Caltrans is adopting Context Sensitive Design as a partner in keeping California's roads feel like you'd want to be there
This booklet emphasizes Caltrans' commitment to the production of transportation projects that make state highways that happen to be
local main streets more walkable and livable. It is a manifestation of a trend that is sweeping rapidly across America - and across California:
Context Sensitive Solutions. Caltrans recognizes the potential benefits
of measures such as reducing the number of lanes in a downtown, reducing lane widths, installation of traffic calming devices, lowered speed limits, angled parking, wider sidewalks, roundabouts, raised medians and a number of other street side amenities that provide a feeling that a town's main street is where you would want to be. None of these measures represent a reduction of the Caltrans commitment to safety or mobility; all are within the parameters of the Caltrans Design and Project Development Procedures manuals. Caltrans will continue to require appropriate justification for exceptions to design standards. Caltrans remains committed to the notion that people live, work and play in the communities through which our facilities pass. It is our duty, by recognizing the needs of both non-motorized and motorized modes of transportation, to assure that living space is a good space in which to live. We are committed to full cooperation with the citizens and elected officials of those communities to find transportation solutions that meet both our duty to protect the lives and mobility of travelers, as well as making main streets a good place to be.
Main streets provide access to businesses, residential roads and other nearby properties and serve pedestrians, bicyclists, businesses and public transit, with traffic typically traveling at speeds of 30 to 50 km/hr. Usually flanked with parking, they also accommodate public utility facilities within
the right of way. They may be regional, primarily serving adjacent communities
or even intrastate or interstate travelers, or they may serve mostly local needs. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has adopted a number of policies that encourage designers to respond to community values where state highways serve as main streets. Caltrans is committed to communicating opportunities for accommodating a community's values when discussing the design of projects on main streets with community stakeholders.
This summary identifies concepts that may be compatible with community values
while assuring safe and efficient operations for vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and highway workers. These guidelines are not intended to
supersede the Caltrans Transportation Planning Manual, Project Development
Procedures Manual, Highway Design Manual, Traffic Manual, or other established manuals, procedures or practices. These guidelines are not a set of standards, but are guidance and are to be used to complement established design practices, policies and standards. Deviations from Caltrans policy or standards to meet community requests will require an engineering analysis and, when appropriate, an approved Design Exception Fact Sheet for nonstandard features.
Partnerships - Funding and Responsibilities
Successful implementation of livable community and Context Sensitive Solutions
(CSS) depends on a commitment to the principles of partnership. Although each
partner has different roles and responsibilities, the community and Caltrans must commit to working together to develop the best solutions.
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