Pollinator Habitat Conservation Along Roadways

Pollinating insect populations are declining. As a result, there is increased interest in protecting pollinators along roadways. State departments of transportation (DOTs) and other transportation agencies are being encouraged by, and proactively partnering with, many right-of-way (ROW) stakeholders to establish or conserve pollinator habitat. This can result in a significant change in ROW management and will require new or updated practices for planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining habitat, as well as staff training. If widely distributed insect populations continue to decline they may be considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. If listed, capacity improvement projects and ROW maintenance practices may have a greater potential to negatively affect or for “take” of these listed species. The purpose of this research is to share knowledge of successful practices and lessons learned from states where pollinator species have been listed, and to show how to implement integrated pollinator habitat programs. The objective of this research is to develop a guidebook for state DOTs and other ROW owners and operators to make informed decisions and implement tailored programs to maximize the potential to improve insect pollinator habitat. The guidebook should consider geographical, adjacent land use and ecological contexts, roadway characteristics and safety, and public benefits.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4589

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $490000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 25-59

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Wadsworth, Trey

• Performing Organizations:

  ICF Incorporated

  ,    
• Principal Investigators:

  Hopwood, Jennifer

• Start Date: 20190801
• Expected Completion Date: 20230118
• Actual Completion Date: 20230118

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Best practices; Conservation; Coordination; Decision making; Endangered species; Environmental protection; Guidelines; Habitat (Ecology); Handbooks; Insects; Legislation; Right of way (Land); Roadside; Stakeholders; State departments of transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01672565
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 25-59
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 19 2018 1:01PM