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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
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    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <title>Guide to Increasing and Sustaining Native Flora in Roadside Vegetation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2319914</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Many state departments of transportation (DOTs) have struggled to manage roadside vegetation in a cost-effective manner that also fosters vigorous and diverse native plant communities, including blooming species. Diverse vegetation on roadsides can support operational, environmental, and social values, including valuable pollinator habitat and other ecosystem services. A 2019 Nebraska study (NDOT Roadside Vegetation Establishment and Management) highlights the need to balance ecological, operational, and cost concerns. Research is needed to better understand and develop practical, environmentally responsible strategies to increase and sustain native plant diversity in roadside vegetation. This research should examine relevant factors such as soil conditions, plant species selection, seed quality, herbicide application, and scenic value.   

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to develop a guide for state DOTs to maintain safe, efficient, and cost-effective vegetation diversity practices. At a minimum, the guide should provide a summary of suggested practices and resources for state DOTs tied to climatic/ecologic regions, and should be supported by a field use document.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jan 2024 16:24:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2319914</guid>
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      <title>Enhancing Arizona Roadways’ Resilience to Wildfire Through Vegetation Recovery</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310561</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study will explore whether ADOT landscaping and vegetation-management practices that encourage the recovery of native plant communities following wildfires can reduce both repair and maintenance costs for adjacent roadways. 
Wildfires can leave roadways susceptible to further damage from flooding, erosion, and debris flows over the long term because slow-growing native plant communities can take several years to fully recover. ADOT incurs significant expense when roadways are damaged by erosion or debris flows. In the meantime, non-native plant species that grow in disturbed ecosystems—such as buffelgrass, Sahara mustard, wild oats, and red brome—are often flammable and can actually increase the risk of future wildfires when they replace more fire-resistant native plant communities. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:22:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310561</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4810:  Feasibility of Utilizing Native Grasses and Other Vegetation In Lieu of Exotic Cool Season Grasses</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2232788</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will develop recommendations and an updated specification of native seeding mixtures for planting on INDOT’s right-of-way (ROW) areas. Specific objectives are to: (1) Evaluate previously planted ROW locations to determine long-term planting success, and (2) Develop recommendations for updating INDOT seeding standards to focus on predominantly native seed mixes that would be applicable in various ROW settings. Specific deliverables will include progress reports to INDOT, a final report to INDOT with recommended specifications, a manuscript for publication in a scientific journal, and a presentation at a regional or national scientific conference.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Aug 2023 15:09:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2232788</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>RES2023-08: Beautifying Tennessee's Roadways and Enhancing Its Ecology By Strategizing Pollinator Habitat Potential </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2006277</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As of January 2022, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) manages 3,670 miles of roadway which 
suggests that the rights-of-way along these segments offer a great 
advantage to supporting Tennessee’s vast native plants and pollinators 
species. Likewise, the cost to maintain these rights-of-way is minimized. 
TDOT has a few publications that addresses native species planting 
along its roadways, but a statewide guidance document that offers 
identifying species for planting based on site conditions, targeted 
maintenance specifications, an evaluation process to measure success, 
and a public outreach program about these areas is missing. To 
address this, a less academic route has been chosen that instead 
includes expertise from botanic gardens, native plant groups, and 
pollinator specialists within Tennessee to work with university faculty 
to develop these guidance protocols]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2022 12:09:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2006277</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Incorporation of Pollinator Plantings to Enhance Ecosystem Functions and  Durability of Transportation Right-of-Way Infrastructure (2.15)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1875139</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Highway right-of-ways (ROWs) provide numerous ecosystem services beyond erosion control. Incorporation of native grasses and flowering plants into ROW plantings can further increase the services by providing habitat for endangered native pollinators while improving aesthetics, erosion control, and stormwater filtration. However, highway ROWs are not natural habitats. The roadway itself alters the micro-climate of the roadside, and safety considerations require much of the ROW to be maintained as grassland or scrubland. In New England these are early succession ecosystems and must be regularly mowed or otherwise disturbed. Many New England wildflowers are not adapted to the roadside environment, while wildflowers used on roadsides in other regions are not native in New England and may not be adapted to the soils or climate. This project will use vegetation surveys and adaptation trials to identify native and naturalized flowering plants adapted to the highway ROW environment, and will create trial plantings in the highway ROW to identify best practices for establishing native grasses and forbs from seed on the roadside. Roadsides have been successfully maintained as habitat for native plants, pollinators, small animals and birds in other regions but very little management of roadside for habitat has occurred in New England. Best practices from other regions need to be tested to determine whether they are appropriate in New England since soils, climate, and native species differ. Trial plantings will be established in partnership with RIDOT Maintenance to ensure that the establishment methods used are possible with the equipment and employee skills available.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 28 Aug 2021 18:31:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1875139</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Practices. Topic S10-18. Considerations for Establishing and Maintaining Successful Bee Programs on Airports</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1668959</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Global reports of bee declines have fueled efforts to reduce threats to pollinators and raise public awareness of bees as pollinators of our food crops and native plants. Some airports have implemented pollinator-friendly practices and programs that restore habitat for bees and bring public awareness and appreciation to these fascinating insects.

