Creating a Supportive Organizational and Policy Framework Luisa Paiewonsky USDOT John D. Pagini, AICP CCAPA PDO
Provides guidelines for the planning, design, and construction of: State Highways Local roads receiving Federal and State funding The standards and guidelines contain the following seamless elements: Integrated multi-modal approach Flexibility in design based on land use, historic, and environmental context A clear and robust project development process
Last major revision in 1997 Cities, Towns, RPAs, Advocacy Groups felt disenfranchised due to: A lack of guidance and inconsistent application of strategies to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists (often viewed as an afterthought ) Lack of design flexibility based on community values and constraints Frustration over project development unknowns and delays (i.e., time-consuming and expensive design exception process) Back to English units!
1999: Commissioner Matthew Amorello s Task Force on Roads in Historic & Rural Places 2000: Design Issues Working Group 2003: Highway Design Manual Task Force
Beginning in April 2003, the Highway Design Manual Task Force was formed The 28-member Task Force was comprised of representatives from municipalities, regional planning agencies, professional organizations, advocacy groups, and state agencies The process was bottoms up MassHighway at the table with other stakeholders Chairman of the Task Force was from among the other stakeholders The Task Force developed the Vision and Goals for the Guidebook and has been instrumental in guiding the rewrite of the document
Entities represented on the Task Force: MassHighway (now MassDOT) Executive Office of Transportation Massachusetts Highway Association State Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Local Departments of Public Works Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) Massachusetts Office on Disability
Entities represented on the Task Force (cont d): Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) Regional Councils of Government Massachusetts Municipal Association Federal Highway Administration Walk Boston Boston Transportation Department American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC Massachusetts)
Entities represented on the Task Force (cont d): Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation Massachusetts House of Representatives Construction Industries of Massachusetts City of Cambridge
Provide designers and decision-makers with a framework for incorporating context sensitive design and multi-modal elements into transportation improvement projects Insure that investments in infrastructure produce projects that are: Sensitive to the local context Meet the important needs of the people they serve
Provide an integrated multimodal approach to roadway planning and design Ensure that context sensitivity is integrated into the planning, design, and construction process Provide a clear, robust project development process
1. Introduction 2. Project Development 3. Basic Design Control 4. Horizontal and Vertical Alignment 5. Cross-Section and Roadside Elements 6. Intersections 7. Interchanges 8. Drainage and Erosion Control 9. Pavement Design! "# $ %& '($$) *#+,& -.!$. /
Encouraged throughout project development process and integrated into every task Identifies common constituents for projects Outlines outreach opportunities and tools
Identify problem/need/opportunity PNF reviewed by District Using a interdisciplinary team approach Usually includes a visit to the project site with community representatives District to assist community in defining process to move project forward District to advise community of need for additional planning and public outreach
Key Planning Tasks Part A: Define Existing Context; Confirm Project Need(s); Establish Goals and Objectives Inventory and Site Visit (s) Part B: Initial Public Outreach Early Local Issues Meeting Early Environmental Coordination Part C: Project Definition Development of Alternatives Evaluation and Screening of Alternatives Part D: Project Review and Refinement Additional Public and Agency Coordination/Review Part E: Final Recommendations
PIF reviewed by the Project Review Committee PRC description available on MassHighway Website Posting of PRC meeting schedule on Website Posting of PRC meeting agendas on Website District to notify community of outcome and any need for additional information. Posting of PRC results on Website (approve/not approve/additional information requested) Formal correspondence within 30 days of the meeting
More Formalized Process Defined Quarterly Meetings Agenda includes: Routine Maintenance Projects Bridge Projects PIF Projects PRC staff
Design Exception Early (beginning in Planning) Design Exception Requests (if necessary) part of the 25 percent design review (Functional Design Report) Incorporates category for Footprint Road projects Interdisciplinary design exception review committee: Commissioner, District PDE, Chief s Office, Project Management, Environmental, Traffic, Planning, Right-of-way, Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodation Engineer, and others as needed Response to designer/proponent within 30 days of a completed request
Ensure context sensitivity through an open, consensus building dialog Foster thinking beyond the pavement to achieve optimum accommodation for all modes Encourage good planning and early public outreach Achieve consistent expectations among project participants minimize surprises Ensure allocation of resources to projects that address local, regional, and statewide priorities and needs
Roadway Context (Area and Roadway Types) User Groups Pedestrians Pedestrians requiring mobility aids Bicyclists Drivers (transit vehicles, trucks, automobiles) Transportation Demands Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) Design Speed Sight Distance
