This project is an application of much of our OCT lab’s past work on organizing and building communities using communication technologies. We bring an understanding of communication into the world of transportation engineering with the goal of engaging publics.

Along the way, we get to learn more about transportation and the diverse needs in a state as big as Texas. From the snow in the panhandle to hurricanes along the coast, the weather and geography make transportation planning especially important. We also have many rural communities along with some of the largest cities in the U.S. Those areas have diverse needs on a daily basis. While much of transportation planning is around smaller projects, all of the projects impact the lives of Texans. Our team including Brett Robertson, Courtney Powers/, Anastazja Harris, Susan Nold, and Keri Stephens, will work closely with Jefferson Grimes and his Public Involvement team at TxDOT to produce the next level of thinking around communicating for and with the public.