• ♦Manual Notice 2017-1
• ►1. Introduction to Landscape and Aesthetics Design
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Non-discrimination
  • ►2. Landscape and Aesthetics Design of the Transportation Infrastructure
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Policy and Authorities
    • ♦Project Development Process
    • ♦Role of Landscape and Aesthetics in Transportation Design
    • ♦Aesthetics and Aesthetic Quality
  • ►3. Responsibilities of Landscape Architects
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Safety of the Traveling Public
    • ♦Stewardship of Land, Air, Water, Scenic, Cultural, and Historic Resources
    • ♦Mitigation of Adverse Environmental and Cultural Resource Impacts
    • ♦Integration of the Transportation Network into the Adjacent Landscape
    • ♦Enhancement of the Aesthetic Quality of the Transportation Network
    • ♦Visual Perception of Highway and Transportation Corridors
    • ♦Design Considerations for Scale
    • ♦Laws of Perspective Related to Highway and Transportation Design
    • ♦Design Implications of Visual Perspective
  • ►4. Highway and Transportation Corridors
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Corridor Segments as a Unit of Design
    • ♦Defining a Corridor Segment
    • ♦Urban Corridors
    • ♦Urban Design Principles and Application
    • ♦Rural Corridors
    • ♦Rural Design Principles and Application
  • ►5. Aesthetics of Transportation System Elements
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Visual Design Elements
  • ►6. Context Sensitive Transportation Design
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Contextual Parameters
    • ♦Structural Design Elements of Transportation Facilities
    • ♦Aesthetic Design of Common Transportation Features
  • ►7. Policy and Authorities Impacting Landscape and Aesthetics Design
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Regulations
    • ♦Federal Regulations
    • ♦State Law and Regulations
    • ♦Departmental Policy and Programs
    • ♦Landscape and Aesthetics Assessment
    • ♦Landscape and Aesthetics Master Plans
• ►2. Assessment, Planning, and Design
  • ♦1. Overview
  • ►2. Landscape and Aesthetics Assessment
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Development Process
    • ♦Step 1: Identify the Corridor
    • ♦Step 2: Inventory the Corridor
    • ♦Step 3: Identify Assets, Liabilities, and Opportunities
    • ♦Step 4: Assess the Sensitivity of the Corridor to Construction and Change
    • ♦Step 5: Develop a Landscape and Aesthetics Assessment Statement
    • ♦Outline of a Landscape and Aesthetics Assessment Statement
  • ►3. Landscape and Aesthetics Master Plan
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Landscape and Aesthetics Master Plan Development Process
    • ♦Step 1: Utilizing the Landscape and Aesthetics Assessment (LLA)
    • ♦Step 2: Develop a Palette of Design Details to Guide Development of the Corridor
    • ♦Materials Table
    • ♦Plant Materials Palette
    • ♦Step 3: Divide the Corridor into Development Zones
    • ♦The Development Zone Chart
    • ♦Partnering Opportunities
  • ►4. Landscape Design
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦The Aesthetics of Right-of-Way Vegetation
    • ♦Using Ornamental Grasses
    • ♦Non-mow Areas
    • ♦Restoration, Habitat Creation, and Naturalization
    • ♦Ornamental Landscape Planting Design Guidelines
    • ♦Plant Selection Criteria
    • ♦Plant Container Sizes
    • ♦Vandalism
    • ♦Using Trees in the Roadway
    • ♦Using Shrubs in the Roadway
    • ♦Using Groundcovers and Seasonal Color Plants
    • ♦Plant Material Relationship to Structures
    • ♦Planning and Design for Landscape Maintenance
    • ♦Plant Irrigation
    • ♦Irrigation System Types
