Assessing Suitability of Nontraditional Development in Roadside Right-of-Way

Abstract

A decision framework was developed for context-sensitive planning in the roadside right-of-way (ROW). The primary component of this framework was a roadside suitability assessment model that supported decisions related to ROW use and development, particularly those that were nontraditional in nature. The model accommodated a broad range of potential types of development while a diverse range of roadside contextual features, including land use (current and future), land cover, environment, natural resources, and plant and animal habitats was considered. The primary function of the model was to identify the areas along a highway corridor that were most (or least) suitable for development in the roadside ROW. After the model parameters were calibrated to satisfy local conditions, a roadside suitability index was computed for each area along the selected corridor with available geospatial data as the primary model inputs. The roadside suitability index provided a relative indication of the overall suitability for a particular development in the roadside ROW. The model was demonstrated with a 20-mile pilot section of I-94 in southwest Michigan. Four types of nontraditional ROW development were considered for implementation along the corridor, including solar panels, wind turbines, agriculture and farming, and green infrastructure (e.g., stream or wetland mitigation). The resultant roadside suitability scores for the pilot corridor generally were consistent with standard considerations for planning land use.