This fact sheet is the first in a series published by ITE on the publication "Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares," and is an overview of CSS. A continuing challenge in planning and designing thoroughfares in urban areas is balancing the interests of travelers and community stakeholders. One group may focus on travel time and speed; other interests may be concerned with the character of the community. When freight carriers, emergency service providers, local business people, transit operators and other parties are brought into the picture, it becomes even more complex. In cities and town centers, resolving these multiple demands can be even more difficult because the wide range of objectives for the thoroughfare often is coupled with limited opportunity to expand or alter the public right-of-way.

The publication Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares provides a resource for practitioners working in the challenging practice of urban thoroughfare design. The principles are based on the evolving practice of context sensitive solutions (CSS), which integrates CSS principles into existing processes to facilitate informed decision-making that considers the needs, interests and constraints within a project. CSS provides a foundation for planning and design in urban areas by emphasizing a colloborative and multidisciplinary approach, coupled with an emphasis on the flexible application of design guidance. Use of CSS principles should begin in longrange transportation and land use planning processes, and continue throughout the entire project development process.

External Links:

More Information: www.ite.org/css/

Further Reading:

Fact Sheet: CSS in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities