• What is CSS/D?
• Benefits of CSS/D
• Applying CSS/D
• CSS/D Process
• CSS and Design
• Case Studies
• Webinars
• Resources
• Key References
• History

Going the Distance Together: Context Sensitive Solutions for Better Transportation - A Practitioner's Guide

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Transportation and Quality of Life
  • 1.1 – Why Do I Care?
  • 1.2 – Who is Responsible for the Future?
  • 1.3 – How Can We Get There?
• Chapter 2: Defining Context, the Foundation of CSS
  • 2.1 – What is Context and Why is it Important?
  • 2.2 – What Questions Should a Practitioner Ask to Define Context?
  • 2.3 – How Can Different Disciplines Help to Define Context?
  • 2.4 – Why Consult Citizens as part of Defining Context?
  • 2.5 – What Methods, Resources, and Tools Can Help to Define Context?
• Chapter 3: Shaping Transportation Decisions
  • 3.1 – How Do We Make Decisions?
  • 3.2 – What are the Processes and Products for Each Phase of Project Development and Delivery?
  • 3.3 – What is the Difference between Project Development/Delivery and Operations & Maintenance?
  • 3.4 – What are the Controlling Factors in Transportation Decision-making?
  • 3.5 – What Aspects of Decision-making are Outside of DOT Authority?
• Chapter 4: Going the Distance Together – Partnership through Collaboration
  • 4.1 – What Can Communication, Collaboration, and Consensus Accomplish?
  • 4.2 – What are the Opportunities for Collaboration? What Does a Collaborative Partnership Look Like?
  • 4.3 – What are some Challenges to Collaboration?
  • 4.4 – What are Successful Methods and Strategies for Collaboration and Consensus-building?
  • 4.5 – How can we Measure the Effectiveness of Processes and Solutions?
• Afterword
• Appendix: Resource Links
• What is CSS?

Click image to view Citizen’s Guide

Introduction: A Reader’s Guide

Transportation professionals comprise a very diverse group of individuals that not only represent multiple disciplines, but also expertise on multiple modes of transportation and phases of transportation decision-making (policy, planning, programming, environmental studies, design, construction, operations, and maintenance). In short, there are many professionals involved in the “life of a transportation project.” This guide speaks to all these professionals as “transportation practitioners” charged with helping provide mobility options to all citizens to support a good quality of life.

The focus of this guide is to help the practitioner build collaborative relationships; understand citizen values, interests, and needs; and produce effective and efficient decisions. There are several reasons why this is important, as presented in Section 1.1. The concept of “walking in another person’s shoes” is an appropriate metaphor to explain the purpose of this guide. The overarching goal of this guide is to help practitioners find common ground with citizens by listening to them and understanding how transportation affects their quality of life. This guide is a companion to the Citizen’s Guide, which is focused on helping citizens understand the life of a transportation project, including their own roles in the process and the professional expertise and responsibilities of practitioners. The key message being conveyed by both guides is that practitioners and citizens share responsibility for solving transportation problems. However, this also implies that each group must work hard to understand and embrace the other’s perspective and co-create shared solutions.

A core focus of this guide is translating citizen and practitioner perspectives through the lens of quality of life considerations. This is done within the guide by emphasizing the importance of using interdisciplinary team expertise and consensus building techniques to define context and shape transportation decisions. While this guide does not provide a prescription for every type of challenge that practitioners face, it does provide a framework for understanding transportation as an element of the quality of life within a community or region, and provides examples, resources, and tools to help deliver transportation projects that enhance a community’s quality of life. Some of the benefits this approach can provide to practitioners include:

• Improved customer/stakeholder satisfaction
• Reduction in agency costs of delivering its projects, programs and services
• Delivery of projects on time and within budget
• Cultivation of relationships that lead to financial partnerships
• Assistance with prioritizing project needs and allocating limited funds
• Increased job satisfaction

This guide uses the concept of “Context Sensitive Solutions” (CSS) as its foundation.

“CSS is a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders in providing a transportation facility that fits its setting.” – AASHTO and FHWA, CSS Strategic Planning Process Summary Report

The “What is CSS?” page provides additional information on the CSS process.

While it is best to review the entire guide, it is organized such that practitioners can browse to the sections of greatest interest to them. There are many hyperlinks to resources throughout the guide that lead the readers to a wealth of resources intended to help practitioners meet the expectations of the citizens they serve while being professionally and fiscally responsible.