Welcome to the Landscape Architecture Program
Landscape Architecture Program
1120 N Street, MS 28
Sacramento, CA 95814
Composed of a broad range of skilled professionals, the Landscape Architecture Program provides the expertise necessary to help implement Caltrans' mission of improving mobility across California. The scope of our work within Caltrans is extensive, including multi-modal transportation and facility design, visual impact assessments, aesthetics, mitigation, roadside management, resource conservation, regional planning, site planning and development, and sustainable design.
News
- El Camino Mission Bell Installation Realized. Caltrans Landscape Architecture Program has been working since 1996 to fulfill its vision to restore the historic El Camino Real Mission Bell markers from San Francisco to San Diego.
- Native Grass Database Now Available. Prepared by researchers at the University of California, Davis, this database allows you to select from over 300 unique native grasse species based upon critera such as elevation, soil moisture and others.
- Updated Research Website Now Online. Providing a one-stop-location for over ten years of roadside research, the updated research website provides in-depth technical information on integraged pest management (IPM), the effectiveness of compost in helping establish natives, effective erosion control techniques, mycorrhizal fungi, and other topics.
Highlights
- Highway Planting and Irrigation - Highway planting is placed for aesthetic, safety, environmental mitigation, water pollution prevention and erosion control purposes. This link provides information on planting programs, policies and philosophy.
- Roadside Management - Roadside management includes developing strategies to control weeds, meet herbicide reduction goals, improve traveller and worker safety, and use native California grasses.
- Standards, Policy and Procedures - The place to go to find Standard Specifications, Standard Special Provisions, Standard Plans, Policy and Procedures for Caltrans Landscape Architecture work.
- Scenic Highways - The purpose of California's Scenic Highway Program is to ensure the protection of highway corridors that reflect the State's natural scenic beauty.
- Safety Rest Area System Planning and Design - Safety roadside rest areas provide safe stopping opportunities for travellers to stretch, use free restrooms, get a drink of water, make telephone calls, exercise their pets and other activities.
- Context Sensitive Solutions - Context sensitive solutions is an approach to transportation design that places preservation of historic, aesthetic, scenic, natural environment, and other community values on an equal basis with transportation safety, mobility, economics, and maintenance.
- Highway Barrier Aesthetics - We assist the Department in researching innovative solutions for roadside design. Research has led to new and safe aesthetic treatments to concrete barriers.
- Gateway Monuments - A Gateway Monument is defined as any freestanding structure or sign, non-integral or non-required highway feature that will communicate the name of a city, county or township.
- Transportation Art - Transportation art is defined as authorized artwork created, constructed, or painted on structures and on or in other facilities of spaces that are within the transportation right of way.
- Blue Star Memorial Highways - Blue Star Memorial Highways pay tribute to the nations armed forces. Caltrans cooperates with the California Garden Clubs, Inc. in erecting appropriate markers along highways.
- Research - The purpose of the Landscape Architecture Program (LAP) research program is to advance Landscape Architecture professional practices and knowledge by researching and implementing state-of-the-art technologies and methodology that respond to and exceed Districts and other stakeholders' needs and expectations.
- Classified Landscaped Freeways - Classified Landscaped Freeways meet the landscaping criteria of the Outdoor Advertising Regulations and are used in the control of outdoor advertising displays along freeways.