AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Michele Lee Craig for the Degree of Doctorate of Education in Learning, Leadership and Community Presented on October 12, 2011 Title: Citizen Participation, Transportation Corridor Planning and the Intersection with Land Use Planning in New Hampshire Communities: What are the Best Practices? Abstract Approved: ________________________________________________________________________ Kathleen Norris, Dissertation Committee Chair This research tested thirteen Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) principles, as outlined in Stamatiadis et al (2009). Principles were tested with two New Hampshire corridor planning processes: Route 16 and I-93/CTAP. Through content analysis, web surveys and interviews, a determination was made regarding whether the two projects utilized the principles, and to what extent in the data sources. Both projects demonstrated evidence in at least two data sources for eleven of thirteen principles. However, participants had very different perceptions of how these principles were implemented. This study provides groundwork for the development of a checklist that can be used in corridor planning processes, to ensure these processes are collaborative and incorporate the needs and values of stakeholders and the broader public. ©Copyright by Michele Lee Craig December 2011 All Rights Reserved Citizen Participation, Transportation Corridor Planning and the Intersection with Land Use Planning in New Hampshire Communities: What are the Best Practices? By Michele Lee Craig A DISSERTATION Submitted to Plymouth State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education Defended October 12, 2011 Degree Conferred December 2011 Dissertation of Michele Lee Craig Presented on October 12, 2011 APPROVED: _________________________________________________ Kathleen Norris, Dissertation Committee Chair _________________________________________________ Katherine Donahue, Dissertation Committee _________________________________________________ Daniel Moore, Dissertation Committee _________________________________________________ George Tuthill, Associate Vice President for the College of Graduate Studies I understand that my dissertation will become part of the permanent collection of Plymouth State University, Lamson Library. My signature below authorizes release of my dissertation to any reader upon request. _________________________________________________ Michele Lee Craig, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to express her gratitude to the faculty and staff at Plymouth State University, and especially to my committee for helping me complete a process that has taken me many years to see to fruition. I also want to thank my husband Jarrod, for his immense support of this process that took up many hours of our nights and weekends and for being my proofreader; my family, and especially my son Kyle, who have supported me through the 10 years it took to finish my doctoral work; Robin LeBlanc, who took numerous hours out of her busy time to be my editor, helping me to take all of my research and put it into a readable document; Faye Cragin, who encouraged me throughout the many years of this process, including helping me format this monster of a document; and finally, THE COHORT, because without your friendship and sense of humor, this process might have been more unbearable. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One: Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 History of the Transportation Corridor Planning Process ............................................... 2 A New Era: Context Sensitive Solutions ........................................................................ 4 Rationale .......................................................................................................................... 5 List of Terms ................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter Two: Literature Review ................................................................................... 11 Melding Land Use Planning with Transportation Planning .......................................... 13 The Issue of Ownership and Public Participation ......................................................... 16 Collaboration versus Public Participation ..................................................................... 17 Linking Stakeholder Views and Implementation ...................................................... 18 International Planning Trends ................................................................................... 23 National Planning Trends .......................................................................................... 24 A New Way of Collaborative Decision-Making: Context Sensitive Solutions ............ 25 The Value of a Checklist ............................................................................................... 28 Chapter Three: Research Methodology ............................................................................ 30 Research Approach ....................................................................................................... 30 Case Study Analysis ...................................................................................................... 30 Content Analysis ........................................................................................................... 32 Web-surveys .................................................................................................................. 35 Interviews ...................................................................................................................... 37 Data Analysis Procedures .............................................................................................. 38 Content Analysis........................................................................................................ 38 Web Surveys .............................................................................................................. 38 Semi-Structured Interviews ....................................................................................... 39 Validity and Reliability ................................................................................................. 39 Assumptions and Biases ................................................................................................ 40 Chapter Four: Findings and Data Analysis ....................................................................... 41 Route 16 Corridor Planning and Management Plan Process ........................................ 41 Background ................................................................................................................... 41 Participants .................................................................................................................... 44 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 44 Content Analysis........................................................................................................ 44 Web-Surveys ............................................................................................................. 44 Interviews .................................................................................................................. 47 Findings ......................................................................................................................... 47 Principle 1: Use of Interdisciplinary Teams .............................................................. 47 Principles 2 and 3: Involvement of Stakeholders and the Seeking of Broad-based Public Involvement .................................................................................................... 52 Principle 4: Use of a Full Range of Communication Strategies ................................ 59 Principle 5: Achieving Consensus on Purpose and Need .......................................... 61 Principle 6: Addressing Alternatives/Solutions and All Modes of Transportation ... 62 Principle 7: Considering a Safe Facility for Users and Community ......................... 68 Principle 8: Maintaining Environmental Harmony ................................................... 69 Principle 9: Addressing Community and Social Issues ............................................. 71 Principles 12 and 13: Documentation of Project Decisions and Tracking & Meeting all Commitments ....................................................................................................... 73 Principle 14: Using Agency Resources Effectively .................................................. 75 Principle 15: Creating a Lasting Value for the Community ...................................... 76 I-93/Community Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) Process ............................... 79 Background ................................................................................................................... 79 Participants .................................................................................................................... 85 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 86 Content Analysis........................................................................................................ 86 Web Surveys .............................................................................................................