Agenda - Council - 12/14/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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APPENDIX IV MN/DOT GUIDELINES AND PRIORITIES FOR LANDSCAPING STATE I I HIGHWAYS LANDSCAPE PROGRAlVI VISION ' ' "To Realize Environmental and Socioeconomic Improvement Through Landscape Development, Manage~nent and Education in Concert with Transportation." ...... GOALS Ten goals, reinforcing Mn/DOT's landscape program vision and long history of commitment to roadside landscaping, will be met and balanced to the greatest degree possible to sustain :holistic, proactive,. ......... functional, cost effective and successful highway landscaping and roadside management. They are as . . follows: 1. NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT ............. : ...... Vegetation and soil resources will be conserved, developed and managed as essential functional elements of ail highways.--'. - These visual and environmental quality concerns will be addressed early in the project scoping and pre-design phases, as well as throughout all phases of the highway development process.. ~ 2. SAFETY . In order to improve highway safety, landscape development will be distinguished by adherence to safety guidelines, by visual simplicity to minimize driver distractions and by sufficient visual diversity to relieve driver monotony. 3. TRAINING AND OUTREACH Formal and informal training and outreach will be offered on a regular basis for departmental, governmental, professional and public education. This will promote and share Mn/DOT's landscape program guidelines and information base to achieve appropriate and successful roadside landscape conservation, planning, implementation and management.. .................. : ..... : I I I I I I ! 4. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ' .... Effective vegetation management strategies will be developed for.all highway landscape designs, MrffDOT building or storage facilities and unique roadsides. Thereby furthering the realization of design intent and protection of valuable roadside investments and resources. ::. : .. -..:-.: .r- ~: r... ~_~.:~.- · 5. INTEGRATED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT Roadside vegetation selection, establishment and management will apply sound ecological and intewated management principles. Sustainable plant associations and species diversity will be maximized for minimal maintenance.and minimal use of chemical intervention ..... 6. :RESEARCH AND MONITORING Research and post-construction monitoring will be carried out on an ongoing basis so improvement of landscape policies and procedures will be guided by documented successes, failures and opportunities. 7. COOPERATIVE VENTURES Opportunities will be sought for cooperative ventures, partnerships and coordination with otherj urisdictions and entities. This will maximize opportunities for "shared" participation, responsibility, ownership and recognition in highway landscape program success, benefits and cost-effectiveness. /40 I I I I I I