People And Pavement

A new approach to protecting communities that meshes road design, transit systems, and bicycle and pedestrian paths with downtowns, neighborhoods, and the natural environment is quickly gaining acceptance in Michigan and around the nation, according to a special report published this week by the Michigan Land Use Institute. The new approach, known in technical circles as "context-sensitive design" or "context-sensitive solutions," replaces the conventional, one-size-fits-all approach to transportation projects with a citizen-led planning process that is much more sensitive to a community’s sense of place. Late last year Michigan's Democratic Governor Jennifer M. Granholm issued an executive directive greatly increasing Michigan’s commitment to context-sensitive solutions.