CONTEXT SENSITIVE

SOLUTIONS

NM Infrastructure & Finance Conference 2006

Right Sizing A Project for our Home Towns

Joe J. Sanchez, PE.

NMDOT CSS Division Manager

NMDOT CSS Status

• Context Sensitive Solutions

– Transportation Solutions +

Community

• Integrated Transportation Services

– Pavement Design Solutions

– Professional Services Contracting

– Environmental and Urban Design

Who are our Clients?

• You are our Clients- the citizens who use our transportation facilities

• Why do we care- we need to provide multimodal transportation Facilities that equally address safety, mobility, the environment, historic and local values and the respect the cultural uniqueness of our State.

Environmental & Urban

Design Unit

• New Initiative at NMDOT

• CSS Guidance Document for Planning, Development, Design, Construction, & Maintenance-ATRI

• Visual and Architectural Design Guide-UNM

• Artists on Call for Aesthetic Guidance-

• Engineering and Architectural Perspective for “Balanced design”

– Engineer, and two Landscape Architects, plus collaboration with design teams for CSS Management Plans for development & design

Why is this important to me?

• FHWA CSS CRITERIA Level 4

– Level 4: Meets CSS/CSD Criteria

– (from the 2/27/2003 CSS/CSD Game Plan)

Criteria A - there is a written commitment or policy.

Criteria B - technical staff is trained in CSS approach, both in field and central offices and across disciplines (planning, environment, design, right-of-way, operations, maintenance).

Criteria C - most projects are being implemented using CSS approach, tools, and methodologies.

Criteria D - there is early, continuing, and iterative public involvement throughout the project development process.

Criteria E - interdisciplinary teams are involved in the process from the beginning to the end.

Measurement Framework for CSS

Multi-disciplinary teams Community engagement Agreement on project problems & needs Alternatives analysis Construction

Training Manuals Policies Motivation

Timeframe and Budget Stakeholder satisfaction

Achievement of Project Vision & Goals Stakeholder satisfaction Quality Assurance Review

From small towns to

urban centers Arterials ( Rural/Urban)

higher mobility

low degree of access

Collectors (Rural/Urban)

balance between mobility and access

Locals (Rural/Urban)

lower mobility

high degree of access

What’s that Chart got to do

with Me?

• Characterize the Roadway and

Land Use

– Cars

– Cars & Trucks

– Cars/Trucks/People

– Cars/Trucks/People/Farms &

Ranches/Industry/Zoning

– Cars/Trucks/People/City

Life/Industry/Zoning

Designing for the Facility

• Identify Design Controls – Functional Classification

– Terrain

– Location ( Rural/Urban-mixed)

– Traffic Volume

– LOS

– Design Driver and Vehicle

• Speed

• Project Type – New Construction

– Reconstruction of Existing

– 3R ( Resurfacing, Restoration, & Rehabilitation

Are we to smart for our own good?

• The Engineers Trap.

– We really want to help!

– We think we can solve everything!

– We think we can design a solution right away!

• Do our stakeholders really what us to help that

much?

– Stakeholders want to be heard!

– Stakeholders want to understand why we design the

way we do!

– This doesn’t mean giving up responsible engineering

charge!

Role of the Design Professional

• Develop safe, effective, creative

alternatives

• Communicate Stakeholder concerns &

issues for Decision Makers

• Participate in the Project Decision

Process

• Incorporate Public Input w/Env. Doc’s

• Document Project Decision’s

• Assure Community Issues are addressed

through the construction phase

We don’t want to end up all

Wet because we didn’t

listen!

Applying CSS in Terms of

Design And Flexibility

• Sustainability

– Adapt to Facility

– Resources ( Public/Agency)

– Community Traditions and

Roles

Context Sensitive Solutions

• Planning,

• Development

• Design

• Construction

• Maintenance

• And integrating NEPA along the way

for Safe, multimodal, designs that

integrate, enhance and preserve

our unique environmental heritage

Its about making choices

That are safe, feasible, respect

the environment and fit your

community.

Time for a little group

interaction