The original mission of the CSS training was identified through the CSS Leadership Committee, including Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) who supported TDOT’s efforts to implement CSS because it is one of FHWA’s “Vital Few Goals” within their strategic plan. The strategic direction for CSS training was set from TDOT’s Executive leaders and Directors in 2006 with the release of the CSS Statement of Commitment and as an item within TDOT’s CSS Action Plan.
TDOT’s experience with Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) in the past was through utilizing consultant experience on several highly controversial projects to gain a consensus approach and recommendation to move forward on the projects. This “trial by fire” experience, although difficult at times, produced excellent results and gave TDOT the foundation to begin to implement a department-wide CSS program. In 2006, an inclusive group of TDOT leaders developed a Department Context Sensitive Solutions Statement of Commitment that served as an umbrella policy, setting the stage for using “the CSS approach on all projects” by declaring that CSS was TDOT’s philosophy for doing business. In the Statement of Commitment, TDOT stated that it would use CSS as a process to plan, design, construct, maintain and operate its transportation system in order to establish and achieve transportation, community, and environmental goals. This policy statement was introduced to TDOT personnel throughout the state through the presentation of a mandatory 2-hour CSS overview class given jointly by the Assistant Commissioners for Engineering and Environment and Planning.
While the overview class offered a brief introduction to TDOT’s policy and the CSS principles, the larger commitment to implementing CSS as a process Department-wide called for TDOT to develop a Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) training curriculum specific to Tennessee and one that explained the Department’s approach to the incorporation of CSS principles throughout the project development process. The CSS training was a key item in the Department’s CSS Action Plan. An Executive Leadership Team comprised of Department Directors and both Assistant Commissioners set the basic direction for the training development and implementation. In early 2007, an interdisciplinary CSS Training Implementation Team began developing a CSS basic training course that would be offered to various TDOT employees and key transportation partners throughout the state.
The training program is just one piece of a larger CSS action plan that TDOT is implementing. TDOT’s CSS Action has seven action items:
To date, TDOT has developed a CSS Cost/Benefit Statement; developed and implemented a CSS training plan; developed a communications plan; created an external CSS Advisory Group; developed a graphic showing how CSS is woven throughout the project development process and incorporated this topic into a module in the 2-day CSS training course. TDOT is currently in the process of reviewing Department manuals and implementing a Statewide Environmental Management System (SEMS). In addition to a number of other tasks, SEMS will track project commitments throughout the project development process.
One of the CSS principles that TDOT has focused on is stakeholder involvement. TDOT has developed improved processes for stakeholder involvement earlier in the planning process with consultation with Rural Planning Organizations as well as a transparent process for project needs development and an improved Transportation Planning Report process that gathered more information about project corridors in order to better link Planning and NEPA processes. TDOT has developed an external CSS Advisory Group comprised of resource agency personnel, members of interest groups and others to share information about the CSS process and begin on ongoing dialogue. TDOT has also begun creating processes and technology surrounding enhanced resource agency/partner involvement throughout project development with SEMS.
The Training Development Team developed clear goals with specific objectives and timelines for each training module as well as the development of the overall training. The training course was designed and delivered by TDOT personnel for both TDOT personnel and external partners, making the training sustainable so it can continue to be delivered as needed any time and throughout TDOT. The following Six TDOT-specific CSS training modules were created based on the objectives of the course:
In addition to the training curriculum, several tools for CSS implementation were developed to assist in the training and in actual project work. The CSS Project Development Graphic tool was developed to communicate CSS and demonstrate how it fits within TDOT’s project development process. This graphic also identified specific ways that CSS could be used by each general functional area which helps to communicate how everyone can use the CSS principles throughout the process. The other tool that was developed was the Context Screening Tool, a questionnaire that guided participants in consensus building regarding various aspects of a project’s context. Although this tool was developed specifically for the training, it is an example of a tool that could be used on a real project.
The training course was developed to be very interactive and to help the participant experience the process of understanding problem and vision statement development, and choosing public involvement techniques in regards to projects. It was also developed to have the participant interact in identifying ways in which CSS can and should be used in their area of expertise through group discussions about processes and how each participant can work to integrate CSS principles into their work as soon as they get back to the office. The ultimate impact of the training goes beyond information sharing to overall organizational change. In addition to the advancement of CSS implementation within TDOT, TDOT also hopes to spur the use of these principles within its partners’ organizations.
The training was complementary to many of TDOT’s other process improvement initiatives including: TN Environmental Streamlining Agreement (TESA), TDOT’s Early Environmental Screening (EES), TN Statewide Environmental Management System (SEMS), Project Accountability efforts, Commitment Tracking. The Team was successful in creating a curriculum that not only covered the CSS principles, but showed how the principles can be fully integrated into TDOT’s work.
There are two sets of customers that benefitted from the training. One set of customers is the TDOT employees and partners who benefitted by learning the principles of CSS and the examples, suggestions and tools on how to use CSS in their jobs. Another benefit this training offers is the ability for both TDOT employees and its partners, all with different expertise, to learn more about what each functional area does and how CSS can be implemented in each area. The training offers participants a high-level perspective of the project development process, while also letting each functional area discuss the general work they do towards traditional projects. This dialog, in addition to the discussion of how CSS can be further implemented in each functional area, offers a very valuable learning experience for all participants.
The secondary set of customers that benefit from this training are the citizens of Tennessee. By implementing CSS principles, the citizens of Tennessee will benefit through improved opportunities for meaningful input into the project development process, an open process, and ultimately the development of projects that fit within the context of the communities that they pass through.
Source: Tennessee Department of Transportation CSS Training Program
Published: 2010
