Sustainable Roadside Design and Management for Urban Freeways in Western Washington

This report addresses the question: What does it take to achieve and maintain sustainable urban roadside restoration projects in Western Washington that provide for necessary roadside functions at lowest lifecycle costs? It makes recommendations under five categories: general, agency communication and process, design, construction, and maintenance. It identifies two major problems common to urban roadsides: the establishment of transient encampments and intense invasive weed pressures. Urban roadside environments are extremely varied and serve many functions; therefore, the report does not recommend a single type of roadside planting or maintenance suitable for all situations. Integrated Vegetation Management is a key tool for planning and implementing urban roadside maintenance.