Recently, the Town of Weston requested communications and outreach assistance from Capital Strategic Solutions for MassDOT’s proposed 3.7-mile Route 30 Reconstruction Project through the town. The project included design and construction of long-needed safety and mobility improvements, including a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. The Commonwealth would pay for the construction if voters approved the $600,000 in design funds.
With the most recent outreach about the project two years prior and with the vote regarding the required design expenses scheduled for Town Meeting in May, the Town knew the public needed the best, most-current and factual information to make their decision.
The CSS team worked quickly to get up-to-speed about project specifics and developed a plan to refresh the project website with the latest updates from Wright-Pierce, the project’s transportation design firm. And since it had been a while since any other constituent outreach had been conducted, the CSS team went to work designing a direct mail piece to inform every resident about the project details and upcoming vote.
“Libby and Mike, of the CSS Team, were critical to Weston’s vote in support of the proposed Route 30 improvements, including the shared-use-path, at Spring Town Meeting,” said Laurie Bent, Chair, Weston Select Board. “With no Town newspaper, and an electorate that was largely unaware of the impending vote, CSS designed and delivered updated website FAQs and helped the Town publicize the project. Working under extremely tight deadlines, they put together an information postcard that was mailed to all residents the week before Town Meeting. The CSS Team worked overtime to help Weston benefit from this important State public works program. Thanks, Libby & Mike—we couldn’t have done it without you!”
With CSS’s decisive evaluation and quick action, along with a fast turnaround time, the Town of Weston was able to reach every resident with updated and timely information, ultimately yielding a positive outcome for the project and the community.
For more information about how Capital Strategic Solutions can create your consensus-building community outreach and engagement plan, contact us at [email protected]. From social media campaigns and virtual engagement to in-person public meetings, multi-format surveys and more, Capital Strategic Solutions can develop and execute a strategic communications plan tailored for your community’s needs.