Context Sensitive Solutions
Click here to learn how CTAQC is working with IDOT to make the Prairie Parkway Context Sensitive.Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS), requires state road construction policies and practices to foster travel choice in an individual corridor and to respect the existing built and natural environment. Travel choice was widely demanded by the public during CTAQC's public outreach process, Connecting Communities. CSS requires the state to engage in a collaborative planning process that includes local officials, local and regional economic and cultural organizations, and the general public.
CSS emphasizes safety and conservation of community resources. CSS encourages careful project design to accommodate all roadway users. Incorporation of all travel modes promotes travel choice for all community residents. Besides mulit-modal benefits, CSS works in harmony with social, economic, natural and cultural environments within a community.
Principles
- Designs in harmony with the community's environmental, scenic, aesthetic, historic and natural resource values
- Involves a full range of stakeholders
- Accommodates all travel modes and user safety
- Engineers and builds with minimal disruption to the community
- Adds lasting value to the community
Why does Illinois need Context Sensitive Solutions?
Transportation choices in Illinois represent complex issues for local and regional stakeholders. Illinois' landscape, communities and valued resources need to be understood before engineering design is started. CSS goals promote increased flexibilty through modeling alternatives and continuous stakeholder input. Stakeholder participation reduces project costs because later redesign and litigation expenses are avoided. This collaborative effort will allow project designs to reflect user needs, community values, and environmental considerations. Once completed, tranportation projects will recieve more public support and provide greater benefits to local communities.
Visions of Success
Early and continuous public involvement is a Context Sensitive Solutions cornerstone. To assure flexibity and openness to new solutions, all stakeholders must be involved in an open process to balance the needs of the entire community.
Further Information
Illinois Department of Transportation