California Department of Transportation
 

Highway Planting and Irrigation

Highway Planting

As the Departmental lead responsible for the design of the highway roadside, the Landscape Architecture Program provides expertise in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of transportation system improvements that:

  • Balance mobility, safety, maintainability and economic needs with adjacent land use and aesthetic, environmental, scenic and community values;
  • Improve traveler safety through the design of context sensitive roadways for motorists, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian users;
  • Improve traveler and worker safety by providing solutions that reduce the frequency and duration of maintenance worker exposure to traffic;
  • Improve traveler safety through the design of safety roadside rest areas and management of rest area system needs.

Planting and Irrigation Resources

The Highway Planting Policy page includes planting on conventional highways, controlled access highways, programming, funding, planting by others, replacement planting, maintenance, separate contracts, use of non-potable water, priorities, planting with noise barriers, and wildflower planting.

The Project Descriptions for Roadside Projects page provides information to be used in the development of Project Study Reports, Project Reports, Fact Sheets and One-Liners. 

Native Grass Database

FHWA Implementing Guidance on Invasive Species for Executive Order 13112

California Native Plant Society Web site