Sessions that were offered in New Jersey

WHAT IS CONTEXT SENSITIVE DESIGN (CSD)?

This introductory session, a prerequisite to all CSD sessions that follow, conveys the philosophy and overall approach of Context Sensitive Design and introduces the variety of new and enhanced skills that CSD requires. Topics covered include the national movement towards CSD, the experience of other states, an overview of the big picture of the DOT project-delivery process, the importance of a "sense of place" in designing transportation projects, and an overview of new approaches to the design of roads, including the liability issues they may raise. Speakers: DOT Commissioner Weinstein; Dick Dunn, Director of Design, NJDOT; Sally Oldham, Oldham Historic Properties; Barbara Lawrence, New Jersey Future; Fred Kent, Project for Public Spaces.

PLACEMAKING: How to Define the Problem

This session teaches a unique "placemaking" approach for evaluating and planning for places that enhance communities, adapted specifically for NJDOT projects. The session teaches new project-initiation skills that support the goals of Context Sensitive Design, and seeks to increase awareness of the factors that communities consider when faced with a transportation project. The goal is to help participants understand that broadening the definition of "the problem" and uncovering latent opportunities are the first steps of a CSD process. Participants will be divided into small teams to visit and analyze sites in New Brunswick that illustrate how to look at a place with new eyes. Come dressed for the weather; wear comfortable shoes for walking. Instructors: Steve Davies, Vice President, and Toni Gold, Senior Associate, Project for Public Spaces, national "placemaking" specialists.

FLEXIBLE DESIGN AND LIABILITY

This engineering-oriented session deals with tradeoffs between the desires of state DOTs for high levels of mobility on state highways, and the desires of communities to maintain or redesign such highways as walkable, human-scaled, traffic-calmed main streets. The session begins with a two-hour presentation and discussion of the liability aspects of CSD, followed by a presentation of design devices that can be used on roads to deal responsively to community concerns. The New Brunswick case studies from the "Placemaking: How to Define the Problem" session (which must be taken before this session), are used by working groups to apply the principles of flexibility to produce innovative design concepts. Instructors: Mike Lemmo, Vollmer Associates, former Director of Design at NJDOT and Kevin Rittenberry, Deputy Attorney General, State of New Jersey.

CONSENSUS-BUILDING AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

The session teaches specific communications skills and a strategic understanding of consensus-building among transportation agencies, the general public and key stakeholders, using numerous real-world examples. It teaches specific consensus-building techniques, with emphasis on listening skills and inclusiveness. It includes small group work in developing an effective community participation plan for all phases of a project. Instructors: Kathy Stein and Arnold Bloch, Principals, Howard Stein/Hudson Associates, Inc.. Their company is a transportation planning and engineering consulting firm with national expertise in public participation for transportation projects.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND NEGOTIATION

Using presentations, case examples, roleplays and discussions, the course will enable participants to consider alternative approaches to negotiation and their implications for transportation planning and project management, and for the implementation of Context Sensitive Design. Participants will learn the difference between interest-based negotiation and positional bargaining; the mindset and steps of a problem-solving approach to negotiation; negotiation skills for situations involving apparent conflicts of interests and values; the variety of conflict management roles, and the relevant questions to determine one's proper role; the possible advisability of calling upon external process management resources; and both the useful and counterproductive elements of his/her personal negotiation style. Instructors: W. Steve Lee, M. Urban and Regional Planning, and Allen J. Zerkin, J.D., Adjunct Professors and Senior Associates, Program on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University.