Florida is constructing highway landscape projects with nearly $30 million allocated each year by the Florida Legislature. The Florida Department of Transportation's first priority in the design, construction, and maintenance of every highway landscape project is safety. In addition, it is expected that landscape projects be cost effective, aesthetically pleasing, compatible with Floridass ecology, and practical to maintain. The Florida Department of Transportation defines a highway landscape project as any planned or actual landscape or landscaping on Department right of way, including construction or installation, planning, beautification, and maintenance thereof, by a local government entity, non governmental entity, or abutting private property owner.

"Landscape" or "Landscaping" means any vegetation, mulches, irrigation systems, and any site amenities, such as, street furniture, decorative paving, fences, and lighting (excluding public utility street and area lighting).

Highway Landscape Projects come in two varieties; those that are contracted by the Department, and those that are not. The varieties are often combined. An example would be a project designed by local government and constructed by the department. The roles are just as likely to be reversed. Funding is available for highway landscape projects from federal, state, and local sources. Regardless of which agency has responsibility for the design and construction, a notice to proceed with construction will only be issued when a maintenance agreement between the local government and the Department has been executed.

In some communities, a non-governmental entity may act as local highway beautification council to develop landscape projects on behalf of the local government. The local government will remain responsible for executing the maintenance agreement.
 
Local governments interested in developing plans for highway landscape projects should contact the appropriate FDOT District Landscape Architect (DLA). The DLA is responsible for working with landscape architects as they develop plans. The DLA and the Department's engineers will review the plans and provide comments. All plans for highway landscape projects must be approved by the DLA prior to execution of maintenance agreements.

Owners of property that adjoins non-limited access right of way may apply for a Permit for Landscaping on State Road Right of Way. With this permit, adjoining landowners may construct and maintain approved landscape projects on the right of way immediately adjacent to their property.
 
The links below are resources with information necessary to complete a successful highway landscape project.

Plans for other highway landscape projects comply with Part I, Rule Chapter 14-40, F.A.C Highway Beautification and Landscape Management.

• Part I of this rule chapter has complete instructions for designing and implementing a highway landscape project.
   
• Part II describes the Florida Highway Beautification Council Grant Program.
   
• Part III deals with Vegetation Management at Outdoor Advertising Signs. Three Figures are referred to in the rule chapter.

Landscape Architects and contractors can learn about specific FDOT project requirements by visiting the Office of Roadway Design, here you can access the:

• Plans for highway landscape projects prepared under contract with the Florida Department of Transportation comply with the FDOT Plans Preparation Manual;
   
• FDOT Design Standards;
   
• Landscape architects typically find Index 544 Landscape Installation,  Index 546 Sight Distance at Intersections, and Index 700 Roadside Offsets to be helpful when preparing landscape plans;
  
  
• Design Standard Series 600-660 cover Traffic Control Through Work Zones;
  
  
• FDOT Standard Specification for Road and Bridge Construction;
  
  
• Utility Accommodation Manual;
  
  
• The Office of Roadway Design offers training opportunities;
  
  
• At the State Estimates Office you can access the Basis of Estimates Manual, and Master Pay Item Lists; and
  
  
• The Florida Highway Landscape Guide was published in 1995. Though it is in metric, many landscape architects find it to be a valuable resource.