Thomas R. Carper: “When I drove to the train station today, I went by all these buses, school buses, that over the years to come are going…”

Not really. I have just come from the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, which is having a hearing on the Key Bridge, the bridge in Baltimore that was badly damaged.

Public engagement can build trust, it can increase public buy-in, can help resolve issues, can help prevent litigation, and ultimately it can save time and money.

I usually default to the golden rule, and I think in this case it's a pretty good guide as well.

Last year, the Environment and Public Works Committee held, I think, not one, but a couple of hearings on permitting, common theme at our hearings, on the importance of public engagement.