The public shouldn't always have to come to you.

People are busy. JLA’s online open houses streamline the process of making project information available and accessible to the public on its own terms.

Video: 58 sec

We use a variety of customizable tools to help visitors navigate project information and provide useful feedback. They can be simple mobile friendly survey instruments or elaborate online exercises that feature maps, games, and videos.

Explore some of our open houses below or learn more

Lloyd to Woodlawn Neighorhood Greenway
Lloyd to Woodlawn Neighborhood Greenway

PBOT sought input on the design and location of a new neighborhood greenway in NE Portland.

Woodburn Transportation Systems Plan Update
Woodburn Transportation System Plan Update

The City of Woodburn sought feedback to help guide transportation investments over the next 20 years.

Oak Lodge Library
Oak Lodge Library

Clackamas County is looking for feedback on the location and preferred features of a new public library in the Oak Lodge community.

Downtown Salem Streetscape Plan
Downtown Salem Streetscape Plan

An opportunity to imagine and prepare for improvements to Salem’s downtown sidewalks now and into the future.

Oregon Route 211 Safety
Oregon Route 211 Safety

ODOT is making safety improvements to the intersection of OR 211 and Dubarko Road in Sandy and offers this opportunity to learn about and comment on the project.

Happy Valley Parks
Happy Valley Parks Master Plan

Learn about the planning process and provide your input on the parks projects and recreational opportunities you want to see in Happy Valley.

OR 99E Rockfall Improvement Project
OR 99E Rockfall Improvement Project

Learn about ODOT’s project to improve the stability of the hillside in two locations south of the Oregon 99E tunnel in Oregon City.

OR 99E Rockfall Improvement Project
New Park at Crowell Woods

Review the draft master plan of a new park that will meet the needs of the diverse Crowell Woods neighborhood.

Happy Valley Transportation System Development Charges
Happy Valley Transportation System Development Charges

The City of Happy Valley is updating its transportation system development charges. Learn what these are, why they matter and provide input.

Washington Parks Master Plan Update
Washington Parks Master Plan Update

Portland is looking for ideas and feedback to help shape the future of the city’s iconic Washington Park.

Clackamas County Transportation System Development Charges
Clackamas County Transportation System Development Charges

Clackamas County is updating its transportation system development charges. Learn what these are, why they matter and provide input.


Beaverton Active Transportation Plan

Help make Beaverton a better place for active transportation.


Portland Transportation System Development Charge Update

Learn about TSDCs, how they impact new development, and proposed changes


I-205 Paving: I-5 to Abernethy Bridge

ODOT is repaving a nine-mile stretch of roadway on I-205 south of Portland. Learn more and provide feedback.


Corvallis TSP

Creating a long‐range document that guides the expansion and management of the transportation network for all modes of travel over the next 20 years.

Previous 12


Washington County Transportation Futures

Evaluating long-term transportation strategies and investments to sustain economic health and quality of life.

Previous 11 - español2


U.S. 26 Widening

Once this project is complete, there will be three lanes in each direction of U.S. 26, from Cornelius Pass Road into downtown Portland.

Previous 1


Newberg Pavement Maintenance and Funding

The City of Newberg is exploring ways to ensure reliable funding for pavement maintenance.


U.S. 26 Boring Road Bridge Raising

ODOT wants feedback on the timing of the closure of the US 26 SE 282nd/Boring Road overpass.

Small Road Improvements
Small Road Improvements

These Washington County projects will improve pedestrian safety with the installation of walkways.

Riverwalk Schematic Design
Riverwalk Schematic Design

Working with residents to create a riverwalk that will honor the unique history and culture of Willamette Falls.

U.S. 26 Safety
U.S. 26 Safety

Construction of a project to improve safety along U.S. 26 on Mt. Hood.

RealTime Mt. Hood
Mt. Hood RealTime

ODOT is designing a project to place electronic signs on Mt. Hood.


99E Paving

In 2017, ODOT will repave 2.6 miles of deteriorated pavement on OR 99E, between SE Harold Street and SE Harrison Street.


Oregon Transportation Safety Action Plan

Oregon envisions no deaths or life-changing injuries on our transportation system by 2035.


OR 22 Safety

This project is intended to improve safety on OR 22 and prepare for an eventual interchange at the intersection of OR 22 and OR 51.


Oregon Passenger Rail

ODOT is studying ways to improve passenger rail service between Portland and the Eugene-Springfield area.

Previous 123


Clackamas Connections

Setting a path to help the Clackamas Regional Center grow as a mixed-use, vibrant area that supports many ways of getting around.


West Linn TSP

Revising local transportation planning goals, objectives and projects to reflect new growth and emissions control strategies.

Previous 12


Longview Drinking Water Improvement Study

In response to complaints and the results of the customer survey, the City of Longview and BHWSD began a study to evaluate options for improving water quality.


OR 224 Rockfall and Hazard Tree Removal

ODOT is working to improve safety along OR 224 by stabilizing rock slopes and removing hazardous trees.


OR 138 Safety

The OR 138E Corridor Solutions project will bring some big changes to downtown Roseburg.


Multnomah County Comp Plan

The Comprehensive Plan is a guide for how rural areas of Multnomah County should grow over the next 20 years.


Tigard Triangle

The Tigard Triangle Strategic Redevelopment Plan is meant to guide long-range growth and improvements in the area.


South Cooper Mountain

Concept and Community Planning process.

Previous 1

Learn more

Go on a tour of online open house features, and use some common online open house tools to give us your thoughts about how to make the online open house experience even better.

1
Learn about JLA's online open house philosophy. 
2
Video is an affordable and compelling way to add value to the online experience. 
3
Get answers to frequently asked questions and request more information. 

= Page includes questions or opportunities for comment.

"Whoever developed and managed this internet project needs an atta boy. This is very clear and concise which makes it easily understandable. There is no reason why anyone can say they did not know what was going on if they take time to read this."

Washington County Transportation Futures Online Open House Comment

What is an online open house?

The online open house (sometimes called a “virtual” open house) is a public involvement tool that can deliver information, solicit feedback, and encourage multi-faceted interactions between participants in a public process.

Done properly, online open houses can broaden community awareness, efficiently reach people over a wide geographic area, enhance the participant experience, and expand capacity for understanding technical information and complex data – all at the public’s convenience over an extended period of time … and often with less cost than a conventional open house.

Video: 1 min 58 sec

JLA’s online open house philosophy

  • Content should be accessible. We don't make users register or login before they can participate. As content specialists we'll work to make sure that content is concise, approachable, organized, and useful on a wide range of devices.
  • We should offer opportunities for feedback. Physical open houses allow for two-way communication and online open houses must provide opportunities for meaningful feedback that will inform the project.
  • Open houses should encourage dialogue. Visitors to online open houses shouldn’t feel like they are participating in a vacuum. Where it's useful, participants should be able to thoughtfully share ideas and interact with the ideas proposed by others.
  • Be simple. Be practical. Online open houses should be feasible within tight timeframes and within tight project budgets.

Benefits of online open houses

  • Convenience. People are often too busy to attend physical open houses. Multi-week online events allow visitors to interact with the project on their own time and on their own terms.
  • Wide geographic reach. Online open houses are ideal for reaching across large geographic areas where physical outreach would be impractical.
  • Cost effectiveness. Online open houses often reach over 10X the number of visitors as a physical event, with a much lower cost to visitor ratio. Online open houses also make it easy to reuse templates and borrow from preexisting tools and materials in order to shorten development times and reduce costs.
  • Diverse audiences. Online open houses that employ "responsive design" are useable on a wide range of mobile devices and faciliate information sharing and feedback with populations who may not have reliable wired internet access.
  • Allows unique tools. Online open houses are an ideal vehicle for sharing interactive information, large datasets, and "big canvas” technologies such as maps and large images that are unwieldy and expensive to print.
  • Different experiences for different users. Online open houses must simultaneously address the needs of newcomers who want to revisit long-decided issues as well as veteran stakeholders who have minimal need for project background. A well-organized online open house uses a variety of tools (text, images, video, interactive exercises) that let visitors quickly find the information they want and participate at the level they are comfortable with.
  • Tests your process. Online open houses are an opportunity to hone a message, evaluate questions, and gather feedback that can help a team virtualy model their process and rethink their approach to physical events.

More Info

Tell the Story With Video

Video doesn't have to be a complicated or expensive undertaking. When used properly, short videos can add tremendous value to an online open house by adding visual interest or explaining abstract concepts. We know we can't replace face-to-face interaction, but video does let us introduce the project team as human beings who are doing the best work they can on potentially contentious or difficult projects.

Video: 1 min 9 sec

Examples...


Physical open houses offer stakeholders the opportunity to get to know the people who will be working on a project. Online open houses aren't so lucky, but video allows you put a human face on potentially contentious issues.

Video: 1 min 17 sec

A picture is worth a thousand words, a video can be worth a million. We work to minimize the need for new content whenever possible, by leverage existing project diagrams and simulations.

Video: 3 min 17 sec

Simulation Credit: Slayden/Sundt Joint Venture

Statements from community members about the purpose of a project can be far more effective than commentary by the project team.

Video: 1 min 9 sec

Sharing opinions through video is a great way to let the public know that they have been heard and taken seriously. It also demonstrates to newcomers that many unique perspectives and opinions are being considered in the process.

Video: 1 min 13 sec
75% Complete

More Information

Thanks for taking the time to learn about JLA’s online open houses and for giving us some feedback about ways to make them better. The online open house concept is constantly changing and we learn something new with every project.

If you’re interested in learning more about doing online open houses with JLA, you can submit questions below and we’ll be happy to get back to you.

Get more information

100% Complete