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Biglin, Kevin

Geography

2005

MA

While the purpose of public roads is to provide safe and efficient human mobility, identifying the ecological impacts that a roadway has on the land surrounding it has been a challenging issue to address in the past. This thesis includes a comprehensive review of research focusing on ecological studies around roads and an application of these concepts to a study of the effects of a built and proposed road in Vermont. The results of this research show impacts much greater than those currently identified during planning phases. It is recommended that the current transportation planning process be broadened to include large-scale ecological impacts associated with building a new roadway. The findings of this research will be of use to highway planners, engineers, and environmentalists in future roadway construction projects.