A New Approach to Aesthetics Design Decision Making for Texas Highways

The aesthetic character of the roadway, both in its structures and its roadsides, is an increasingly important part of roadway design within the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). TxDOT addresses the issue and nature of aesthetics related to highways in the Landscape and Aesthetics Design Manual now provided online at its public website (http://manuals.dot.state.tx.us/ dynaweb/). This manual discusses the types of aesthetic approaches that have been or may be appropriate for highway design and provides some general guidance on when and where they may be applied. The suitability of a particular aesthetic design treatment or element is determined by the details of its specific application and specification. The purpose of Project 0-2113 was to provide TxDOT designers and TxDOT-contracted consultants with guidance in the development and construction of aesthetically pleasing features within transportation projects.