'''Highway beautification''' is [[landscaping]] intended to enhance the attractiveness of roads, preserve scenic beauty,<ref>[https://www.foaa.org/downloads/Notice_of_New_Rule_14-40_020.pdf Rulemaking] Authority 339.2405 FS. Law Implemented 339.2405 FS. History–New 1-19-99, Amended 11-22-01, 3-20-03, 8-10-03, 12-23-03, 2-806, 12-24-08, 12-2-15. </ref> and control of the usage of the land near [[highway]]s. This may include vegetation, irrigation, street furniture, decorative pavings, fences, and lighting.<ref>[https://www.foaa.org/downloads/Chapter14-40_FAC_12-02-15.pdf Rulemaking Authority 334.044(2), 337.2505(1), 479.02(7), 479.106(8) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(26), 335.167, 337.405, 479.106 FS. HistoryNew 1-19-99, Amended 2-7-02, 2-8-06, 12-24-08, Transferred to 14-10.057.] </ref> Benefits from highway beautification include reduction in driving stress, improved visual quality, and improved roadway safety, with cities citing decreases in total number of crashes after beautification projects.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Chen |first=Hongyun |last2=Fabregas |first2=Aldo |last3=Lin |first3=Pei-Sung |date=2016-05-01 |title=Landscaping of highway medians and roadway safety at unsignalized intersections |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457516300392 |journal=Accident Analysis & Prevention |volume=90 |pages=63–72 |doi=10.1016/j.aap.2016.02.006 |issn=0001-4575|url-access=subscription }}</ref> However, in some places, objects that may become hazards to erratic vehicles may be banned in projects, such as trees, large shrubs, boulders, dirt mounds, or concrete sections as improper landscaping can reduce visibility or increase roadway debris.<ref name=":0" /> Highway beautification may occur in urban, semi-urban, or rural areas. <ref>''[https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/7072a69f-9679-4c19-80bc-67f0ee0fb55e/resource/30d19f50-6a5b-41bd-8e26-23778284b584/download/trans-highway-beautification-landscape-projects-highway-right-of-way-2008-12.pdf Highway Beautification - Landscape Projects in Highway Right-Of-Way],'' AC 2006, Roadside Development</ref>
In the [[United States]], highway beautification is subject to the [[Highway Beautification Act]],<ref>[https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/beauty.cfm Federal Highway Administration: "How the Highway Beautification Act Became a Law"]</ref> Section 131 of Title 23, [[United States Code]] (1965), commonly referred to as "Title I of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, as Amended".<ref>[http://www.scenicflorida.org/law23usc131.html "Section 131 of Title 23, United States Code (1965)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616100108/http://www.scenicflorida.org/law23usc131.html |date=2006-06-16 }}</ref> The act placed restrictions on [[billboard advertising]] along highways and the removal or screening of [[Wreck yard|junkyards]].
Ongoing maintenance of adjacent landscaping usually falls to local governments. However, organizations can be registered to ensure long-term maintenance as well.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Infrastructure |first=Ministry of Transportation and |title=Highway Use Permit - Sidewalks & Landscaping - Province of British Columbia |url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/funding-engagement-permits/permits/works/sidewalks-landscaping |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=www2.gov.bc.ca}}</ref> [[Adopt-a-Highway|Adopt a Highway]] or Sponsor-a-Highway programs or campaigns are often used by [[Municipality|municipalities]] to carry out many highway beautification projects by offering volunteers from organizations or individual groups to do activities such as, carrying out litter pick-ups, [[Invasive species|invasive plant]] spotting, reporting, or landscape maintenance. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Infrastructure |first=Ministry of Transportation and |title=Adopt a Highway - Province of British Columbia |url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-environment/adopt-a-highway |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=www2.gov.bc.ca}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Highways]]