How the Move Tucson Plan Transcended Traditional Engagement
Contact: Kim Voros, GIS Manager, Alta
In 2021 Alta finished the City of Tucson’s Mobility Plan, a robust multi-modal planning effort intended to increase transportation choices and improve safety by investing in existing infrastructure. By utilizing a digital open house and interactive web map, the team transcended traditional engagement methods, empowering residents, community organizations, and stakeholders to actively contribute to the Plan’s development. These user-friendly and innovative tools created an accessible platform for the exchange of ideas and feedback, fostering collaboration among participants. The tools gained widespread adoption as an internal resource, leading to the ultimate decision to keep and transform them into a virtual version of the Plan document after plan adoption.
The final application, powered by ArcGIS Online Experience Builder, revolutionized how the Move Tucson Plan was presented and accessed. Departing from static documents, the Move Tucson website now offers visitors an immersive plan-viewing experience. Through interactive maps, charts, photos, infographics, and other engaging media, users can dynamically explore key content, including guiding principles, public engagement activities, recommendations, robust full network prioritization and implementation strategies. This multidimensional approach paints a vivid picture of the Plan’s vision and its impact on the city.
The website was designed to anticipate user needs and focused on enabling users to quickly navigate through the Move Tucson plan and process, providing a streamlined experience. By offering interactive maps, charts, photos, infographics, and other engaging media, users could efficiently access key information, such as the network recommendations and implementation costs. The website serves as a centralized hub for users to download Move Tucson-related documents, providing a clean and organized way to access essential resources.
Because the site is built in ArcGIS Online, City of Tucson staff have the tools to easily update the site over time. As the project evolves, potential improvements could include developing a project status tracking site and optimizing the site for mobile-friendliness.
Overall, the development of the Move Tucson Virtual Plan illustrates the commitment to continuous improvement and engagement, reinforcing the use of digital planning documents as a valuable tool in shaping the future of Tucson’s urban environment.
Find Kim Voros at this week’s ESRI User Conference where you can learn more about Interactive Maps in Transportation Planning. The session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 12 at 8:30 in Rom 25B of the San Diego Convention Center. In the meantime, learn more about Alta’s Civic Analytics and GIS practice, and follow along for monthly Alta updates.
