Thinking Beyond the Pavement Conference: The Qualities and Characteristics of CSS
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."
At the 1998 "Thinking Beyond the Pavement Conference," the definition of CSS was further defined by seven "Qualities that characterize excellence in transportation design," and by eight "Characteristics of the process that yield excellence." These "qualities" and "characteristics" are goals for any CSS project, and can also be used as evaluation criteria upon its completion.
The CSS Product: Qualities of Excellence in Transportation Design
The "Qualities that Characterize Excellence in Transportation Design"
- that is, of the physical end product of the CSS process - are:
The project satisfies the purpose and needs as agreed to by a full range of stakeholders.
This agreement is forged in the earliest phase of the project and amended as warranted
as the project develops.
The project is a safe facility for both the user and the community.
The project is in harmony with the community, and it preserves environmental,
scenic, aesthetic, historic, and natural resource values of the area, i.e.,
exhibits context sensitive design.
The project exceeds the expectations of both designers and stakeholders and
achieves a level of excellence in people's minds.
The project involves efficient and effective use of the resources (time, budget,
community) of all involved parties.
The project is designed and built with minimal disruption to the community.
The project is seen as having added lasting value to the community.
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Maryland Thinking Beyond the Pavement Conference
The CSS Process: Characteristics of the Process That Yield Excellence
"The Characteristics of the Process that will Yield Excellence in Transportation Design" are:
Communication with all stakeholders is open, honest, early, and continuous.
A multidisciplinary team is established early, with disciplines based on the needs of the specific project, and with the inclusion of the public.
A full range of stakeholders is involved with transportation officials in the scoping phase. The purposes of the project are clearly defined, and consensus on the scope is forged before proceeding.
The highway development process is tailored to meet the circumstances. This process should examine multiple alternatives that will result in a consensus of approach methods.
A commitment to the process from top agency officials and local leaders is secured.
The public involvement process, which includes informal meetings, is tailored to the project.
The landscape, the community, and valued resources are understood before engineering design is started. A full range of tools for communication about project alternatives is used (e.g., visualization).
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Maryland Thinking Beyond the Pavement Conference
from
NCHRP Report 480: A Guide to Best Practices for Achieving Context Sensitive Solutions
Article / Paper / Report
Thinking Beyond the Pavement Conference
Held at the University of Maryland Conference Center in May of 1998, Thinking Beyond the Pavement provided a landmark opportunity for 325 invited participants from 39 states and the District of Columbia to develop a vision of excellence in highway design for the 21st Century. Participants included chief engineers, senior designers and planners from 29 state departments of transportation, representatives of national transportation organizations, and a variety of stakeholders from government, the private sector, and citizens' organizations.
The workshop was developed under the leadership of the Maryland State Highway Administration's Administrator; Tony Kane, Executive Director, Federal Highway Administration; and Francis B. Francois, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). They formed an advisory committee of some 40 organizations to help define the direction and content of the conference, including professional associations, local and state government, regulatory agencies, and safety, environmental, scenic, historic preservation, and bicycle groups.
-- Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA)
Website
FHWA CSS National Website (opens in a new window)
This web site provides information on Context Sensitive Design/Thinking Beyond the Pavement efforts throughout the United States. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) are working in cooperation with a group of partners to maintain and update the site.
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Federal Highway Administration
Case Study
Canal Parkway, from Wiley Ford Bridge to MD 51 Cumberland, MD
Prior to this roadway project, severe traffic congestion occurred daily at the Virginia Avenue underpass (locally known as the "subway") of CSXT tracks and its intersection with MD 51. When this facility was blocked (by accidents or flooding) there was an extensive detour required through West Virginia to get residents back into their community. This effectively limited access to South Cumberland. As a result, improving the "subway" or providing alternative access into South Cumberland became a major goal of the study.
"When we have a challenging project, we should think of the process features needed to accomplish a winning solution. We should go in not with the idea that we may need design exceptions, but that perhaps we need to develop exceptional design criteria for that project. Part of the process should involve the appropriate stakeholders in discussion of what those criteria ought to be."
--
Tim Neuman, Consultant
"...the best of all roads are those which foster movement towards a desirable social goal."
