This section provides an overview of CSS. What it is and how it can help to shape transportation projects around the country. Feel free to browse through the topics below or search for a particular page by entering a keyword in the search box below or clicking on "Advanced Search."
Welcome to the March 2007 edition of the ContextSensitiveSolutions.org newsletter. This newsletter will keep you informed of updates to the ContextSensitiveSolutions.org website as well as other CSS-related news & information.
In This Issue:
The recent TRB Annual Meeting in Washington DC attracted over 10,000 participants, an attendance record for the event. CSS workshops, paper presentations, and business meetings attracted a combined total of more than 650 attendees. Scott Bradley, Chair of the TRB joint committee Context Sensitive Design and Solutions Task Force recaps the event. Read More >>
Integration of CSS in Transportation Planning Process
The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) at the North Carolina State University conducted an FHWA-sponsored research project to determine best practices associated with integrating context sensitive solutions (CSS) into the transportation planning process. An annotated bibliography includes sections on current research initiatives, and applications and policies at national, state, and regional agencies. Deliverables also include an assessment of CSS as applied to planning, a tool-kit of fact sheets, Q&As, and case studies for both States and communities. A report summary includes findings and recommendations on ways to incorporate CSS into transportation planning based on research and case study evaluations. Check here for information coming soon. FHWA contact: danyell.diggs@dot.gov.
As part of its new Community Planning Toolbox, the Vermont Forum on Sprawl has published The Roadscape Guide: Tools to Preserve Scenic Road Corridors. This new resource helps communities conserve areas of open space between cities and villages to permanently preserve viewsheds and scenic gateways along road corridors. Read More >>
Last year, FHWA, in partnership with NatureServe and Defenders of Wildlife, conducted three workshops entitled "Linking Conservation and Transportation Planning: Partnership in Action" to assist State DOTs, MPOs and State and Federal resource agencies to better coordinate and integrate transportation and conservation planning data and activities. Presentation materials and other resources are now available to help streamline the transportation and conservation planning processes. States are being asked to volunteer to host the 2007 workshops. If interested, contact Michael Culp: michael.culp@dot.gov or 202-366-9229. Read More >>
"From the Margins to the Mainstream: A Guide to Transportation Opportunities in Your Community" is a publication designed to help communities demystify some of the complexities of transportation laws, programs, and processes. The Guide can help take advantage of opportunities to make communities healthy, safe, and livable. Read More >>
This study recommends engineering treatments to improve safety for pedestrians crossing high-volume, high-speed roadways at unsignalized intersections, in particular those served by public transportation; and recommends modifications to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) pedestrian traffic signal warrant. Read More >>
"Context Sensitive Solutions" has entered the lexicon at Wikipedia, the collaborative online encyclopedia. We invite you to edit and add to the article about CSS. Through Wikipedia, we can develop a standard, accessible definition of CSS to communicate both within the transportation community and to the broader public. Visit the CSS Wikipedia Entry >>
Upcoming Events and Announcements
Spring Calendar:
- APA's 2007 National Planning Conference (April 14-18, Philadelphia, PA)
Enjoy 200-plus conference sessions, mobile workshops, training seminars, and networking opportunities in a city more than 300 years old.
- CNU XV: New Urbanism and the Old City (May 17-20, Philadelphia, PA)
The annual Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) is the leading venue for new urbanist networking, collaboration, and education.
- TRB 2007 Summer Conference: "The Many Faces of Transportation Sustainability" (July 6-9, Chicago, IL)
The conference's theme will be explored from a variety of perspectives. Also included are the annual TRB Summer Ports, Waterways, Freight, and International Trade Conference and the Joint Summer Meeting of the TRB Planning, Finance, Administration, Freight, and Management Committees.
- 47th Annual Workshop on Transportation Law (July 6-9, San Diego, CA)
Sponsored by TRB. For additional information, please contact: James McDaniel.
- Full calendar >>
Submit Content to ContextSensitiveSolutions.org
ContextSensitiveSolutions.org is a collaborative website, and we welcome user submissions of resources to share with others in the transportation community. We are looking for case studies, presentations or papers on CSS, images of design elements, events for the CSS calendar, or news articles. You can also use the discussion forums to discuss any issue pertaining to CSS, or any article, case study or report on the site.
To contribute to the site, visit the Contribute Content page. The top submissions will be featured in the next ContextSensitiveSolutions.org newsletter.
