Project Abstract

State Route 397, the Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway in Williamson County, is the primary transportation concern of the city of Franklin. Due to huge demands on current and future traffic, local and state officials have requested for TDOT to improve the existing route and study the feasibility of extending the Parkway to the western portion of Williamson County. This action would create a complete loop around the city, avert traffic away from downtown Franklin and provide motorists access to other major routes in the area.

- Excerpt from Mack Hatcher Parkway Entry -

Overview

The team evaluated possible context sensitive solutions for the widening of existing MHP and for a new western extension through undeveloped agricultural and historic areas. The design team, led by Wilbur Smith Associates, worked closely with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to develop an effective CSS process to realize the goals and values of safety and mobility with the preservation and enhancement of aesthetic, historic, environmental, and community values.

Located in Historic Franklin, Tennessee, the CSS process was critical to preserving and enhancing the existing environment. CSS sought to minimize disruption to historically significant sites, commercial and residential areas, and the natural landscape. By utilizing the CSS process, public stakeholders and the Citizen Design Team gained a thorough understanding of the historic, aesthetic, archaeological, community, economic, cultural, environmental, recreational, and scenic elements that make up the context of MHP.

As one of the first CSS efforts in the State of Tennessee, Mr. Ed Cole of TDOT said Mack Hatcher Parkway is the “benchmark project which TDOT views as a model for future CSS efforts.” By promoting public acceptance, consensus building, trust, and positive relationships with stakeholders, the CSS process is proactive rather than reactive, which makes for prompt and lasting decisions, improves project delivery and cost effectiveness, and creates better facilities for the community. It works to maintain an important balance between the region, user, community, and environment.

By understanding the context of the project setting, the consulting team was able to work with the Citizen Design Team (made up of 17 citizens) and Agency Resource Team (made up of representatives of key agencies such as TDOT, Nashville MPO, State Historic Preservation Office, Harpeth River Watershed Agency, FHWA, City of Franklin) to determine the elements they value as central to the definition of the area and to develop a sensitive design approach.

By incorporating the public in key decision-making, consensus was built on all design elements. By documenting these design decisions throughout the project, and regularly reviewing these with the CDT and ART, the design team was able to move ahead on design development based on a mutual understanding. This trust should be of future value to the engineering profession by providing a model for project development and community input.

The CSS process is expected to develop as one of the leading planning practices for TDOT in the future, with the success of the MHP Context Sensitive Design project serving as the standard.

CSS Qualities: Process

The Tennessee Department of Transportation and the City of Franklin, Tennessee, along with local stakeholders, partnered to guide the Context Sensitive Solutions process and develop design recommendations for the Mack Hatcher Parkway western extension and improvement to existing MHP. Wilbur Smith Associates led the CSS process and provided the necessary tools for the Citizen Design Team and Agency Resource Team to make informed decisions on potential design solutions. The consulting team listened to all stakeholders and then developed design recommendations for a roadway that corresponds to the team’s vision of a fully integrated transportation facility. Sensitivity to MHP’s surroundings required a thorough understanding of the various elements which make up its context. Historic, aesthetic, archaeological, community, economic, social, cultural, environmental, recreational, and scenic elements shape the project area and affect MHP’s final design. The Contextual Understanding Report, established early in the process, documented these elements and provided a foundation for the roadway’s future design and was developed as a result of the Mobile Workshop.

With the goal of heightening participants’ awareness of the visual aspects of the corridor, CDT and ART members traveled the entire MHP loop as closely as existing road patterns would allow during the Mobile Workshop. Provided for each participant was a map identifying key elements and the bus route. The corridor was divided into inventory segments based on location of major intersections to allow for more organized record keeping. A worksheet prompted participants to examine such factors as vegetation, topography, land use, spatial character, and other features. During the workshop, the group had the opportunity to pull over at various locations, allowing for more detailed examination. Throughout the workshop, there was lively discussion as participants asked questions and shared information. The inventory process familiarized the team with known contextual elements of the corridor that would be consistently considered throughout the CSS process.

Perhaps one of the key elements in meeting the CSS principles was the public involvement process. In addition to the involvement of the CDT and ART, there was a heavy focus on innovative public involvement procedures. One of the innovative procedures included full motion video fly through describing the corridor's features and proposed improvements. The video was narrated by members of the CDT and ART. Furthermore, CDT members were active participants in the public meetings and workshops and facilitated most of the discussions regarding the corridor.

CSS Qualities - Outcomes

Through close coordination with TDOT, the City of Franklin, Williamson County, and other agencies, Wilbur Smith worked to evaluate a range of appropriate ideas in order to develop design recommendations to establish social, economic, and sustainable design. Key elements of the CSS process included safety and mobility, an extensive public involvement plan, roadway enhancement and aesthetics, contextual understanding, constructability, economic feasibility, and economic development opportunities. The CSS process was a vital means of maintaining the important balance between the goals of safety and mobility and the preservation and enhancement of aesthetic, historic, environmental, and community resources.

   Mack Hatcher Parkway Entry

   MHP Executive Summary

   Mack Hatcher Informational Booklet