Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Project development

Functional groups

Environmental Planning and Design Unit

Goal

This unit’s goal is to provide landscape architectural planning and design support to enhance MnDOT’s corridor and project management from project scoping to maintenance activities, enhancing multi-modal travel experiences, community livability, and environmental sustainability.

Products the unit provides

What to expect from the unit

  • Visual Impact Assessments and Visual Quality Manuals to assure aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings intended by National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
  • Ecologically appropriate, human-scaled, and visually appealing landscape plans
  • Corridor management to preserve, promote, and enhance the scenic, historic, and recreational resources of the Mississippi River fostering economic growth in the corridor and developing the national, scenic, and historic Great River Road
  • MnDOT Standard Specification 2571 Plant Installation and Establishment
  • Certified Landscape Specialist training
  • PlantSelector to facilitate selecting appropriate plants for Minnesota roadsides

What you need to provide to the unit

  • Programmed Visual Impact Assessment, Visual Quality Management tasks
  • Funding for contract landscape projects and community landscape partnership projects
  • Partnerships, projects, and route signage that help implement the MN Great River Road Corridor Management Plan (PDF)
  • Registration for Certified Landscape Specialist training/renewal
  • Interest in selecting appropriate plants for Minnesota roadsides

What the unit expects from you