planning to effectively engage with stakeholders, customers and the public. Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and led by WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, the two-year research study is condensed in a Communications Guide for State Department
February 23, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
A research study conducted on behalf of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program concludes that now more than ever public agencies should communicate under an integrated structure using strategic communications planning to effectively engage with stakeholders, customers and the public.

Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and led by 8556 WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, the two-year research study is condensed in a Communications Guide for State Departments of Transportation that is available free through AASHTO and from WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff.

AASHTO says the guide can be an important tool for any transportation agency looking to align its public outreach with its organisational goals and priorities. By capturing best practices and sharing success stories, this guide provides an in-depth look at strategies for both the organisational leader and the practitioner that can streamline and improve communications programs.

The research project involved a series of surveys; personal interviews with communicators, outside experts, public agency CEOs, and other leaders in state departments of transportation; as well as a review of effective communications practices in the public and private sector. The guide includes resources such as templates, graphics, and other tools to illustrate the strategies and practices that have been or may be used successfully by communications teams. The guidelines also include the role, purpose, and importance of communications functions and how these functions should be organizationally structured, coordinated, and aligned with agency leadership and goals.

Related Content

  • June 4, 2015
    Multi-modal’s long road into the transportation mainstream
    Andrew Bardin Williams looks at 20 years of multimodal transport in the Sun Belt and beyond and the key requirement for user engagement. Phoenix residents will head to the polls in August to decide whether to implement a three-tenths of a cent sales tax to fund the city’s new multimodal transportation plan. It will be the second transportation-related sales tax hike in the past 15 years yet city officials and advocates expect the resolution to easily pass—despite the strong anti-tax environment that has dom
  • July 1, 2016
    WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff deploys connected vehicle technology for US army test
    As part of the Planet M initiative, the US Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) have partnered to test connected vehicle applications on the I-69 freeway in Lapeer County, Michigan. WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff is part of the MDOT team leading the infrastructure deployments. The test involved the installation of six road side units (RSU) at different locations to create a vehicle communications system. The system evalu
  • March 27, 2012
    ITS America signs MoU with World Bank
    During its Board of Directors meeting last week, ITS America signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Bank to formalise their desire to cooperate and exchange ideas about how transportation technologies that enhance information capture, analysis, communications, and sharing can improve surface transportation safety, mobility and environmental sustainability.
  • March 27, 2012
    ITS America signs MoU with World Bank
    During its Board of Directors meeting last week, ITS America signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Bank to formalise their desire to cooperate and exchange ideas about how transportation technologies that enhance information capture, analysis, communications, and sharing can improve surface transportation safety, mobility and environmental sustainability.