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December 14, 2016
June 2017
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.
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1. Report No. FHWA-HEP-17-084 |
2. Government Accession No. |
3. Recipient’s Catalog No. |
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4. Title and Subtitle Final Summary Report Context Sensitive Solutions Technical Assistance: Washington State Department of Transportation |
5. Report Date June 2017 |
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6. Performing Organization Code |
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7. Author(s) Cian Fields, David Carlson, Gary Toth |
8. Performing Organization Report No. |
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9. Performing Organization Name and Address The Cadmus Group, Inc. 100 Fifth Avenue, Suite 100 Waltham, MA 02451 |
10. Work Unit No. (TRANS) |
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11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-11-D-00031, order no. 5007 |
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12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Federal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590 |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered Final Report |
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14. Sponsoring Agency Code |
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15. Supplementary Notes |
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16. Abstract The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is sponsoring a Technical Assistance (TA) program to support states in applying Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) to challenges they face in the transportation sector. FHWA is also inviting states that have completed a CSS process to join a virtual peer exchange where they can share information and lessons learned. Each state and state agency faces unique issues, but the results and key findings of these CSS efforts can offer valuable insight to other states. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has earned a reputation as a leader among states in applying CSS and practical solutions principles to its transportation project planning process. In 2015, WSDOT issued a new design manual which characterizes practical design as “a means to produce environmentally conscious, sustainable, context-based designs that achieve the purpose and need for the lowest cost. Implementing practical design considers the needs of all users, fostering livable communities and modally integrated transportation systems used safely by all, including motorists, freight haulers, transit, pedestrians, and bicyclists.” In addition, WSDOT has promoted practical solutions as a framework for implementing practical design, good asset management, performance-based decision making, community engagement, and least cost planning. The primary purpose of the TA workshop detailed in this report was to help WSDOT create a process for better applying the principles of context identification and Performance Metrics to actual project design and construction. WSDOT wished to examine its existing guidance and identify opportunities to improve it—in collaboration with state transportation engineers, planners, and key policy personnel, and with input from key stakeholder groups. This report documents the workshop, including workshop background, purpose, and objectives; key takeaways from the workshop; the agenda; list of attendees; a summary of all presentations and discussions during the workshop; lessons learned from the discussions, and recommendations for WSDOT from the workshop facilitators as WSDOT develops its updated design manual. There are three appendices for the report: detailed context identification questions and associated metrics developed during the workshop, process improvements generated during the workshop, and the process improvements from Appendix B, aggregated into six overarching issues. |
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17. Key Words Context Sensitive Solutions, CSS, Washington State Department of Transportation, Design Flexibility, Practical Design, Practical Solutions, Performance Metrics, Context Identification |
18. Distribution Statement No restrictions |
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19. Security Classif. (of this report) Unclassified |
20. Security Classif. (of this page) Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages 35 |
22. Price |
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