Item 12 - Select Locally Preferred Alternative for the First Street Multimodal Boulevard Study

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH SUMMARY Feedback from residents, businesses, and corridor users directly informed key elements such as safety improvements and multimodal access, while transparent communication helped address concerns and reduce misinformation. The process documented clear community support and built partnerships that positioned the project for successful implementation and future funding opportunities. Challenges and Lessons Learned Lessens Learned Multilingual engagement (English, Spanish, Vietnamese) was essential for equitable participation. Translation and interpretation services were necessary at many of the outreach events and activities. While the Study website and social media posts generated thousands of views, online surveys had limited participation in Spanish and Vietnamese. This suggests that digital engagement should be complemented by robust in-person outreach for non-English speakers. Pop-up events proved to be an important engagement tool by allowing the project team to meet people where they already are— at community events, transit stops, schools, and local businesses. Recognizing that not everyone can attend a traditional open house, these on-the- ground interactions expanded participation, captured a wider range of perspectives, and created informal opportunities for meaningful conversations. This approach made the outreach process more accessible, inclusive, and reflective of the broader community. Students showed strong interest in multimodal improvements and were highly engaged throughout the outreach process. Many rely on buses, especially with access to free fare programs, and shared thoughtful input about reliability, frequency, and stop accessibility. Their feedback highlighted a clear desire for safer connections, improved service, and infrastructure that better supports daily travel to school, work, and activities. First Street Multimodal Boulevard Study—42