Public Engagement Plan

Shape the Future of Hampton Roads

Regional planning is a collaborative journey. It brings together government officials, community leaders, and residents like you to develop a shared vision for our 17 localities. Your perspective is essential to creating a brighter, more inclusive future for the 1.8 million people who call Hampton Roads home.

Why Your Involvement Matters

Public engagement is your opportunity to have a direct say in how the areas where you live, work, and play are planned. By participating, you help:

• Humanize Planning Data: Your lived experiences provide nuances that staff involved in planning may not see, ensuring that plans reflect the actual needs of the community.
• Build Trust and Credibility: Direct collaboration fosters stronger relationships between planners and the diverse subsectors of our region.
• Enrich Regional Decision-making: Meaningful input leads to more effective solutions for critical challenges such as land use, transportation, and environmental resiliency.

The Public Engagement Plan

The 2026 Public Engagement Plan serves as our strategic roadmap for transparent and inclusive decision-making. This plan outlines how the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) and the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) will work with you. Key components include:

• The Adoption of the Engagement Spectrum: We utilize the IAP2 Public Participation Spectrum, employing various methods—from simple fact sheets to collaborative advisory committees—depending on the goal of each project.
• Departmental Overviews: Overview for our core planning areas, including Emergency Management, Environmental Education (askHRgreen.org), Housing, Performance Management, and Long-Range Transportation Planning.
• Measuring Efficacy: We don't just "check a box." We track our efforts using a Post Engagement Activity Form to ensure our outreach is both qualitatively meaningful and quantitatively broad.
• For more information about the HRTPO's work program, visit our Unified Planning Work Program page. 

Our Commitment to You

The HRPDC and HRTPO are committed to a planning process that is accessible and fair for all. Our commitment includes:

• Removing Barriers: We strive to select meeting locations that are ADA-compliant and provide translation and interpretation services at no cost to ensure language is never an obstacle to participation.
• Involving Everyone: We actively seek to engage populations that have been historically underrepresented, using data and local insights to connect with every corner of our region.
• Meaningful Feedback Loops: We promise to respect and consider all feedback received, integrating your comments into the official records of our regional projects

HRTPO/HRPDC Public Engagement Plan