ACTION STRATEGIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES - RECREATIONAL VALUES

POSITIVE ASPECTS OF HIGHWAY PLANNING INCLUDE PROVISION OF REASONABLE AND NECESSARY ACCESS TO RECREATION AREAS OR THE PROVISION OF HIGHWAYS FOR PLEASURE DRIVING. NEGATIVE ASPECTS ARISE FROM SITUATIONS WHERE TOO LITTLE CARE WAS TAKEN TO AVOID IMPOSING HIGHWAYS IN OR NEAR A NATURE CONSERVATION AREA, OR WHERE TOO MUCH ACCESS CAUSED AN AREA TO DETERIORATE. THREE STRATEGIES RELATING TO RECREATIONAL AND AESTHETIC VALUES ARE PROPOSED. THE FIRST CONSISTS IN THE AVOIDANCE OF HIGHWAY ALIGNMENTS THAT WOULD DEGRADE RECREATION RESOURCE AREAS. THE IMPACT OF LEGISLATION DEVELOPED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION IS ONLY BEGINNING TO BE FELT. WHEN AESTHETICS AND GEOMETRICS CLASH, IT IS URGED THAT THE FORMER BE GIVEN PREFERENCE. EXAMPLES OF SUCH SITUATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. GEOMETRIC STANDARDS CONTAINED IN A PUBLICATION BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS IS QUESTIONED. THE NEED IS INDICATED FOR A WIDER VIEW AND DISCRETIONARY LATITUDE IN THE APPLICATION OF GEOMETRIC STANDARDS. THE THIRD STRATEGY IS A PLEA FOR THE PROVISION OF PLEASURE DRIVING OPPORTUNITIES. ASPECTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN PLANNING SUCH LEISURE DRIVING FACILITIES INCLUDE PRESERVING SCENIC CORRIDORS THROUGH EASEMENT OR OTHER MEANS, DEVELOPING COMPLEMENTARY FACILITIES SUCH AS TRAILS AND PICNIC SITES, DOCUMENTING HISTORIC OR OTHER HERITAGE AREAS, AND CONTROLLING TRAFFIC VOLUME AND SPEED.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr138/138-015.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309021529
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 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
• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Research Board

  2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC    20418
• Authors:
  • Jervis, David L
• Conference:
  • 5th Summer Meeting of the Highway Research Board
  • Location: Madison Wisconsin, United States
  • Date: 1972-7-31 to 1972-8-2
• Publication Date: 1973

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 89-91
• Monograph Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 138
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Alignment; Conservation; Corridors; Easements; Environmental impacts; Geometric design; Highway design; Highway planning; Laws; Natural resources; Recreational facilities; Recreational roads; Scenic easements; Speed control; Standards; Traffic volume
• Identifier Terms: American Association of State Highway Officials; U.S. Federal Highway Administration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Monuments
• Old TRIS Terms: Federal highway administrator
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Law; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00205251
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309021529
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 11 1974 12:00AM