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Context Sensitive DesignCE 453 Highway Design

Iowa State University

Howard R. Green Company

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Where do we want to end up?

• Understand the concepts of CSD

• Apply CSD to a real project process

• See where the theory of CSD has been successful

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Background

• 1991 ISTEABalanced transportation projects with community and environmental values.

• 1997 FHWA/AASHTO, Flexibility in Highway Design

Identifies flexible highway design tools available to help sustain important community interests without compromising safety.

• 1998 FHWA/AASHTO/Maryland DOT,

“Thinking Beyond the Pavement” National Workshop

Encouraged the best ways of integrating highways with their communities and the environment while maintaining safety and mobility.

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Context Sensitive Design

…is a collaborative approach, which involves all stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic, and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility.

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Principles

Qualities• Project satisfies purpose and need

• Safe facility for user and community

• In harmony with the community while preserving environmental values

• Efficient and effective use of resources

• Minimal disruption to the community

• Adds lasting value to the community

• Achieves excellence in people’s minds

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Principles

Characteristics• Establish multi-disciplinary team early

• Understand the community and valued resources before designing

• Involve a full range of stakeholders, purpose clear

• Process examines multiple alternatives

• Commitment to the process from top officials and leaders

• Open, continuous communication with stakeholders

• Public involvement process is tailored to the project

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Why is CSD Important?

• Promotes active citizen participation• Balances community needs with transportation

goals• Provides an integrated development framework• Seeks stakeholder and community values• Puts the customer first• Enhances community acceptance• Encourages a lasting public works legacy

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Benefits

• Making development decisions for the right reasons

• Better protection for the environment and other community assets

• Projects look and fit better into their physical setting

• Enhances community livability and sustainability

• Can save time and money by reducing “rework” cycle

• Creates opportunities for design excellence

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What is Context?

Context is everything related to the environment, places, and people where a project is located.

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Every Project has Context!

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Understanding Context

• Natural Resources

• Community Resources

• Cultural Resources

• People

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Natural Resources

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Natural Resources

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Community Resources

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Community Resources

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Cultural Resources

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Cultural Resources

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Context Sensitive DesignTH 61 Corridor Study

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                     We are Here

Public Open HouseAdvisory Committee MeetingTime to Complete Task

2001 2002 2003May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.

Project Management

Data Collection

Needs and Issues Assessment

Develop and Evaluate Alternative Solutions

Draft and Final TH 61 Corridor Transportation and

Access Mgmt. Plan

Early and Continuing Public and Agency InvolvementPartnership Among: Mn/DOT – Counties – Cities – Townships – State & Local Agencies – Corridor Stakeholders

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DOT/Municipality/etc.

Advisory Committee-Provide Input

-Provide Business Perspective-Identify Deficiencies

-Suggest Mitigation Strategies-Provide two-way communication between

Advisory Committee and organization

Context Sensitive Design Workshop-Identify Community Values and Issues-Identify Opportunities and Constraints

-Consider Roadway Safety-Develop Corridor Vision

Residents-Identify Issues

-Review and Comment on Mitigation Strategies

Design Consultant-Provide Technical Support

& Analysis

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Why are we going through the process?

• Create a suitable corridor

• Identify community values & issues

• Guarantee the opportunity to participate

• Share stakeholder viewpoints, visions, and goals

• Understand the transportation constraints

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What won’t this workshop do?

• Determine corridor alignment

• Guarantee everything will happen

• Accuse or be confrontational

• Win or Lose

• Compromise safety

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Goal

To BALANCE:

•Community values

•Environmental considerations

•Safety and capacity

•Economic realities

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Stakeholder Input

An opportunity to bring YOU, the community stakeholders, into the project study process early:

– to provide input as individuals and community representatives

– to identify community issues

– to share values

– to determine important elements related to the project

– to consider what the BALANCE between safety, capacity, community, and environment is fair and practical

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Traffic & Transportation Issues

• Truck vs. car traffic

• Destination vs. thru traffic

• Pedestrian Circulation: safe crossings, bikeways

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Business & Commerce Values

• Maintain small town image vs. the strip

• Maintaining good commerce flow-goods, services, people

• Maintaining appropriate land use – residential, business, industry

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Environmental Values

• Visual & scenic preservation

• Cultural – architecture, archeological, historical features

• Natural resources – wetlands, lake, bluffs

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Tourism & Recreation Values

• Should this be a destination community corridor?

• What is the emphasis on local & regional tourism?

• What is the importance & value of recreation in the corridor?

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The BIG question is…

What is the

BALANCE

between community/corridor and transportation needs?

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• Analyze and Evaluate Input from CSD Workshop

• Develop Alternatives to Balance:– Safety– Mobility– Environment– Economic Investment

• Present Alternatives to Advisory Committee for Review and Comment

• Revise Alternatives

• Public Information Open House – Present Feasible Alternatives for Review and Comment

40TH 61 Corridor Study

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Successful Projects using Context Sensitive Design

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What Defines a Successful Project?

• Community Acceptance

• Environmental compatibility

• Engineering and technical credibility

• Financial feasibility

• Timely delivery

Lake Place, Duluth

Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel TH 61

Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel TH 61

Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway TH 38

Gooseberry Falls, TH 61

Gooseberry Falls, TH 61

Gooseberry Falls, TH 61

Alternatives and Design Flexibility Studies

Alternatives and Design Flexibility Studies

Desired Outcome:Design Excellence

Desired Outcome:Design Excellence