Economic and Environmental Benefits of a Reduced Roadside Mowing Program for Kentucky Highways

As part of their vegetation management programs, a growing number of state transportation agencies are reducing mowing frequencies. Agencies typically cite the economic and environmental benefits in formalizing their decisions to mow less often. Studies have found that reducing mowing frequencies can enhance plant biodiversity, ameliorate habitat fragmentation, and improve the health of native plants. While discussions have occurred about cutting back on mowing across Kentucky, the prospect of doing so has thus far elicited resistance for a variety of reasons. This study will document current mowing practices, identify sources of resistance to reduced mowing frequencies, and develop quantitative and/or qualitative forecasts of the environmental and economic benefits of changing mowing strategies.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $180000
• Contract Numbers:

  KYSPR 20-590

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

  200 Mero Street
  Frankfort, KY  United States  40622
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Kentucky Transportation Center College of Engineering, 176 Raymond Building
  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281
• Principal Investigators:

  VanDyke, Chris

• Start Date: 20190701
• Expected Completion Date: 20210630
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic benefits; Environmental impacts; Forecasting; Maintenance management; Mowing; Roadside; State of the practice
• Geographic Terms: Kentucky
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01711187
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University of Kentucky, Lexington
• Contract Numbers: KYSPR 20-590
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 17 2019 1:37PM