The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Synthesis 119: Considerations for Establishing and Maintaining Successful Pollinator Programs on Airports summarizes experiences and best management practices of pollinator-friendly programs at airports, particularly beekeeping programs and pollinator habitat management programs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Nov 2019 17:28:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1668959</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluate Replacement of Current Post-Construction Groundcover with Pollinator Beneficial Groundcover

</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1532955</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The monarch butterfly is arguably one of the most iconic and popular butterflies in North America. Its annual multigenerational migration is considered one of the most spectacular natural phenomena on the planet.  Unfortunately, estimates from the overwintering colonies in Mexico have documented a steady population decline over the past few decades and prompted a petition to list the butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Much attention has focused on the loss of breeding habitat, with recent estimates indicating that 1.8 billion milkweed stems nationwide would be needed to return monarch populations to a more viable size. The Presidential Memorandum Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators and the resulting Pollinator Research Action Plan specifically identify roadsides as priority areas where habitat could be expanded. In response, ODOT has identified, and is currently implementing proactive strategies designed to stabilize and ultimately reverse this population collapse, including converting existing right-of-way to roadside pollinator habitats. Unfortunately, conversion requires significant site preparation to control weed pressure including at least three applications of herbicides spanning up to two calendar years.

Some native wildflowers, grasses, and legumes can thrive in poor and compacted soils, are salt-tolerant, and have extensive root systems that range from 5 to 15 feet, lending themselves to being an inexpensive and ideal solution to soil erosion, slips, and slides. By directly seeding new construction projects with pollinator-beneficial wildflowers, native grasses, and legumes, ODOT could (1) Establish hundreds of acres of new pollinator habitat each year benefiting species like the monarch butterfly, the honeybee, and the rusty patched bumble bee, (2) Reduce roadside maintenance costs through mowing and herbicide reduction, and (3) Meet or exceed storm water runoff requirements by creating vegetative bio-filters. 

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is seeking to create a specification to supplement, or more preferred to replace current post-construction groundcover (Kentucky bluegrass, tall and fine fescue, annual and perennial ryegrass, and the legume crown vetch) with pollinator-beneficial wildflowers, native grasses, and legumes. 

The objective of this research is to conduct an in-depth analysis of ODOT's current post construction groundcover and provide recommended specifications for native, pollinator beneficial groundcover that are cost effective, conservation minded, and readily available in order to update ODOT's Construction and Material Specification book. The primary objective of this research is to find Ohio native grasses and forbs that can thrive in poor and compacted soils, are highly salt tolerant, provide sediment and erosion control following ground disturbances from construction projects, filter storm water runoff, provide food and nesting habitat to pollinators which will increase their populations, and are aesthetically pleasing.   ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Aug 2018 11:29:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1532955</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of New Seed Mixes and Establishment Guidelines for Roadside Grasslands in Rhode Island</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1233999</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project addresses the challenges of getting vegetation to persist on mowed roadsides using two inter-related approaches. The first approach is to develop seed mixes, which contain grasses that persist for more than 3- 5 years, with particular emphasis on low-growing native grasses. The second approach is to use biosolids to amend soil in the extremely infertile zone along the pavement, in order to increase the soil fertility to the point where native perennial grasses can survive. Previous research has shown that soil amendment with biosolids is effective, but additional work is needed to determine the rate of biosolids that best promote native grasses.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:05:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1233999</guid>
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