The ITE Technical Conference in San Antonio, TX on March 19-22, 2006 will provide a forum to discuss Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities, a report being developed and to be published in 2006 as an ITE proposed recommended practice.

This report is for practioners involved in planning and design and will provide guidance and information for using flexibility in existing AASHTO policy and information for CSS in design of major urban arterials and collectors. The report is a joint effort between ITE and the Congress for the New Urbanism and is sponsored by FHWA and EPA.

The following two Special Sessions at the ITE Conference will provide a forum to gain feedback on this resource:

The Application of Context Sensitive Solutions in the Design of Major Urban Thoroughfares
This panel discussion will focus on how best to integrate context sensitive design solutions in major urban thoroughfare planning and design while adhering to established design and engineering principles in accordance with AASHTO and FHWA. It will address the relationship and compatibility between a thoroughfare and its adjacent land uses and surroundings (context), and how context affects thoroughfare design decisions.

Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares
This conversation circle will provide an interactive format for participants to offer direct feedback on the ITE/FHWA report, Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares.

Other sessions related to CSS:

Agency Challenges of Integrating Context Sensitive Solutions
What are the key aspects of integrating context sensitive solutions within an organization? Session 17 will frame the issues in a panel format to initiate dialog, with a roundtable (session 21) immediately following for more in-depth discussion.

Involving Communities in Land Use and Transportation Planning
Engaging stakeholders through visioning techniques, such as scenario planning, helps citizens, businesses and government officials understand the impact of growth, especially the relationship between transportation and the social, environmental and economic development of regions. This panel session will discuss these topics, including ways to ensure that community values are identified and considered when transportation and land use decisions are made.

Is High Density "Smart Growth?"
Are high-density communities really "smart" growth or do these communities only create more traffic and over-crowded neighborhoods? Participants will debate the ideas behind smart growth in a conversation circle format.

Engineers and Stakeholders "Trade Places" to Foster Better Communication
Engineers and stakeholders don't always see eye to eye. This conversation circle will discuss common stereotypes with the goal of fostering better communication between these groups of professionals.

Complete Streets: Can All Users be Equally Accommodated?
Is it possible for a street system to equally accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists? This question will be discussed in a conversation circle format, encouraging alternative viewpoints.

Liability: A Real-World Issue in Accommodating All Users
Accommodating all transportation system users creates challenges, such as tort liability or legal claims filed by injured users alleging a deficiency in the system for transportation engineers. This panel session will discuss lessons learned to better accommodate non-motorized users.

For more information on the conference and for registration, please visit www.ite.org