17 AAC 05.160. Public participation in STIP process

(a) At least every three years, the department will provide for participation in development of the STIP by

(1) interested persons;

(2) MPOs; the department will involve MPOs on a cooperative basis for the portions of the STIP affecting metropolitan planning areas;

(3) in areas outside of metropolitan planning areas, local officials with responsibility for transportation; and

(4) members of the public.

(b) In a notice provided under (c), (e), or (f) of this section, the department will set out means to contact the department through

(1) a mailing address;

(2) a toll-free telephone number;

(3) a toll-free fax number;

(4) an electronic mail address; and

(5) a telephone number to allow participation by the hearing impaired.

(c) The department will solicit nominations of projects for inclusion into the STIP by classification under 17 AAC 05.170. To solicit nominations, the department will give notice by publishing that notice in a newspaper of general circulation, posting that notice on the Alaska Online Public Notice System established under AS 44.62.175 , and providing written notice to interested persons and MPOs. In the notice, the department may include a description of the relative weights assigned to the applicable evaluation criteria for the projects in each project category listed in 17 AAC 05.175, or the department may provide notice of changes to the relative weights in a separate notice and public review period. Whether combining notices or providing notices separately, the department will allow at least 30 days after release of a notice for respondents to submit their nominations to the department and to comment upon the relative weights assigned to the applicable evaluation criteria for the projects in each project category.

(d) After nominations are submitted, the department will include them in the project needs list and prepare a draft STIP that evaluates those projects statewide under 17 AAC 05.175.

(e) The department will publish a notice at least once in a newspaper of general circulation, and provide written notice to interested persons, MPOs, and local officials from areas outside MPOs, that an updated project needs list and a draft STIP have been prepared. If requested, the department will provide a copy of the project needs list and the draft STIP. The department will allow not less than 45 days after notice is released for review and comment upon the project needs list and draft STIP. During the review and comment period, the department will conduct at least one public meeting to solicit comments from members of the public, interested persons, and other participants under this section. The department will provide notice of a public meeting in a manner that the department considers effective to notify affected communities and members of the public who are expected to attend.

(f) The department will provide written notice of the availability of a draft STIP prepared under 17 AAC 05.180 to the participants listed in (a) of this section.

(g) The department may conduct public meetings to solicit comments on the draft STIP from members of the public and interested persons. The department will provide notice of any public meeting in a manner that the department considers effective to notify affected communities and members of the public who are expected to attend.

(h) The department will not amend the STIP without first, if required, giving notice under 17 AAC 05.195.

History: Eff. 3/8/2002, Register 161; am 5/7/2005, Register 174

Authority: AS 19.05.020

AS 19.05.030

AS 19.10.140

AS 44.42.030

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