00489661

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1988/1189/1189-009.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...rper&publication_year=1988

This paper begins with Minnesota's past at a time when we took our resources for granted. It correlates the evolution of early trails to modern Interstate highways with the evolution of native prairie to today's restoration efforts along those roadsides. Roadside development is documented along with vegetation approaches beginning with preterritorial times. As highway purpose changed in Minnesota, so did its roadside policy. The Minnesota Department of Transportation moved from a path of least resistance, to an agriculture approach, to an environmentally aware route. As a result, roadside vegetation changed from existing native prairie, to manicured front yards, to consciously chosen native plantings. The author then examines current Minnesota strategies. The author concludes that the native plants we once took for granted are problem solvers for current and future roadsides. Although standard plantings using exotic species continue to be the rule, more restoration using native species is being attempted. Because Minnesota's past parallels that of most states, Minnesota's present and future could be a model for many.

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1189, Maintenance Planning and Managing Roadside Vegetation. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

01413995

p. 78-80

1988

Transportation Research Record

309048036

References (8)

Evolution; Native plants; Roadside; Vegetation

Restoration

Minnesota

Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Nov 30 1989 12:00AM

• EQUIVALENT COST CONTRACT PRICES FOR BY-FORCE WORK
• EVALUATIONS OF IMAZETHAPYR AND IMAZAPYR FOR EFFECTIVE SUPPRESSION OF ROADSIDE VEGETATION
• IDENTIFICATION OF MAINTENANCE AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS OF RURAL ROAD AGENCIES
• RIGHT-OF-WAY REHABILITATION OF SANDY ROADSIDE SLOPES IN ONTARIO, CANADA
• ROAD MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR COUNTIES AND CITIES
• STRATEGIES TO REDUCE VEGETATION CONTROL COSTS
• USE OF A CATEGORY-BASED SURVEY TO EVALUATE LANDSCAPE PLANTS ALONG URBAN FREEWAYS