(f-5) The transportation agency shall provide an opportunity for public comment, which must, at a minimum, include one public meeting within an impacted community. The notice of a public meeting required under this subsection must include: (1) the date, time, and location of the public meeting required under this Section;(2) the date and time of all public meetings regarding the project;(3) where to access the project description required under paragraph (3) of subsection (c), if applicable;(4) the expected location of the project associated construction duration; and(5) a non-English version of the notice if 10% or more of the local population speaks a primary language other than English, which shall reflect the prevalent languages of the non-English speaking residents in that area.The public meeting is subject to the following rules:
(1) The public meeting must begin after 5:00 p.m. and be located at a venue that is in a location within an impacted equity investment community and easily accessible to residents of other impacted equity investment eligible communities.(2) The public meeting must be at a venue that is accessible to persons with disabilities and the owner or operator of the venue must provide reasonable accommodations, as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, upon request.(3) The transportation agency must provide translation services during a public meeting if a proposed project is located in an area in which 10% or more of the local population speaks a primary language other than English, if requested by a non-English speaking member of the public.During a public meeting, a proposer must:
(1) present the schedule and process for the project;(2) include a question-and-answer portion of the meeting to allow the public to ask questions; and(3) ensure that representatives that speak on behalf of the contractor are qualified and knowledgeable on the subject matter to answer questions posed by the public.The transportation agency shall have a representative present at the public meeting who is familiar with the proposed project. The transportation agency must create a meeting summary, including issues raised by the public, and respond to all questions in writing no later than 14 days after the meeting. The transportation agency shall post the summary and responses to the transportation agency's publicly accessible website and advise the telephone, email, and text lists along with the meeting summary document. The transportation agency shall ensure that the public meeting is made available to watch and participate in a meaningful way online and recorded. The recording shall be made available on a publicly accessible website.
After the public notice requirements are completed, the transportation agency may commence negotiations with a proposer, considering:
(1) the proposal has received a favorable comprehensive evaluation;(2) the proposal is not duplicative of existing infrastructure project;(3) the alternative proposal does not closely resemble a pending competitive proposal for a public-private private partnership or other procurement;(4) the proposal demonstrates a unique method, approach, or concept;(5) facts and circumstances that preclude or warrant additional competition;(6) the availability of any funds, debts, or assets that the State will contribute to the project;(7) facts and circumstances demonstrating that the project will likely have a significant adverse impact on State bond ratings; and(8) indemnifications included in the proposal.