Roadsides as Pollinator Corridors

Roadsides are more than transportation edges; they form one of the largest continuous strips of open land in New England.

With thoughtful management, these areas can support native plants, offer nectar and shelter for pollinators, and act as stepping‑stone habitats across fragmented landscapes.

Their long, connected structure allows pollinators to move through developed regions, linking isolated habitat patches into a broader and more functional ecological network

DOT Manual - Effective Establishment of Native Grasses on Roadsides in New England ~ 80 MB

Roadside Revegetation: An Integrated Approach to Establishing Native Plants

This web site contains four integrated and interlinked modules dedicated to explaining the art and science of roadside
revegetation. Each module contains similar topics, but communicates them differently depending on informational
needs. You may begin with any module and continue through it step-by-step or you may use the in depth links to visit
related information in other modules to reinforce what you are learning.

References

Armstrong, A., Roberts, T. C., & Christians, R. (2011). Current and innovative solutions to roadside revegetation using native plants a domestic scan report. Vancouver, WA: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Technology Deployment Program.

Barton, S., Darke, R., & Schwetz, G. (2005). Enhancing Delaware Highways: Roadside Vegetation Concept and Planning Manual. Delaware Department of Transportation.

Barton, S., Darke, R., & Schwetz, G. (2009). Enhancing Delaware Highways: Roadside Vegetation Establishment and Management Manual. Delaware Department of Transportation.

Barton, S. S., & Garcia, C. S. (2015). Roadside Landscapes – A potential environmental resource. Ornamental Horticulture OH, 21(3), 277. doi:10.14295/oh.v21i3.844

Brandt, J., Henderson, K., & Uthe, J. (2015). Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Technical Manual: Iowa's Roadside Resource (M. Urice, Ed.). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service / Iowa DOT’s Living Roadway Trust Fund.

Forman, R. T., Sperling, D., Bissonette, J.A., Clevenger, A. P., Cutshall, C.D., Dale, V. H.,  Fahrig, L.,  France, R.L., Goldman, C.R., Heanue, K., Jones, J., Swanson, F., Turrentine, T., & Winter, T.C.  (2003). Road Ecology. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Harper-Lore, B., Johnson, M., & Ostrum, W. F. (2009). Vegetation management: An ecoregional approach. Federal Highway Administration.

Harrison, G. L. (2014). Economic impact of ecosystem services provided by ecologically sustainable roadside right of way vegetation management practices. Tallahassee, FL.: Florida Dept. of Transportation.

Hill, K., & Horner, R. R. (2005). Assessment of alternatives in roadside vegetation management. Olympia, WA: Washington State Dept. of Transportation.

Hopwood, J., Hoffman Black, S., & Fleury, S. (2016). Pollinators and Roadsides: Best Management Practices for Managers and Decision Makers (D. Remley, Ed.) Federal Highway Administration .

Hopwood, J., Hoffman Black, S., Lee-Mӓder, E., Charlap, A., Preston, R., Mozumder, K., & Fleury, S. (2015, May). Literature Review: Pollinator Habitat Enhancement and Best Management Practices in Highway Rights-of-Way.

Salon, P. A., & Miller, C. F. (2012). A guide to conservation plantings on critical areas for the Northeast. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Johnson, A. M., Krenz, J. D., & Howard, F. (2008). Best practices handbook for roadside vegetation management. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Research Services.

MacDonagh, P., & Hallyn, N. (2010). Native seed mix design for roadsides. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Research Services Section

Smith, D., Williams, D., Houseal, G., & Henderson, K. (2010). The Tallgrass Prairie Center guide to prairie restoration in the Upper Midwest. Iowa City: Published for the Tallgrass Prairie Center by the University of Iowa Press.

Steinfeld, D. E. (2007). A manager's guide to roadside revegetation using native plants. Vancouver, WA: Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Technology Deployment Program.

Steinfeld, D. E. (2007). Roadside revegetation an integrated approach to establishing native plants. Vancouver, WA: Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Technology Deployment Program.

Withrow-Robinson, B. & Johnson, R. (2006). Selecting native plant materials for restoration projects. Oregon State University Extension Service.  EM 8885-E • November 2006..