Community Planning Workshop Program:

NYMTC and its members sponsor community planning workshops on various topics

Since 2001, NYMTC has held more than 100 workshops throughout its planning area to generate local planning on pedestrian safety and walkability. These contribute to local plans that incorporate goals from NYMTC's Regional Transportation Plans. As part of these workshops, NYMTC assists project sponsors with ways to tap into available federal funds. The workshops have helped groups of elected officials, local government staff, and citizens analyze current conditions and identify needed improvements. In addition to being popular with a broad cross-section of communities in NYMTC's planning area, the workshops generate awareness about pedestrian safety, walkability, and bicycle access.

After a five-year hiatus, NYMTC has recently relaunched its Community Planning Workshop Program based on goals identified in its Regional Transportation Plan, Moving Forward. Moving Forward seeks to ensure a transportation system that safely and efficiently serves today's population and plans for our region's growing number of residents, workers, and goods.

NYMTC, in collaboration with its consultant, the Public Outreach Engagement Team (POET) at Rutgers University, is holding meetings in locations identified by NYMTC's members in Coordinated Development Emphasis Areas (CDEA). CDEAs are locations where NYMTC anticipates an increase in population and seeks to promote transportation improvements and land use development that accommodate future growth within a sustainable framework. By using these areas as a targeting mechanism, NYMTC can work with local governments for a continuing program of community planning activities that:

• Encourage development in centers and downtowns to reinforce walkable, aesthetically pleasing, and transit-accessible environments
• Encourage consideration of local transportation issues in comprehensive/master planning and community visioning processes
• Make walking safer and more convenient through safety and streetscape improvements
• Support downtown development/redevelopment
• Encourage walkability, Complete Streets, and remote parking in targeted centers
• Complete and distribute the MTA First Mile/Last Mile Station Access Toolkit
• Provide planning assistance
• Facilitate discussions with the public enabling participants to develop, evaluate, and implement improvements for their communities

See Figures A-24 through A-33 within Appendix A of Moving Forward for maps showing the CDEAs identified within NYMTC's planning area.

The Community Planning Workshop Program is federally funded through the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), an annual or biennial statement of work identifying the planning priorities and activities carried out within a metropolitan planning area.

Discover more about NYMTC's Community Planning Workshop Program through our new video:

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Past Events

Lynbrook (Nassau County) — COMPLETED

Date: January 15, 2026 | Time: 6:00-8:00 PM

Topic: The Village of Lynbrook held a virtual public workshop to provide community members with an opportunity to learn about and provide feedback on proposed ideas for the village’s revitalization. This project primarily focused on solutions that can be applied throughout the Village to improve road safety for all users, with particular emphasis on pedestrian safety. Key locations included the pedestrian tunnel on Atlantic Avenue, the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Sunrise Highway, and the Five Corners intersection of Merrick Road, Broadway, Atlantic Avenue, and Hempstead Avenue. The recommendations were generally well received by residents. Their feedback and insights will inform the final vision plan.

Download: Lynbrook Workshop Report →

Haverstraw (Rockland County) — COMPLETED

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Date: April 10, 2025 | Time: 5:30-7:00 PM

Topic: Partnering with NYMTC and a group of local stakeholders, the Village of Haverstraw held a combined in-person public workshop to gather input on various projects and transportation-related studies. NYMTC/Rutgers-POET engaged participants and collected feedback on proposed connectivity, accessibility, mobility, safety, and placemaking improvements across three key intersections: West Street and Main Street, First Street and Main Street, and West Street and Elks Drive. Stakeholders showed strong support for the project’s findings and overall goals. Notably, residents expressed specific interest in improving street lighting, road markings, and security in select areas.

Download: Haverstraw Workshop Report →

Pelham/Mt. Vernon (Westchester County) — COMPLETED

Date: January 30, 2025 | Time: 7:00-8:30 PM

Topic: The Town of Pelham held a virtual public workshop to gather public input on feasible solutions to improve pedestrian safety on the route connecting Pelham Memorial High School and the Glover Field Athletic Complex. This workshop focused on four key locations of interest: Colonial Avenue and Wolfs Lane in Pelham; The Hutchinson River Parkway Underpass; East Sandford Boulevard and the Hutchinson Parkway ramps; and East Sandford Boulevard and the Glover Field Complex Access Road.

Download: Pelham Workshop Report →

Cold Spring (Putnam County) — COMPLETED

Date: April 29, 2024 | Time: 7:00-9:00 PM

Topic: The Village of Cold Spring held a virtual public workshop to gather public input on maintaining residential quality of life and improving pedestrian safety. The workshop focused on four locations and the Cold Spring Trolley. The proposed solutions aim to reduce congestion in the village.

Download: Cold Spring Workshop Report →

Valley Stream (Nassau County) — COMPLETED

Date: November 9, 2023 | Time: 7:00-9:00 PM

Topic: The Village of Valley Stream partnered with NYMTC to conduct a community planning workshop for their long-range transportation plan, Moving Forward. This project captured community input to inform local officials about key areas needing transportation improvements.

Download: Valley Stream Workshop Report →

Carmel/Hamlet of Mahopac (Putnam County) — COMPLETED

Date: May 16, 2023 | Time: 5:00-7:00 PM

Topic: The Town of Carmel held a virtual public workshop to gather public input on improving traffic safety and fostering economic vitality in Downtown Mahopac. The workshop focused on two dangerous intersections in the town and presented potential solutions.

Download: Carmel Workshop Report →

Mount Pleasant/Hamlet of Hawthorne (Westchester County) — COMPLETED

Date: May 1, 2023 | Time: 5:00-7:00 PM

Topic: The Town of Mount Pleasant held two simultaneous workshops in-person and virtually to gather public feedback regarding locations and areas of interest within its Hawthorne Hamlet.

Download: Mount Pleasant Workshop Report →

North Castle (Westchester County) — COMPLETED

Date: December 8, 2022 | Time: 7:00-9:00 PM

Topic: The Town of North Castle held a virtual workshop to discuss key focus areas for road and transit improvements within its North White Plains Hamlet, with an emphasis on pedestrian safety.

Download: North Castle Workshop Report →