Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach

The ITE Recommended Practice, Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach, advances the successful use of context sensitive solutions (CSS) in the planning and design of major urban thoroughfares for walkable communities. It provides guidance and demonstrates for practitioners how CSS concepts and principles may be applied in roadway improvement projects that are consistent with their physical settings. The report's chapters are focused on applying the principles of CSS in transportation planning and in the design of roadway improvement projects in places where community objectives support walkable communities-compact development, mixed land uses and support for pedestrians and bicyclists, whether it already exists or is a goal for the future. 

This document was produced in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and in partnership with the Congress for the New Urbanism. 

Purpose of this Web site

The Web site has been developed to help practioners with tools and information that are easily available for download. Links below allow you to: download the pdf of the publication; link to the bookstore in order to purchase the publication; download the committee report summary; download and reproduce copies of fact sheets that explain the concepts of CSS; download and disseminate a press release with general information pertaining to the publication; download white papers and the comments procedure; and download a PowerPoint with general principles of CSS explained. 

• Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach: An ITE Recommended Practice - 2010
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• Order a copy of the publication
• View the 508 Compliant Web site

The additional resources posted below are based on the ITE proposed recommended practice Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities published in 2006. It is intended that these resources be updated to be consistent with the new recommended practice at a future time.

• CSS article -- for distribution
• Fact sheet 1 -- Overview
• Fact sheet 2 -- A Framework for CSS in Urban Thoroughfare Design
• Fact sheet 3 -- Design Controls in Context Sensitive Solutions
• Fact sheet 4 -- Using Context Zones and Thoroughfare Types in Design
• Fact sheet 5 -- Designing Boulevards and Avenues in Highly Urban Mixed-Use Areas
• Fact sheet 6 -- Designing Residential Avenues
• Fact sheet 7 -- Main Street Design
• Fact sheet 8 -- Designing Mobility Priority Thoroughfares
• Press release for publication
• White papers
  • Agency Challenges of Integrating Context Sensitive Solutions UDOT Perspective
  • Agency Challenges to Integrating Context Sensitive Solutions
  • Context Sensitive Design:  Implementing Flexibility In Transportation Design-Washington
  • Context-Sensitive Solutions in Multi-modal Urban Corridor Planning: Arlington, Virginia’s Experience
  • CSS in Network Planning: Minneapolis System Planning Framework
• 2006 Technical Conference Summaries
  • Implementing the Strategic Highway Safety Plan
  • Designing for All Users
  • Agency Challenges to Integrating Context Sensitive Solutions
• PowerPoint presentations
  • CSS Overview Presentation (27MB. Save to see notes.)
  • CSS: Design Phase of the Project Development Process
  • CSS Implementation: Debunking the Myths
  • Integrating CSS in the Planning and Project Development Processes
  • Fire and Emergency Response Considerations