Dissemination Audiences
Media and public communications are essential to educating the public and other stakeholders about the services of transportation programs. Additionally, communicating lessons learned with other jurisdictions looking to implement their own systems can be a crucial way to share successes and challenges about the program development and implementation process. Funders and state and federal agencies are also interested in learning about transportation services in rural communities.
Important considerations for disseminating transportation best practices include the target audience for transportation services, their needs, and successful strategies to meet those needs.
Key federal department and agency audiences include:
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Department of Education
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
Other key audiences include:
National transportation and planning organizations
- Rural Planning Organizations of America
- American Planning Association, Small Town and Rural Planning Division
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
- National Association of Regional Councils
- Community Transportation Association of America
- American Public Transportation Association
- National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
- National Rural Transit Assistance Program
National health-related organizations
- Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
- National Association of County and City Health Officials
- National Rural Health Association and state affiliates
- Rural health associations
- Public health associations
Other national non-governmental organizations
State governmental departments and agencies
Local governmental departments, agencies and individuals
- Local policymakers, including legislatures or city council members
- Local planning departments
- Local health departments
Additional local audiences
- Foundations (for example, the NADO Research Foundation)
- Community-based organizations
- Business owners/employers
- Local universities/community colleges
- Healthcare providers
- Potential transit users
- Local advocacy organizations related to pedestrian safety, older adults, and people with disabilities
Resources to Learn More
Marketing
Transit Toolkit
Website
Provides a comprehensive guide to marketing rural transit programs. Includes how-to-guides on
marketing use for transit systems, marketing plan development, and marketing strategies. Templates
for marketing materials, along with a photo and graphics library are also provided.
Organization(s): National Rural Transit Assistance Program
Smart Branding
Attracts the Masses to Mass Transit
Document
Describes best practices and strategies for attracting riders to mass transit systems. Includes
guidance about disseminating and marketing of transportation services that is applicable to all types
of community transportation services.
Author(s): Stephens, J.
Organization(s): North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority
Date: 2014