    • ♦Designing for Weed Control in Ornamental Landscape Plantings
    • ♦Design Guidelines for Weed Control in Tree Plantings
    • ♦Design Guidelines for Weed Control in Beds and New Shrub Plantings
• ►3. Project Development Process
  • ♦1. Overview
  • ►2. Preliminary Design
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Data Collection and Preliminary Design
    • ♦Conduct Preliminary Design Conference (2000)
    • ♦Conduct Early Coordination with Stakeholders (2110)
    • ♦Obtain Related Data, Plans, Studies and Reports (2160) and Perform Site Visit (1010)
    • ♦Public Meeting and Design Revision
    • ♦Conduct Public Meeting(s) (2260)
    • ♦Revise Design Based on Public Input (2270)
    • ♦Preliminary and Geometric Schematic Design
    • ♦Evaluate Corridor Alternatives (2300) and Evaluate Route Alternatives (2320)
    • ♦Evaluate Geometric Alternatives (2350)
    • ♦Develop Typical Sections (2360)
    • ♦Prepare Assessment of Landscape and Aesthetic Issues (2370)
    • ♦Develop Bicyclist/Pedestrian Accommodation Concept (2380)
    • ♦Develop Preferred Geometric Alignment (2500)
    • ♦Refine Typical Sections (2520)
    • ♦Prepare Mitigation Plan for Historic Structures (2530)
    • ♦Perform Preliminary Planning for Bridges (2580)
    • ♦Establish Preliminary Retaining and/or Noise Wall Locations (2590)
    • ♦Geometric Schematic Approval
    • ♦Obtain Approval of Geometric Schematic before Public Hearing (2880)
    • ♦Review Geometric Schematic with Stakeholders (2860)
    • ♦Revise Geometric Schematic Based on Input from Public Hearing (2890)
    • ♦Obtain Approval of Final Geometric Schematic (2920)
  • ►3. Environmental Design
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Preliminary Environmental Issues and Interagency Coordination
    • ♦Review Scope, Cost, and Staff Requirements of Project Development (1400)
    • ♦Determine Public Involvement Needs (3010)
    • ♦Conduct Meeting with Affected Property Owners (3020)
    • ♦Collect Environmental Data (3030)
    • ♦Perform Early Coordination with Review/Resource Agencies (3100)
    • ♦Environmental Documentation
    • ♦Conduct Natural Resources Study (3250)
    • ♦Conduct Cultural Resources Study (3260)
    • ♦Determine Right of Way Relocation Impacts (3310)
    • ♦Analyze Existing Environment (3315)
    • ♦Determine Project’s Environmental Consequences (3345)
    • ♦Prepare Landscape Recommendations (3350)
    • ♦Prepare Description of Project Alternatives (3360)
    • ♦Prepare Exhibits for Environmental Documentation (3370)
    • ♦Prepare Environmental Mitigation Plans (3390)
    • ♦Public Hearing
    • ♦Conduct Public Hearing (3500)
  • ►4. PS&E Development
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Design Conference and Detailed Design Plan
    • ♦Obtain Additional or Updated Data (5010)
    • ♦Conduct Design Conference (5020)
    • ♦Plan Sequence of Construction (5040)
    • ♦Design Environmental Mitigation Details (5100)
    • ♦Review Data Collection Needs (5120)
    • ♦Final Alignment Profiles
    • ♦Design Final Vertical and Horizontal Alignments (5200)
    • ♦Roadway Design
    • ♦Design Landscape/Aesthetics Plans (5280)
    • ♦Develop Plan and Profile Sheets (5290)
    • ♦Design Bicyclist and Pedestrian Facilities (5300)
    • ♦Design Miscellaneous Details (5330)
    • ♦Operational Design
    • ♦Design Illumination (5380)
    • ♦Bridge Design
    • ♦Prepare Bridge Details (5500)
    • ♦Drainage Design
    • ♦Prepare Culvert and Storm Drain Details (5570)
    • ♦Design Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SW3P) (5600)
    • ♦Retaining/Noise Walls and Miscellaneous Structures
    • ♦Prepare Retaining and/or Noise Wall Layouts (5640) and Prepare Retaining and/or Noise Wall Plans and Details (5680)
    • ♦PS&E Assembly and Design Review
