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WHAT IS CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS (CSS)?
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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) has defined CSS as follows:
“Context Sensitive Solutions are developed from a collaborative,
interdisciplinary approach to fitting projects into their surroundings
and take into account community needs.”
Context Sensitive Solutions is a beneficial process that involves a multi-
disciplinary team of design professionals, such as engineers, landscape
architects, planners, and public involvement specialists. During the CSS
process, the public has early, frequent, and continuous involvement on all
issues related to the project.
HOW WILL CSS AFFECT THE I-49 CONNECTOR?
 The I-49 Connector’s CSS is guided by
the commitments and mitigation
measures included in the
Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) Record of
Decision, Section 3.3: Sterling Grove
Historic District (specific commitments
and mitigation can be viewed on the
Environmental Issues: Historic District
page). This design effort is particularly
crucial because the decisions made
here will not only fulfill a major portion
of the federally required mitigation, but will serve to influence and inform the
urban design of the remainder of the corridor.
I-49 CONNECTOR CSS RESOURCES
Several resources have guided the CSS process on federal, state,
municipal, and public levels:
The “Blue Book,” 1999
The “Blue Book” is a collaborative effort between the Community Design Workshop (CDW), Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG), the
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and Neighborhood Pride that
expounds the Commitments to Mitigation found within the Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA). The document provides a comprehensive overview of the
I-49 Connector Urban Design Plan; the Project History; the CDW History;
the Public Process; Urban Connections, Gardens; and the Architectural Wall;
Neighborhood Redevelopment; Corridor Lighting; Corridor Noise Study and
Abatement Options; and Public Art. Read more about these studies here.
CSS Public Meetings, 2001-present
The Design Team continues to develop design alternatives for the Sterling
Grove Historic District (SGHD) and the surrounding I-49 Connector Corridor.
These design alternatives will be subdivided into elements for inclusion in the
Design Guideline Document. You can read more about more current meetings
here or reference archived meetings here.
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), 2002
The I-49 Connector Final EIS documents the purpose and need for proposed
project, various alternatives considered within the project corridor,
environmental evaluations of each reasonable alternative, comments and
coordination taken into account during the process, and commitments and mitigation measures. In addition, the Final EIS presents a Selected Alternative
(RR-4 Elevated Alignment with MPO Subalternative and Subalternative H)
based on the input received from the Draft EIS and the findings recorded
in the two documents.
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), 2002
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), LaDOTD, the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), along with concurrence by
the LCG, and the MPO has been developed for the proposed project in response
to the Section 106 study performed for the project. It has been determined through the study that the I-49 Connector project will have an adverse effect on the Sterling
Grove Historic District. The MOA commits FHWA and LaDOTD to specific
commitments to mitigation for the visual effects to the district.
The Corridor Preservation and Management Action Plan, 2002
The Corridor Action Plan details the Lafayette Parish-City Council’s
predetermined steps to ensure the desired preservation and growth of the
I-49 Connector Corridor. The Action Plan covers twelve main components
and six design principles.
Record of Decision (ROD), 2003
The Record of Decision, which has been issued by FHWA, approves the
Selected Alternative for the I-49 Connector project corridor as described in the
Final EIS. This document summarizes the various alternatives considered
in the EIS, including the Selected Alternative, measures to minimize harm
based on the Selected Alternative, Section 106 compliance, commitment to
monitor and report progress of project, and comments received regarding the
Final EIS.
 CDW Models, 2004
Various models were constructed as more detailed design supplements
to the “Blue Book.” The community has viewed these models on numerous
occasions and has approved the models’ design ideas.
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