The application of CSS principles within the transportation planning process assists regions and communities reach their transportation goals by encouraging the consideration of land use, transportation, and infrastructure needs in an integrated manner. When transportation planning reflects community input and takes into consideration the impacts on both natural and human environments, it also promotes partnerships that lead to “balanced” decision-making. This is a core principle of CSS.
– From Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning (FHWA)
Integration of CSS in Transportation Planning Planning Process – The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) at the North Carolina State University conducted an FHWA-sponsored research project to determine best practices associated with integrating context sensitive solutions (CSS) into the transportation planning process. An annotated bibliography includes sections on current research initiatives, and applications and policies at national, state, and regional agencies. Deliverables also include an assessment of CSS as applied to planning, a tool-kit of fact sheets, Q&As, and case studies for both States and communities. A report summary includes findings and recommendations on ways to incorporate CSS into transportation planning based on research and case study evaluations.
– From Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning (FHWA)
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (Q&As) have been developed to highlight several illustrative approaches, techniques, and practical application examples for reflecting CSS considerations in transportation planning. These Q&As address issues such as: how CSS principles can be reflected in transportation planning; current examples for applying CSS principles in transportation planning; and the potential for CSS to help streamline transportation decision-making.
– From Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning (FHWA)
The last several years have seen a surge in innovative thinking and practice among MPOs nationwide, and their work has inspired this new, free guidebook to help MPO staff, board members, and civic leaders find innovative ways to make communities prosper.
The Innovative MPO offers a range of new ideas in planning, programming, technical analysis and community partnership, from those that cost little in staff time or dollars to more complex and expensive undertakings.
– From The Innovative MPO
Metropolitan Area Transportation Planning for Healthy Communities
This white paper by the USDOT’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Planning develops a framework for metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to use to successfully consider health throughout the transportation planning process. The report is a resource for transportation planners, their transportation partners, and new partners in the health field.
Statewide Transportation Planning for Healthy Communities
This white paper, the second in a series from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), presents insights and a flexible framework for State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) that choose to integrate public health considerations into their transportation planning and decision-making. It draws from five case studies of DOTs and their partners, and builds on the project team’s previous white paper in this series, which focused on metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and the metropolitan area transportation planning process: Metropolitan Area Transportation Planning for Healthy Communities (“MPO white paper”). The audience for this white paper is DOTs that are interested in considering health in their planning and related activities; this paper is also a resource for the health and transportation partners of these DOTs.
