Abstract:
The Internet is a unique medium for the distribution of information, and it provides a tremendous opportunity to take advantage of people's innate interest in transportation issues as they relate to their own lives. In particular, the World Wide Web (WWW), with its ease of use and graphical nature, will allow the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to better explain and illustrate transportation ideas and solutions. To do this, a web site must be interesting, or at least informative. The Boston MPO's WWW site has available the Congestion Management System (CMS) First Annual Report. Not simply a document available on-line, the Boston CMS site will attempt to stimulate interest in the Boston area. Three goals have been established for the CMS site. The first is to provide another vehicle to encourage public participation. Secondly, it allows people to search for only what interests them, to pursue threads, and to send comments to the MPO. Lastly, it allows the MPO to present background information for people who are interested in more details. This latter goal in particular is a work in progress - information will be made available on-line gradually, as the MPO gains knowledge and has the resources. This paper briefly summarizes the justification and current state of the CMS WWW page for the Boston MPO.
