THE ECOLOGICAL ROAD-EFFECT ZONE FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAY EXAMPLE
Ecological flows and biological diversity trace broad patterns across the landscape, whereas transportation planning traditionally focuses carefully on a narrow strip close to a road or highway. To effectively mesh the ecological dimensions with human mobility objectives the "road-effect zone", over which significant ecological effects extend outward from a road, appears to be central. The zone is many times wider than the road (with roadsides/verges), is strongly asymmetrical, and has convoluted margins. The road-effect zone is illustrated with a 24 km length of a four-lane highway in the outer suburbs of Boston. The locations and distances of effects of nine processes are measured or estimated, and mapped to show the road-effect zone. Factors such as road salt affecting vegetation only extend outward meters or 10s of meters, whereas the effects to traffic noise on bird communities and the road as a barrier interrupting wildlife travel corridors extend outward 100s of meters to kilometers. Roads and roadsides cover approximately 1% of the United States, and based on calculations using scattered data, it is estimated that 15-20% of the land is directly affected ecologically by roads and vehicles. Thus the road network causes an enormous impact on America's ecological infrastructure. A vision for America's future transportation system focuses broadly on the land uses, landscape ecology and the road-effect zone in transportation planning, and provides effectively for both (a) natural processes and biodiversity and (b) safe and efficient human mobility.
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Corporate Authors:
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Forman, RTT
- Deblinger, R D
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Conference:
- International Conference on Wildlife Ecology and Transportation (ICOWET 1998)
- Location: Fort Myers Florida, United States
- Date: 1998-2-9 to 1998-2-12
- Publication Date: 1998
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
- Pagination: p. 78-96
- Monograph Title: PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WILDLIFE ECOLOGY AND TRANSPORTATION (ICOWET)
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Biodiversity; Birds; Corridors; Deicing chemicals; Ecology; Ecosystems; Environmental impacts; Highway planning; Highway safety; Land use; Landscape design; Mobility; Traffic noise; Transportation planning; Vegetation; Wildlife
- Geographic Terms: Massachusetts
- Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00784495
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Feb 8 2000 12:00AM