    • ♦Conduct Environmental Re-Evaluation and Determine Resulting Plan Changes (5810)
    • ♦Prepare PS&E Package (5830)
    • ♦District Performs Final Review of PS&E (5900)
    • ♦Nature and Timing of the Process
• ►4. Landscape and Aesthetics Guidelines for Common Structural Elements
  • ♦1. Overview
  • ►2. Bridges
    • ♦Bridge Aesthetics
  • ►3. Retaining Walls and Noise Walls
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Wall Color and Finish
    • ♦Vertical Alignment
  • ►4. Topography and Grading
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Landform Manipulation for Aesthetic Purposes
    • ♦Large, Multi-Level Interchanges
    • ♦Rights-of-Way that Require Noise Walls
    • ♦Medians
    • ♦Embankments
    • ♦Designing for Erosion Prevention
    • ♦Limiting Erosion Potential
    • ♦Vegetation Maintenance on Slopes
    • ♦Drainage Channels
    • ♦Ponds and Water Quality Structures
    • ♦Ground Surface Protection for Erosion Control
    • ♦Compost or Mulch
    • ♦Erosion Control Compost or Soil Retention Blankets
    • ♦Channel Liners
    • ♦Bioengineering Techniques for Erosion Control and Streambank Stabilization
    • ♦Plant Materials
    • ♦Other Bioengineering Techniques
  • ►5. Adjacent Properties
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Blend the Highway
    • ♦Contrast the Highway
    • ♦Screen the Highway
  • ►6. Surface Finishes
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Color
    • ♦Texture
    • ♦Pattern
    • ♦Special Finish Options
    • ♦Vertical Surfaces
    • ♦Horizontal Surfaces
  • ►7. Traffic Barriers and Guard Fences
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Design Coordination
  • ►8. Signals and Signs
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Visual Complexity
    • ♦Large Route Information Signs
    • ♦Directional and Traffic Signs
    • ♦Traffic Control Signs and Signals
  • ►9. Illumination
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Lighting for Visual Effect
    • ♦Aesthetic Lighting Guidelines
    • ♦Aesthetic Character of Luminaires and Poles
    • ♦Lighting Sources
    • ♦Lighting and Plant Materials
  • ►10. Bicycle and Pedestrian Access
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Bicycle Facilities Design
    • ♦Pedestrian Facilities Design
  • ►11. Public Art
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Safety
    • ♦Finishes
    • ♦Location
    • ♦Vandalism
    • ♦Theme
    • ♦Complexity
  • ►12. Medians and Traffic Islands
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Functional Elements
    • ♦Aesthetic Elements
• ►5. Landscape and Aesthetics Guidelines for Common Transportation System Features
  • ♦1. Overview
  • ►2. Intersections
    • ♦Visibility
    • ♦Concentration of Visual Information
    • ♦Shade, Shadow, and Reflection
    • ♦Placement of Design Elements
    • ♦Pedestrian Movements
    • ♦Future Off-Site Development
    • ♦Accessibility
    • ♦Aesthetics of Intersections
  • ►3. Elevated Driving Lanes
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Reasons for Community Resistance
    • ♦Aesthetic Design Considerations
  • ►4. Interchanges
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Types of Interchange
    • ♦Interchange Size
    • ♦Safety
    • ♦Drainage
    • ♦Planting
    • ♦Shade
    • ♦Gores
    • ♦Pedestrian Circulation
  • ►5. Depressed Driving Lanes
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Aesthetic Desgin Considerations
  • ►6. Entrance and Exit Ramps
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Safety Considerations
    • ♦Visibility
    • ♦Placement of Plants and Other Features

Landscape and Aesthetics Design Manual

November 2017

Copyright © 2017 by Texas Department of Transportation
All rights reserved.

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