design elements - San Jacinto Texas Historic District

FREEWAY
Planning and design along freeway corridors
in the Historic District should be conducted
following TxDOT standards and incorporate,
as appropriate, the Design Elements and
Best Practices presented here and detailed in
subsequent chapters. Safe travel ways and
clear sight lines are of primary importance and
all design decisions should defer to the safety
of the user. While Freeways are dominating
features of the landscape, the impact of freeway
traffi c and infrastructure on the surrounding
EXISTING CONDITIONS
18 │ SCENARIOS
environment and communities may be
greatly reduced using appropriate design and
engineering practices.
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Architectural screening, sound walls, and
woodland buff ers can be used to att enuate
the increased noise and visual impact
caused by freeway traffi c.
Natural landforms can help add natural
visual interest and screen unsightly uses or
features.
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Bio-infi ltration may be used to capture
and treat stormwater runoff from Freeway
associated pavements.
Native landscapes, including ground cover,
shrubs, and trees (woodland buff er), can be
installed outside of sight triangles per TxDOT
recommendations. A maintenance edge may
be applied along areas where roadway safety
and sight lines are a concern.
The existing Freeway scenario site at IH-610 and
Clinton Drive demonstrates landscape practices
that are ineffi cient in energy and resource
consumption, do not exemplify the culture and
history of the District, and do little to enhance the
visual interest of the corridor. