3. Project Development

Project Development is the process that takes a transportation improvement from concept through construction. There are several goals for this process: To ensure context sensitivity though an open, consensus-building dialog among project proponents, reviewers, the public, and other parties. To foster thinking beyond the roadway pavement to achieve the optimum accommodation for all modes. To encourage early planning, public outreach, and evaluation so that project needs, goals and objectives, issues, and impacts can be identified before significant resources are expended. To achieve consistent expectations and understanding between project proponents and those entities who evaluate, prioritize, and fund projects. To ensure allocation of resources to projects that address local, regional, and statewide priorities and needs. Project delays and escalating costs are discouraging to everyone involved. Projects that are ultimately built but do not meet expectations in addressing needs are also frustrating. This project development framework, and the principles that it embraces, will: Help carry out projects effectively; Ensure good project planning, design, and implementation; and, Set the stage for long-term success. Effective partnerships on projects are important throughout project development and require strong commitment and action from all Individuals involved, whether they be MassHighway or Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) staff, elected officials, local planning.

and public works professionals, citizens, or consultants. Real partnerships require ongoing relationships of trust and collaboration. The project development process is one of a set of tools needed to achieve context-sensitive design. The process is structured to encourage public outreach throughout planning, design, environmental review, and construction so that those affected by transportation projects are in general agreement regarding the project’s need, the selected approach to meet this need, and the refinements to the project that result as the process evolves. Section 2.9 of this chapter overviews public outreach approaches and tools to assist in establishing an effective project development process. This project development process is complemented by the inclusion of the project’s context as a basic design control. Flexibility for determining specific design elements that satisfy the project need, and are responsive to the context of the project, is inherent in the subsequent chapters of this Guidebook. Applicable Projects Project proponents are required to follow the process described in this chapter whenever MassHighway is involved in the decision-making process. The project development procedures are, therefore, applicable to any of the following situations: When MassHighway is the proponent; or When MassHighway is responsible for project funding (state or federal-aid projects); or When MassHighway controls the infrastructure (projects on state highways). In addition to MassHighway, many other agencies and organizations may be involved in a project. These procedures are written to be a useful resource for projects that are locally sponsored, funded, and reviewed, as well as for those which fall under the jurisdiction of other Massachusetts authorities. Projects with local jurisdiction and local funding sources are not required to go though this review process unless the project is located on the National Highway or Federal-Aid Systems.