1. Context Sensitive Solutions in Massachusetts: “Communities First”
Stephen H. Burrington
Deputy Chief of Commonwealth Development
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

2. Communities First Origins
Longstanding demand from communities
Examples of context-sensitive projects dating to at least 1980s
Footprint bridge program – model for VT
Municipal traffic calming and other design experience
Directive on community outreach (2002)
Recent Footprint Roads Program
The Communities First policy is designed to ensure that the state transportation agencies principles of context-sensitive solutions are regularly used by implementing agencies. But most importantly, Communities First means that MassDOT will solicit and incorporate community input into all phases of project development and implementation including planning, design, and construction, and operation. The initiative will ensure early coordination with communities, historic and environmental agencies – a critical factor in the development of community-friendly projects. The early action program presents an early opportunity for action on the Communities First Initiative.

3. Communities First: A New Priority
Governor Mitt Romney
Commitments
Responsive government
No agency “silos”
Careful use of every dollar
Sustainable development
Appointments
Doug Foy – Chief of Commonwealth Development
Dan Grabauskas – Secretary of Transportation and Construction
The Communities First policy is designed to ensure that the state transportation agencies principles of context-sensitive solutions are regularly used by implementing agencies. But most importantly, Communities First means that MassDOT will solicit and incorporate community input into all phases of project development and implementation including planning, design, and construction, and operation. The initiative will ensure early coordination with communities, historic and environmental agencies – a critical factor in the development of community-friendly projects. The early action program presents an early opportunity for action on the Communities First Initiative.

4. Communities First Overview
Statewide Road and Bridge Policy (Jan. 27, 2003)
Fix It First
Communities First
Incorporated into daily decision-making – design and process/relationships
Highway Design Manual revision
Ombudsman being appointed
The Communities First policy is designed to ensure that the state transportation agencies principles of context-sensitive solutions are regularly used by implementing agencies. But most importantly, Communities First means that MassDOT will solicit and incorporate community input into all phases of project development and implementation including planning, design, and construction, and operation. The initiative will ensure early coordination with communities, historic and environmental agencies – a critical factor in the development of community-friendly projects. The early action program presents an early opportunity for action on the Communities First Initiative.

5. Footprint Roads Program
Allows for resurfacing/improvement on roads in protected or sensitive areas
Applies to selected non-NHS roads
Provides for bicycle and pedestrian improvements without widening
Documentation of accident record

6. “Ready to go” Community Friendly Projects
Initial list: Result of collaboration with communities, increasing flexibility in design
Additional Projects: Based on further review of projects and pending requests for design waivers
MassDOT has identified projects in the 2003 program that have come about as a result of a collaborative process with the host community. In many cases the the projects were recommended by community advisory groups initiated by MassDOT. In other cases there was initial disagreement about design issues that were resolved though a collaborative and inclusive process. These projects should be announced and advanced as a group, to signal to the public that the Communities First Initiative has begun implementation.

7. Highway Design Manual Revision
To incorporate principles of
Context-sensitive Design
Traffic calming
Multimodal accommodation
Advisory committee central to process
To be completed by late 2003
Goal: Define the state of the art
The Design Manual should expand its scope to be a policy-driven as well as engineering driven document. In addition to re-examining current design guidelines, the new Manual should include an overhauled Design Exception Process, guidance on the Bicycle Accommodation Law and should address the full range of Context Sensitive Design principles.
If Pilot Program is Launched it should be formally adopted in the manual, along with the role and responsibilities of the Ombudsman. Once the Manual is completed, MassDOT should undertake intensive training of staff engineers and offer workshops on the changes to communities around the state.

8. Advisory Committee Composition
Urban, suburban, rural municipalities
Regional planning agencies
Massachusetts Municipal Association
Environmental (parks) agency
Historic preservation, conservation interests
Pedestrian, bicycle advocates
FHWA
Others
MassDOT will recommend a list of potential members, including those listed above. The group should be as diverse as possible and include a wide array of persons who have had different experiences with the state’s transportation system and agencies.

9. Advisory Committee Process
Draws on expertise of municipal transportation and planning officials
Reflects range of public interests affected by projects
Proceeds from review of best practices
Relies on subcommittee structure
Has intensive meeting schedule
…And a skillful, committed chair
MassDOT will recommend a list of potential members, including those listed above. The group should be as diverse as possible and include a wide array of persons who have had different experiences with the state’s transportation system and agencies.

10. Community Friendly Projects
Hopkinton, Footprint Bridge

11. Community Friendly Projects
Newburyport, Timber Bridge

12. Opportunities and Challenges
“No brainers”
Getting design speed right
Early and effective community involvement
Some special issues
Traffic calming on higher-volume or –speed roads
Parkways
Gateways to towns and villages
Pavement for bicyclists
Measuring our performance
Goal: The Dan Grabauskas Feat
Much of the work of implementing Fix It First and Communities First is Underway. The Bridge Management System and identification of community friendly projects have already begun, and the agencies are poised to continue implementation once the overall plan is approved.
The next significant steps are the appointment of an Advisory Group to oversee revisions to the design manual; the implementation of the community-friendly projects and the launching of the Footprint Roads Program; and the development of project selection criteria that can be applied to the 2004 TIPs. These will be the first opportunity to demonstration the Romney Administration’s commitment to provide quick action on its policy initiatives.