The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) will hold a 45-day public comment period on a proposed amendment to the Public Participation Plan (PPP): Engage NWI. The comment period begins June 9, 2026, and ends July 23, 2026.
The complete text of the PPP, with the proposed changes on pages 19 – 25, can be found HERE.
The proposed amendment adds Appendix A: Procedures and Strategies to Engage Interested Parties, Including Traditionally Underserved Populations, which provides additional detail on how NIRPC identifies, provides notice of public participation opportunities, employs strategies for outreach to traditionally underserved populations, and selects public meeting locations, consistent with the policies and procedures outlined elsewhere in Engage NWI.
Engage NWI is the federally required “Public Participation Plan” that enables NIRPC staff to ensure that it is meeting all federal requirements for public participation, as well as a guide that enables the public to engage with regional transportation planning.
Comments may be submitted until 5:00 pm July 23, 2026, in the following ways:
- Online: Public Comment Form
- Email: comments@nirpc.org
- Phone: 219-763-6060
- United States Postal Service: NIRPC, 6100 Southport Road, Portage, IN 46368
All comments received during the 45-day public comment period will be compiled into a public comment report and responded to. This report will be made available to the public and distributed to the relevant NIRPC committees prior to any action on this item. It is anticipated that a recommendation will be made at the August 4, 2026, meeting of the Transportation Committee, followed by action at the August 20, 2026, meeting of the NIRPC Executive Board.
Requests for alternative formats may be directed to NIRPC by calling 219-763-6060 or by emailing comments@nirpc.org. TTY users may use the Relay Indiana service by calling 711 or 800-743-3333.
NIRPC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Council of Governments for La Porte, Lake, and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana. Working collaboratively across the region, NIRPC coordinates regional comprehensive planning and programming for transportation, economic development, and environmental policy.