Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO CENTER HOME  
skip navigation
close window  
 
Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) Peer Exchange
 
Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Presentations

Overview of CSS implementation since the 1998 Thinking Beyond the Pavement Conference and goals of the peer exchange [PDF 658kb] Neil Pedersen, Administrator, Maryland SHA; Chair, AASHTO Context Sensitive Solutions Task Force

Project Delivery [PDF 1.63mb] Carol Murray, Commissioner, New Hampshire DOT

Multi-Disciplinary Teams [PDF 122kb] Fred Skaer, Director, Office of Project Development and Environmental Review, FHWA

Stakeholder Involvement [PDF 49kb] Gregg Albright, Deputy Director, Planning and Modal Programs, California DOT

Breakout Peer Discussions

Project Delivery

  • The conference participants were divided into eight groups for facilitated peer exchange discussions on how CSS is being integrated into the overall project delivery process. Examples of topics to be discussed included exploring the processes that present the biggest challenge for CSS integration, the relationship between CSS and value engineering, the effectiveness of training in accelerating CSS implementation, and innovative tools and techniques for supporting CSS.

Multi-Disciplinary Teams

  • The conference participants were divided into eight groups for facilitated peer exchange discussions on issues related to forming and managing CSS multi-disciplinary teams. Topics to be discussed were the challenges of forming and supporting internal and external CSS teams, team skills critical to CSS success, and innovative approaches to assuring coordination among related CSS teams.

Stakeholder Involvement

  • The conference participants were divided into eight groups for facilitated peer exchange discussions on issues related to soliciting, gathering, and using stakeholder input in the CSS process. Topics to be discussed included tools/techniques for effective partnerships and decision-making, successful approaches to understanding and managing potential cost and schedule risks associated with stakeholder involvement, and successful integration of community visions into CSS projects.

[back to top]
 
Thursday, September 7, 2006

Presentations

Keynote Luncheon - A Five Step Process for Successful Change Implementation [PDF 55kb] Tom DeCoster, Executive Director, AASHTO National Transportation Leadership Institute, Indiana University

Mainstreaming CSS - Leading Change: Integrating CSS in today's DOT [PDF 204kb] Neil Pedersen, Administrator, Maryland SHA; Chair, AASHTO Context Sensitive Solutions Task Force

Breakout Peer Discussions

CSS Project Presentations and Breakout Peer Discussions

  • In the CSS Project Presentations Session, conference participants were divided into eight groups to hear brief presentations about selected projects in rural, small urban, large urban, or design-build settings from project staff and stakeholders.
  • Following the presentations, conference participants had the opportunity to ask follow-up questions to explore the broad range of CSS applications within these projects.

CSS Principles Application

  • Delegates engaged with their project breakout discussion groups to summarize how the projects presented in the first session relate to the CSS definition and principles adopted at the 1998 Thinking Beyond the Pavement Conference.

Mainstreaming CSS

  • Maryland, Michigan, and Massachusetts discussed how they have approached mainstreaming CSS into their organizations, including the challenges, successes and benefits of such mainstreaming.
  • The conference participants were divided into eight groups for facilitated peer exchange discussions on issues related to mainstreaming CSS into their organization. Example topics to be discussed were organizational roles and responsibilities in successful mainstreaming of CSS, the role and importance of partners and stakeholders in supporting CSS implementation, policies and practices that create barriers to CSS implementation, and measuring CSS effectiveness.

Reference Materials

  1. Urban Projects
  2. Small Urban Projects
  3. Rural Projects
  4. Design-Build Projects

[back to top]
 
Friday, September 8, 2006

Presentations

Action Planning: [PDF 523kb] Kathy Ames, Deputy Director, Office of Planning and Programming, Illinois DOT

[back to top]
 
  Overview
  Above and Beyond: The Environmental and Social Contributions of America’s Highway Programs
  Annual Competitions
  Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) Peer Exchange
  DOT-Funded Positions Report
  Environmental Management Systems Products
  Environmental Stewardship Practices, Procedures, and Policies for Highway Construction and Maintenance
  Improving the Quality of NEPA Documents
  Managing the NEPA Process for Complex Projects Workshop
  Practitioner's Handbooks
  Programmatic Agreement Toolkit - A How To Guide
  Taking the High Road Report
   
  AASHTO Online Bookstore
  Purchase the Center’s products and tools in original, hard copy format through the online AASHTO Bookstore.
   
Context Sensitive Solutions
Copyright © 2008, Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO (the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)
 AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)