Not Just Checking a Box: What Does Effective Stakeholder Engagement in Public Transit Look Like?

Public transit agencies must engage with stakeholders to be effective. However, many agencies struggle with such engagement, and efforts often become mere box-checking exercises or are derailed. Based on direct experience and research, the authors highlight strategies for stakeholder engagement that have proven more genuine and effective in achieving critical goals and milestones for transit agencies. These include building relationships continuously, engaging as a public service, and finally, knowing when it is time to move forward. If transit agencies can better employ these strategies as they tackle challenging projects and initiatives, they are more likely to find successes that resonate with their stakeholders.