AASHTO HLED

Abstract

Foreword:&#160;A Guide for Transportation Landscape and Environmental Design has been prepared by the Task Force for Environmental Design for the AASHTO Highway Subcommittee on Design. The Task Force was assisted by members of the Transportation Research Board Committee on Landscape and Environmental Design who served as technical authors for the Guide. It supersedes the 1970 Guide for Highway Landscape and Environmenta1 Design. <br>The scope of the Guide has been expanded to include all modes of transportation and the interaction of landscape considerations with transportation improvements. <br>Specific emphasis has been placed on supplying technical information that will assist the planner, designer, project engineer, landscape architect, supervisor, and transportation manager to provide landscape features and integrate them into the transportation system, producing an environmentally pleasing facility. <br>The Guide should be used as a basic reference to improve landscape and environmental design with specific guidance for the accommodation of transportation features which require aesthetic consideration. <br>Additionally, this publication is intended to provide guidance in the design of new and major reconstruction projects. The fact that new design concepts are presented does not imply that existing highway and transportation facilities are unacceptable. However, improvement of the landscape and environmental features of existing transportation facilities should be considered in conjunction with other reconstruction projects. Sufficient flexibility is provided to encourage independent designs tailored to specific situations. <br>The Guide should be used with the AASHTO A Policy on Geometric Design of Streets and Highways when incorporating environmental design concepts into transportation improvements. Since it is not possible to completely cover all concepts, values, and data in a single publication, additional references are given in the Introduction and in the Selected Bibliography at the end of the Guide.