The principles of Idaho's vision parallel and support a Context Sensitive Solutions approach in the Idaho Transportation Department. The vision principles address the fundamental questions related to mobility, community benefit and stewardship of the system along with exploring new methods to coordinate transportation planning and multimodal corridor preservation activities in the corridor planning process. Idahoans can assist the Idaho Transportation Department in developing focus areas, strategies, and action plans to address economic, social, and environmental impacts; in interacting with the business community and each other; and jointly searching for flexible funding alternatives.
The Idaho Transportation Department adopted an Environmental Ethic (Board Policy B-13-03) in November of 2005 to guide its work in a manner that employs a Context Sensitive Solution approach. On December 17, 2005, the Idaho Transportation Board adopted the Context Sensitive Solutions approach as a policy. Following the formal adoption of this new policy, the Director issued a memorandum instructing the Department to implement the Context Sensitive Solutions approach in all of its programs.
Since no two projects are exactly alike, public involvement tools and techniques should be tailored to reflect the particular character of each project including its group of stakeholders, its geographic location, the successes and failures of previous public outreach programs, and the level of complexity and controversy.
Written Communication through the use of fact sheets, brochures, newsletters, project websites, legal notices, and newspaper advertising keeps stakeholders about a project’s progress, final decisions and construction schedules.
Small Group Communication in the form of stakeholder interviews, focus groups, Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs), and workshops should be very clear about the level and methods of stakeholder participation, what participants can expect, influence or not influence, and decision-maker assumptions about the issues.
Large Group Communication provide a time and place for two-way interaction between stakeholders and agencies where people can discuss issues of consequence and listen to opposing viewpoints while giving a chance for agencies to respond directly to comments and dispel rumors or misinformation.
Communities in Motion – A six-county, 20 plus year plan that address issues on the regional transportation system, evaluates the needs for future corridors and addresses the effects of growth on transportation.
CSS Training Experience
After the initial adoption of context sensitive solutions by the Idaho Transportation Board in 2005, managers throughout IT D were given training on how to implement this practice into all department projects, plans, and programs. The ITD’s department manuals address the need for context sensitive solutions integration into the transportation system. ITD is committed to employing context sensitive solutions as a standard design approach rather than a design exception.
