Context-sensitive approach for network selection of infrastructure projects

Context-sensitive solutions (CSS) aim to provide a systematic, comprehensive approach to project development from inception and planning through operation and maintenance. The goal is a procedure that provides an outcome that harmonizes transportation requirements with community needs and values. Multicriteria analysis can assist in the assessment of competing needs and provide a systematic approach to evaluation of the options. The CSS approach and multicriteria analysis were merged in an implemented procedure to select the most effective investment projects for solving a classical multiobjective optimization problem under budget constraints. The potential of this procedure was explored, and the steps required to evaluate this concept were identified. A case study was used to demonstrate the process and to identify future steps to ensure widespread application of the process.