Environmental Planning and Design Unit
Goal
This unit’s goal is to provide landscape architectural planning and design support to enhance MnDOT’s corridor and project management from project scoping to maintenance activities, enhancing multi-modal travel experiences, community livability, and environmental sustainability.
Products the unit provides
- Early Notification Memo comment
- Visual Impact Assessment
- Visual Quality Manual
- Contract and community landscape design
- Great River Road National Scenic Byway corridor management
- Certified landscape specialist training
- Inspection and Contract Administration Manual for MnDOT Landscape Projects
- Woody and Herbaceous Plants for Minnesota Landscapes and Roadsides PlantSelector Program
- Standard specifications and details
What to expect from the unit
- Visual Impact Assessments and Visual Quality Manuals to assure aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings intended by National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- Ecologically appropriate, human-scaled, and visually appealing landscape plans
- Corridor management to preserve, promote, and enhance the scenic, historic, and recreational resources of the Mississippi River fostering economic growth in the corridor and developing the national, scenic, and historic Great River Road
- MnDOT Standard Specification 2571 Plant Installation and Establishment
- Certified Landscape Specialist training
- PlantSelector to facilitate selecting appropriate plants for Minnesota roadsides
What you need to provide to the unit
- Programmed Visual Impact Assessment, Visual Quality Management tasks
- Funding for contract landscape projects and community landscape partnership projects
- Partnerships, projects, and route signage that help implement the MN Great River Road Corridor Management Plan (PDF)
- Registration for Certified Landscape Specialist training/renewal
- Interest in selecting appropriate plants for Minnesota roadsides
What the unit expects from you
- The items listed above
- Early planning and project coordination
- Service as a Great River Road Ambassador to help fulfill Minnesota Statutes, section 161.142, GREAT RIVER ROAD