History

During the 1990s highway design changed rapidly throughout the United States. Highway designers and builders learned that they must be more sensitive to the impact of highways on the environment and communities. New and better ways of designing highways began evolving following the completion of the Interstate system, based on growing interest in the improvement of highways and their integration into the communities they serve.

Following the substantial completion of the U.S. Interstate system, the transportation focus for many states shifted to congestion management and system preservation projects that involve existing facilities. Most of these existing facilities were substantially developed, and transportation improvement projects would affect this development. Working with community stakeholders to preserve and enhance the human and natural environment thus became a significant component of these projects. To best address the challenges of these projects, many state transportation agencies and professional organizations began implementing a context sensitive solutions approach for planning and project development.

Milestones in the history of CSS show how the field has evolved beginning in 1969 with the passing of The National Environmental Policy Act requiring transportation agencies to consider adverse impacts of road projects on the environment. Momentum was gained in the late 1990s when the Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration conducted Thinking Beyond the Pavement: National Workshop on Integrating Highway Development with Communities and the Environment While Maintaining Safety and Performance in May 1998. This workshop was co-sponsored by AASHTO and FHWA with the advice and support of the National Workshop Advisory Committee.

Momentum in the effort to advance CSS implementation nationwide continues with FHWA's 2003 Performance Plan identification of "Environmental Stewardship & Streamlining" as one of its three "Vital Few Goals". Within this goal, is an objective to incorporate context sensitive solutions into planning and project development in all 50 states by 2007.

The FHWA and partners launched a nationwide CSS website in 2004 as well as the inclusion of language in SAFETEA-LU in 2005 promoting consideration of CSS core principles in planning and project development processes.

The State of the Practice

Context sensitive solutions (CSS) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders in providing a transportation facility that fits its setting. It is an approach that leads to preserving and enhancing scenic, aesthetic, historic, community, and environmental resources, while improving or maintaining safety, mobility, and infrastructure conditions.

With society's changing expectations of state departments of transportation, traditional approaches to highway and structure constructions are altering to be more context sensitive in both design and method. The public expects state DOTs to expand their responsibilities to address the impacts on communities and environment as well as safety and mobility. The opinions, views, and values of citizens and stakeholders are essential in developing the best solutions and travel choices for society.

This poses challenges for state DOTs to balance the competing needs with limited resources. The CSS philosophy seeks to understand the larger context such as physical, social, economic, community, political, and cultural impacts and to find the right transportation solution for the particular context.