Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 57-16. Practices Related to Public Art in State DOT Rights-of-Way and Facilities

Transportation infrastructure facilitates the movement of people and goods, but sensitivity to the surrounding context is sometimes an afterthought with utilitarian and functional design. Arts and culture play a role in creating places of lasting value, reinforcing shared experience, and celebrating what makes communities special. Place-based infrastructure design that fits well into its surroundings is more likely to promote economic activity, be responsive to community needs, and improve quality of life. An increasing number of state departments of transportation (DOTs) have created and adopted policies related to public art in state rights-of-way. These policies typically focus on requests by external stakeholders to install artwork on existing public infrastructure. However, there have been no known formal discussions between state DOTs on how to design a policy of this type, and it is unclear whether existing policies answer all the questions practitioners are struggling with. Examples of complex issues include maintaining public artwork and replacement of facilities on which art is installed. It is also unknown to what extent state DOTs have programs or policies that actively encourage the inclusion of art on public infrastructure, or how such programs are funded. The objective of this synthesis is to document state DOT practices and policies related to public art in state rights-of-way (excluding anything not permitted by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices). Information to be gathered includes (but is not limited to): Practices and policies related to types of art installations, ownership rights, liability, transportation facility types where art is allowed (new or existing), maintenance, cooperative contracts, and maintaining clear zones; Programming/funding practices to acquire, install, and maintain public art; Planning practices to consider public art (project concepting, long-range or corridor planning, and how the public is engaged); Sources of interest in public art (e.g., internal, external, or both), and if/how public benefit is measured; Staffing of public art programs; Policies for public art deaccessions; and State statutes that enable, limit, or prohibit public art programs. Information will be gathered through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected DOTs for the development of case examples. Information gaps and suggestions for research to address those gaps will be identified.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5993

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $65,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  20-05/Topic 57-16

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    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

• Start Date: 20241001
• Expected Completion Date: 20260119
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Art; Environmental policy; Infrastructure; Installation; Maintenance; Right of way (Land); State departments of transportation
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01972868
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: 20-05/Topic 57-16
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Nov 25 2025 5:33PM