Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) is an public involvement approach to planning and designing transportation projects based on active and early partnerships with communities and project stakeholders.
While the concepts of CSS may not be new to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation they have just recently been incorporated into the way the Department develops project public involvement practices. CSS involves a commitment to a process that encourages transportation officials to collaborate with stakeholders from the community and environmental resource groups so the design of the project reflects the goals of the people who live, work and travel in the area. Such collaboration results in creative and safe transportation solutions.
Numerous NHDOT engineers, planners, project managers and community relations representatives, as well as consultants and community leaders have been trained in CSS techniques: flexible design, respectful communication, consensus-building and community participation, negotiation and conflict resolution.
NHDOT Practices
- Context Sensitive Solutions Project Approach
- NHDOT CSS Process
- CSS Steps
- CSS Bridge
- Scaling CSS by Project Type
NH Case Studies
- Bow Concord I-93 Project 13572
- Meredith US 3/NH 25 Project 10430
- Pelham Town Center 14491
- Dublin Town Center
- Walpole-Charlestown 14747
Project Information
- Public Involvement Plans - Samples
- Placemaking
- Audit Form
- List of Materials Needed
- Problem Statements - Samples
- Vision Statements - Samples
- Screening Criteria - Samples
- Bow-Concord
- Meredith
- Pelham
- Dublin
- Working Group Examples
- Public Meeting Notices - Samples
Informational Material
- NCHRP 480: Best Practice for Achieving CSS
- FHWA: Flexibility in Highway Design
- ITE: CSS Design for Major Urban Thoroughfares
- NCHRP Document 69 - Performance Measures for CSS - A State DOT Guide
- NHDOT Training Course Overview
- Maryland DOT: When your Main Street is a State Highway
- Washington State DOT
- Cal-Trans: Main Streets - Design Flexibility
- Idaho DOT: CSS Guide
- Michigan: Smart Growth Tactics
- New Mexico: DOT CSS Guide
- Dan Burden: Building Communities with Transportation
- Oregon DOT: Historic Streetscape Design
- Thinking Beyond the Pavement
Additional Web Site Links