I attend some public meetings and comment on some TIPs, mostly in NJ.
I find many public meetings are really just information sessions. What I say isn't written down, and who knows what is remembered or brought back for suggestions. I guess I could follow up with a written email/letter. Many times, it seems if a public official says something, it carries a lot more weight than if Joe Public says something, even though Joe may utilize the road on a daily basis, and the public official may rarely use that intersection, but heard a complaint from 90 year old Margaret that our roads are too dangerous and is simply passing that along.
For the NJ TIP, which is actually run thru the DVRPC in Philly, my experience has been less than positive. A few years ago, I wrote 3 comments, all regarding state roads. For some reason, 2 of those comments were passed onto the County planning department, which responded back that they don't have jurisdiction for those roads (duh). The 3rd comment did get to the State, and the official response was that it would be looked into, but I never heard anything since.
For what it's worth, that comment was adding overhead signs on NJ 73 between the NJ Turnpike & 295. It's a short, busy stretch of roadway where lane positioning is important, and often times the smaller signs off to the right shoulder are missed due to trucks and other traffic, and aren't totally accurate anyway.
