Context Sensitive Solution: A Case Study of Northwest Highway White Rock Lake, Dallas in Texas

Abstract

Loop 12 is the first ring around the city of Dallas. The project is a three-quarter mile section of Loop 12 on Northwest Highway. The project section of Northwest Highway is a set of six bridges that cross a 100-year floodplain. The environmental challenges, the diversity of stakeholders and their needs, and heightened sensitivities from special interest groups posed significant challenges for this project. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) initially identified the traditional stakeholder groups to be representatives of area residences, school, small businesses, highway users, and transportation providers. However, the unique setting for this project also created a number non-traditional stakeholder groups. A major construction that would last a few years would substantially disrupt their normal activities. These groups were particularly sensitive to changes in the environment as TxDOT leaned after contracting HNTB Corporation to research the community and its history. From the project, we learned that forming multidisciplinary and hierarchical teams is one of the key factors for a successful project. Early and regular engagement of the public helps the environmental assessment and project progress. Visual simulation is one of the effective tools to communicate with the public. Inter-agency coordination is critical. Traffic management strategies must adapt with context sensitive solutions of transportation projects.