State Definition
Context sensitive design (CSD) is a
collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all
stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its
physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic, and
environmental resources, while maintaining safety and
mobility. CSD is an approach that considers the total context
within which a transportation improvement project will exist.
Implementation Approach
The Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration's
(MSHA) approach to implementing Context Sensitive Design (CSD)/Thinking
Beyond The Pavement (TBTP) has included the following strategies and activities:
- Developed TBTP Implementation
Strategic Plan to guide the overall implementation effort (
April 1999).
- Co-Sponsored the National TBTP
Workshop in May 1998 to identify the project qualities and
process characteristics associated with context sensitive
project development.
- Established TBTP leadership team, TBTP working team, and
program coordinator position to support and coordinate the
implementation effort (Spring 1999).
- Conducted four project review charettes
involving a full range of project stakeholders that identified MSHA
project development process strengths and weaknesses in regard
to the application of established TBTP principles (spring/summer
1999).
- Developed a project evaluation instrument based on the project
qualities and process characteristics of the TBTP approach that
were identified at the May 1998 National TBTP Workshop.
- Conducted a two-day TBTP Implementation Workshop with 300
interdisciplinary participants that examined issues identified
in charettes and identified improvement strategies (November
1999).
- Established four Task Teams and 12 sub-teams to review and
implement the project development process improvement strategies
identified at the TBTP Implementation Workshop (Winter/Spring
2000)
- Developed Implementation Work Plans for all task teams and
sub-teams (Summer 2000).
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