Greener Roadsides

MARYLAND - First Place Winner in Categories I, II, and VI

Joe-pye weed arches against a native planting backdrop.

Maryland State Highway Administration's Office of Environmental Design

By Barbara Allera-Bohlen and Ken Oldham

The Maryland State Highway Administration's (SHA) mission is "to provide mobility for our customers on a safe, well-maintained, and attractive highway system that supports Maryland's economy in an environmentally responsible manner." This may be a mouthful, but it's an excellent mission statement. What we like about it is that the key performance areas relating to the Administration's environmental commitments and building and maintaining a safe, attractive highway system are known up front where they count. That is where we come in at the Office of Environmental Design (OED).

A mix of garden flowers show off on MD 322!

Our office programs cover a wide range. The Administration's Thinking Beyond the Pavement Initiative utilizes context sensitive design. Context sensitive design encourages staff, consultants, and contractors to collaborate more closely with each other and our customers to develop transportation projects that add lasting value to our communities and the environment. We are also involved with programs ranging from scenic byways, rest areas, roadside beautification, and noise abatement. Programs that comply with federal and State laws protecting trees and wetlands fall into OED also.

One of our most popular programs is the seeding of wildflowers along our highways. Wildflowers provide an attractive, low-maintenance alternative to other types of landscaping. This is illustrated in our photographs of planted native and non-native plant species.

We are also concerned about controlling invasive weeds and restoring desirable vegetation along the rights-of-way. We have developed programs for the planting of native grasses and the controlling of invasives like phragmites, ailanthus, Johnsongrass and Canada thistle.

Maryland's Bevard wetland, a remarkable mitigation project.

Environmental responsibility to us means adhering to our commitments of mitigating wetland and forest losses that have been impacted by highway construction. An example of our mitigation work is the Bevard Wetland Mitigation Site, a 10 acre non-tidal wetland creation project in Prince George's County. A fossilized shell layer was encountered during the grading operation as demonstrated in the "before" photo. A feature was added to the project by utilizing pieces of the fossilized layer to create habitat for reptiles, amphibians and other animals. The "after" photograph perspective was taken from one of the fossilized rock piles. The mitigation goals of this site were to provide for the following functions: wildlife habitat, flood flow alteration, groundwater recharge/discharge, nutrient removal and sediment retention. The Bevard site also provided an opportunity for natural succession. An abundance of black willow, sycamore, red maple, box elder and green ash trees have been identified as volunteer seedlings within the site. In addition, over 4,600 trees were planted in the wetland and adjacent upland areas to give Mother Nature a helping hand.

The "after" photograph from one of the fossilized rock piles.

Our office has many roles and responsibilities within the Administration. The examples discussed in this issue of Greener Roadsides are just a few of the areas of responsibility. Although our programs are varied, one thing we all have in common is the value of our people and the pride of working within an environment where it is encouraged to "think outside the box." We are encouraged to reach out early and effectively to our stakeholders including the public and communities. We are consistently asked if there is one thing that you could change to improve something at work, what would it be.

It is challenging and fun to work in such a positive atmosphere with many dedicated, good people. One of our goals is to take time out annually to recognize individuals and their accomplishments. Sometimes others tease us about being "tree-huggers" but we really don't mind. After all, conservation is what we are all about. We have a saying around here for people that might not understand our role. "If it flows, grows or makes noise, it's OED."