Two-day interactive workshop presenting recent research on quantifying the benefits of CSS, applying performance measures to four NMDOT projects, and discussing challenges and strategies to further implementing CSS. Also documented four NMDOT CSS case studies, collected design manuals that incorporate CSS and CSS case studies from other states, and researched CSS performance measures.
Beginning in September 2008, the consultant team began a series of conversations with staff at the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and the FHWA New Mexico division office about the challenges they face in accelerating the implementation of CSS across the department. NMDOT had taken many steps to implement CSS, including issuing a CSS policy directive, conducting mandatory CSS training for project development engineers, and developing CSS-related manuals and guidance. Nonetheless, there were misunderstandings about CSS, particularly the myth that CSS is an added expense and uncertainty about how to scale CSS to apply to smaller projects. NMDOT’s funding shortages exacerbated the situation by reducing project budgets, increasing the desire to cut out CSS as an “extra,” and the number of staff assigned to facilitate CSS implementation.
After the initial conversations with NMDOT, the consultant team conducted research in October 2008 to address three guidance needs identified by the staff: 1) example DOT Design Manuals from other states that incorporate CSS; 2) case studies of CSS projects in the southwest; and 3) example DOT performance measures that reflect CSS. The results of this research are linked under the Resources section below.
After this initial phase of assistance, the consultant team followed up with NMDOT in 2009 and 2010, eventually conducting a second phase of assistance consisting of an interactive 2-day workshop for 25 participants on March 3 and 4, 2010 in Albuquerque. The workshop:
