Integration of Context Sensitive Solutions in the Transportation Planning Process

FINAL REPORT

January 2007

U.S Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration Office of Planning
Publication Number: FHWA-HEP-07-014

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Table of Contents

• Project Background
  
  
• Task 2.1 - Literature Review
  • Methodology
  • Annotated Bibliography
    
    
• Task 2.2 - Assessment of CSS Applied in Transportation Planning
  • Survey
  • Principles of Context Sensitive Solutions for Transportation Planning
    
    
• Task 2.3 - Develop Tool-kit for Planners and the Public
  
  
• Task 2.4 - Conclusions: Summary of Findings and Recommendations
  • Introduction
  • Summary and Discussion of Findings
  • Coordination with Existing Policies
  • Recommendations for Implementation
  • Recommendations for Future Research
    
    
• Appendix A - State DOT/MPO and CSS-Related Professional Organizations Contact Lists
  • Contact Information for CSS, State DOTs
  • Contact Information for CSS, MPOs
  • Professional Organizations, Government Entities, NGOs, and Media that Support CSS-Related Activities
    
    
• Appendix B - CSS and Planning MPO Questionnaire Web-based Survey
  
  
• Appendix C - Toolkit Materials
  • Glossary (or PDF, 104KB)
  • Guiding Principles (or PDF, 131KB)
  • Q&As (or {PDF, 189KB)
    
    
  • Case Studies
    • Anchorage Bowl 2025 Long-Range Transportation Plan (or PDF, 237KB)
    • I-15 Landscape and Aesthetics Corridor Plan (or PDF, 285KB)
    • New Hampshire Transportation Business Plan (or PDF, 252KB)
      
      
  • Fact Sheets (PDF of all Fact sheets, 390KB)
    • Albany Region, New York
    • Chicago Region, Illinois
    • Lansing Region, Michigan
    • Tampa Region, Florida
    • Savannah Region, Georgia
    • St. Louis Metro, Missouri and Illinois
    • Greensboro Region, North Carolina
    • Daytona Beach Area, Florida
    • Greater Seattle Region, Washington
    • Tennessee Department of Transportation
      
      
• Appendix D - Matrix of Case Studies and Fact Sheets by CSS Principle Highlighted (or PDF, 59KB)

PDF of full report, 1.8MB
PDF of Appendices, 4.8MB

Project Background

Since the 1998 "Thinking Beyond the Pavement" workshop, the national movement of the use of context sensitive solutions for project development is well documented. Better understanding of the application of CSS principles in the transportation planning process will further enable appropriate, cost-effective, and successful integration and application into the planning and project development process to inform and influence context sensitive design/solutions in a more widespread and consistent manner. The goal of this project is to investigate emerging successful practices, case studies, and policy guidance that can promote integrating CSS principles in the transportation planning process.

The project includes a general review of the relevant literature and current planning practices. Using the 1998 CSS principles for project development as a point of departure, a set of principles applicable to transportation planning was developed. Materials for Web and print publication were prepared that include the principles, questions and answers related to implementing practices based on the principles, and case studies and fact sheets highlighting examples of CSS integration into transportation planning.

This report provides documentation of a survey of current practices in planning agencies and the development of the toolkit materials. The report concludes with a summary of findings, recommendations for implementation, and identifies several areas needing future study.

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To provide Feedback, Suggestions or Comments for this page contact Danyell Diggs at danyell.diggs@dot.gov.