Kentucky was selected as one of the four original pilot states in September 1998 at a meeting on Thinking Beyond the Pavement. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) started developing their approach and training program after that date. This effort was assisted by an Environmental Leadership workshop held in December 1998 in Kentucky which helped to identify the barriers to change and strategies to hurdle the barriers. They used the Environmental Leadership workshop to educate both internal (Cabinet) and external (Consultant) employees.
The workshop proposed CSS training program as one vehicle for changing KYTC's approach and practice. The training program was rolled out in December 1999. The training is mandatory for all project managers (Cabinet and Consultant). Over 1200 people have been trained through this program, which continues to be offered. The training has been offered to a wide cross section of the organization, including personnel from design, environmental, planning, construction, legal, and operations. In addition to the Environmental Leadership and Context Sensitive Solutions/Design training course, the Cabinet in 2002 developed, in partnership with the Kentucky Highway Industries, a workshop on Context Sensitive Solutions for Construction. To the KYTC, CSS is a way of doing business. It is a mindset that applies to all projects.
Policies and Legistlation The Kentucky Department of Transportation has infused "Practical Solutions" into their CSS philosophy. The Practical Solutions philosophy is a subset to Context Sensitive Solutions and has added the idea that an improvement is considered on the basis of its contribution to the entire system instead of its individual perfection. This philosophy has challenged the DOT consider all possible options and alternatives and weigh the costs and benefits of a given project.
CSS Contact:
Jeff Jasper - Jeff.Jasper@ky.gov Phil Logston Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (502) 564-3280
In the training and real project applications, KYTC encourages the use of creative public outreach. In the course, they talk about communication, teamwork, and public involvement. They also discuss visualization, facilitated groups, collaboration, citizen advisory committees, informational meetings, charrettes, neighborhood focus groups, and structured public involvement. All projects are to have public involvement/outreach plans.
CSS Projects (in addition to those listed as Case Studies on this site):
I-64 Rehabilitation - Jefferson County
Paris Pike - Bourbon/Fayette County
US 150 - Perryville, Boyle County
Pine Mountain Spot Improvements - US 119, Letcher County
Cemetery Road and I-65 Interchange - Bowling Green, Warren County
My Old Kentucky Home - US 150, Bardstown, Nelson County
US 68 Reconstruction/Realignment - Outside of Shakertown, Mercer County
CSS Training:
A cross-section of their organizing and consulting industry has been trained - numbering over 1,200 people and counting. All training is conducted by the University of Kentucky Transportation Center and Cabinet personnel. The DOT continues to teach CSS at training conferences and their Project Development Academy.
Training materials can be found on the website at: www.ktc.uky.edu. For more information, contact Jerry Pigman, 859-257-4513, jpigman@engr.uky.edu.
