There have been changes in FHWA’s controlling design criteria and in the project development philosophies of many departments of transportation (DOTs). These changes have resulted in State DOTs shifting from standards-driven design toward context-based and performance-based decision-making, all of which can add value for road users and flexibility during project development.

Design Decision Documentation and Mitigation Strategies for Design Exceptions provides information to transportation practitioners, especially planners and designers, about FHWA’s 10 controlling criteria, their impacts on safety and operations, the inter-relationships with other controlling criteria, and potential mitigation strategies for design exceptions. The report also includes an overview of concepts such as nominal and substantive safety, performance-based and context-based design, equity in transportation, Complete Streets, transportations systems management and operations (TSMO), Safe System Approach, risk management, and design documentation practices. Appendix A in the report includes real-world examples of noteworthy practices from States’ projects and procedures.