Urban Suburban 9 area types defined as a compliment to functional classification to aid with context sensitive design Rural
Pedestrians Pedestrians requiring mobility aids Bicyclists Drivers Transit vehicles Trucks Automobiles
Transportation MOE s (for all users) Condition of facilities Safety and comfort Mode choice Network connectivity User population Traditional LOS Travel time Congestion Specific measures elsewhere 01&0/2 /3!3 )444!3 )4 /3! /354674! 8 94 # $:;
Design speed is a choice Choice of design speed needs to consider: Roadway context Implications for pedestrian and bicycle safety and comfort Implications for regional mobility To ensure safety, the choice of design speed needs to be informed by existing operating speed and the likelihood of change associated with the design Flexibility is provided to allow design speeds lower, the same, or higher than existing operating speeds, depending on the project s purpose
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Changes: Adds description of context relationship to alignment Minor adjustments to superelevation guidance (banking through turns)
Reframes cross-section design principles: Pedestrian-Bicyclist-Motor Vehicle 5 cross-section design approaches Modal elements described from right-of-way edge to centerline Design guidance for the cross-sectional elements retailored to emphasize context and interactions among modes
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Achieving a desired flow for one user group can diminish the capacity for another group The designer should carefully consider the needs of the various user groups The goals of a balanced multimodal capacity should supersede the goal of maximizing motor vehicle flow
Chapter 7 - Interchanges: Guidance for continuity of multimodal accommodation Guidance to maintain character of roadways through interchanges Chapter 8 Drainage and Erosion Control Provides detailed hydrologic and hydraulic procedures Companion to recent MassHighway Storm Water Management Handbook which presents BMPs. Chapter 9 Pavement Design Discussion of alternative pavement types Typical design for low volume roads
NEW: Coordinated with update of MassHighway Bridge Manual and not a detailed approach to design Contextual influences on bridge design Environmental and community impacts Aesthetics blending or signature elements Historically significant bridges Major design elements Multimodal Accommodations Inventory and management of bridges
NEW - Chapter 11 Shared Use Paths & Greenways Guidelines for the planning & design of paths and trails NEW - Chapter 12 Intermodal Facilities and Rest Areas Location and summary design guidance Park & Ride, Transit Centers, and Rest Areas
NEW: Design Objectives Corridor Design Considerations Roadside Landscape Design Guidance Design Elements Vegetation Protection and Preservation Project Documentation
NEW: Types of effects Collisions, habitat loss, fragmentation, and altered quality Types of wildlife accommodation Signage, animal detection technology, public education and awareness, reduced speed limits, habitat alteration, fencing, wildlife crossing structures Wildlife crossing structure guidelines Massachusetts River and Stream Crossing Guidelines U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Programmatic General Permit Conditions
NEW: Description of applicability of access management strategies to existing and new roadways Describes basic approaches to access management Driveway design and spacing Approaches to managing turning traffic Traffic signal spacing and timing Treatment for minor roads at access-controlled routes Shared driveways and parcel interconnection Land use control suggestions for new development and retrofit of existing development
NEW: Description of applicability of traffic calming and traffic management to new and retrofit projects Describes four basic approaches Narrowing the real or apparent width of the street. Deflecting the vehicle path. Altering the vertical profile of the vehicle path. Preventing certain vehicle movements through road design, regulations or combination of both.
NEW: Chapter 17 Work Zone Management Description of MASSDOT s Traffic Maintenance Plan (TMP) guidelines Guidelines for the maintenance of pedestrian and bicycle accommodation Chapter 18 Plans, Specs, and Estimates Updated Practices: Plan Types Symbology Standard Sheets Special Provisions Estimating Procedures
Improved Communication and working relationships between MassDOT and Advocacy Groups More collaboration on laws, regulations, new policies Institutionalization of outreach and coordination
Backlog reduced from 75 to fewer than 5 Process is more predictable, transparent Most projects now do not need exception
Streamlining initiative that followed design guide reduced timelines by 40% STIP-programmed projects: 75% advertised in 1 st fiscal year Contracting and procurement timelines reduced Construction: on-time/on-budget greatly increased
Reduction in major controversies and project delays New partnerships applied to subsequent major projects (Longfellow Bridge) Small controversies quickly resolved
Hundreds of state and local engineers and consultants trained Model projects Strong support among engineering staff Creativity unleashed
Transportation Achievement Award, Institute for Transportation Engineers, 2007 Environmental Excellence Award, Federal Highway Administration, 2007 Outstanding Achievement in Public Works Award, New England Chapter of American Public Works Association, 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award, National Conference on Preserving the Historic Road, 2006
Transportation Planning Excellence Award, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration and American Planning Association, 2006 Excellence in Context Sensitive Design Award, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 2006 Excellence in Highway Design Award, Federal Highway Administration, 2006
QUESTIONS?