Tricia Millington, RLA New York State Department of Transportation pmillington@dot.state.ny.us
Context Sensitive Principles: Context Sensitive Solutions is a philosophy wherein safe transportation solutions are designed in harmony with the community & the environment. CSS strives to balance environmental, scenic, aesthetic cultural, natural resources, community and transportation service needs. CSS projects recognize community goals and are designed and maintained to be sustainable while minimizing disruption to the community and the environment. Source: http://www.dot.state.ny.us/design/css/css.html
Context Sensitive Principles: Projects are in harmony with the environment. Project stakeholders are involved in decisions. Public involvement is the key. Community issues and concerns are identified early. Innovation is encouraged while supporting safety. Improvements in the environment are achieved above and beyond required mitigation.
Goal: NYSDOT is recognized and valued by communities and other agencies as a partner that strives to plan, create and maintain transportation facilities that respond to the unique conditions and considerations of every context.
Expectations of CSS: CSS process more completely identifies & defines issues, problems and opportunities. The process enables the development of viable alternatives that fit within the project area context. The result is a better project from the public s viewpoint. CSS adds value and maximizes efficiency, resulting in time and cost savings, and improved customer satisfaction.
Classic CSS Examples
Taconic State Parkway at Miller Hill Road
Taconic State Parkway at Miller Hill Road Project purpose: Improve Safety Before High number of accidents 30 daily bus crossings Appalachian Trail crossing After
Taconic State Parkway at Miller Hill Road Public demand for improvement 3,000 town residents and parkway users signed petition Issues: Miller Hill Road grade of 18% Natural Stream and waterfall Appalachian Trail crossing TSP s eligibility for National Register TSP s designation as a Scenic Byway
Taconic State Parkway at Miller Hill Road The stream running parallel to Miller Hill had to be placed in a culvert. A waterfall was recreated at the culvert outlet near the path of the Appalachian Trail
Taconic State Parkway at Miller Hill Road Numerous design features were replicated to maintain the historic and aesthetic quality of the Taconic State Parkway. Bridge coping Stone headwall
Route 372 Greenwich, New York
Route 372 Greenwich, New York
Rome, NY How can we become a quality community?
ISSUES: Downtown districts disconnected Strip Development Access to canal and bikeway is poor Access to train station is inadequate Pulled High School out of community fabric OPPORTUNITIES: Develop a road system that influences movement into downtown rather than circumventing it Create a gateway that opens views into downtown Link modal choices
CSS 101 Identification & Assessment of Existing Context Roadway characteristics Roadway Users Surrounding Land Uses Historic Districts and Sites Visual Resources Community Values
Existing Roadway Characteristics Configuration: Number of travel lanes, pedestrian facilities, bicycle facilities, etc. Alignment Speed: Posted and operating Traffic Volumes Accident History Climatic conditions Corridor type: Commuter, Trade, Tourism? **These are just examples, not all encompassing**
Who uses the roadway? Drivers: commuting through, commuting to, commuting from? Using cars? Trucks? Purpose? Riders: Using buses? Taxis? Bicyclists: Commuting through? Commuting to? Commuting from? Pedestrians: Where are the pedestrian origins and destinations? Age groups? How well does the existing transportation system serve its users?
What are the existing and proposed land uses? Agricultural, Industrial, Commercial, Residential? Is it a downtown area? What types of businesses Deliveries? Pedestrian focused or automobile focused? Is it a walkable community? Could it be? What developments are planned? How does the transportation system relate to existing and proposed conditions?
Are there Historic or Cultural Resources? What are they and where are they located? Are they within the immediate project area? Or is the roadway within the viewshed of the resource? How can the transportation system respect and reinforce the historical or cultural elements?
Are There Significant Visual Resources? Where are they located? Are they within the immediate project area? Or is the roadway part of the viewshed? How can the transportation system respect and reinforce the visual resource?
What Are the Community Values? Why did people choose to live in the area? What do people like and dislike about the area? What are the common themes? How can the transportation system respect and reinforce what the community values?
Public Involvement: User Input What is the context from the community s perspective? What do they see as problems, issues and opportunities? What is the context from the commuters perspectives? What do they see as problems, issues and opportunities? Which transportation system solutions balance our customer s needs?
NYSDOT receives American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Best Practices in Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) Award for Best Institutionalization at Annual Meeting on September 18th, 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee - NYSDOT Press Release
Institutionalizing CSS CSS Statewide Team CSS Policy Project Development Manual Public Involvement Manual Annual Context Sensitive Solutions Award CSS Training CSS website (www.dot.state.ny.us/design/css/css.html)
CSS Awards Program
A guide for: Preparing project PI plans PI with NEPA and SEQR environmental process Innovative PI techniques Available at: www.dot.state.ny.us/cmb/consult/dpm1/files/pdmapp2.pdf
NYSDOT: Where Are We Now? Executive management support Multi-discipline, team approach, integrated into project development process Early and continuous Public Involvement Planners, Project Designers & Engineers believe in it Current Issues: - Performance Management Practices - Land Use Integration & Transportation Planning
NYSDOT: Striving for Exceptional Results and Signature Solutions Questions?