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a� <br />° °w III T III ' 111.l", VI IIPTA ° °w� <br />Department of Transportation and /or the Federal Transit Administration using the form <br />provided in Exhibit 7. <br />VI. Public Participation /Community Outreach <br />As an agency receiving federal financial assistance, OPT has made and continues to <br />extend many public participation /community outreach efforts. OPT has engaged the <br />public in its planning and decision - making processes, as well as in its marketing and <br />outreach activities. Through 2013 and 2014, the public was invited to participate in the <br />following activities: <br />• August 2013 Bus Service Expansion Public Outreach Meetings — Four (4) public <br />outreach meetings were held at four (4) different locations throughout the OPT <br />service area to solicit input through surveys, comments and other exercises <br />regarding where and how within the county existing bus services should be <br />improved and new bus service should be developed. <br />• May and June 2014 Bus Service Expansion Public Outreach Meetings — Four (4) <br />public outreach meetings were held at four (4) different locations throughout the <br />OPT service area to present information and receive feedback on bus service <br />improvement and expansion plans developed from prior public input <br />opportunities. When new service or major service changes are proposed, <br />information is disseminated to the affected service area, and public meetings are <br />scheduled and held. <br />• Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard) meetings, which are <br />advertised and open to the public, were held throughout 2013 and 2014 with <br />multiple agenda discussion and action items involving OPT transit service, <br />including service change proposals, and will continue to be held on a monthly <br />basis. <br />• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Plan public meeting, public hearing and <br />30 -day public open comment period were held February 2015 to provide the <br />opportunity for public participation in a major update to OPT's complementary <br />ADA paratransit service plan and the certification process for eligible users. <br />• Public hearings held before the County Board of Commissioners in the fall of <br />2013 and 2014 for OPT's proposed use of federal and state grants for rural <br />services it provides, as well as administrative and capital projects. These public <br />hearings will continue each fall and will correspond with federal and state grant <br />applications. <br />6 <br />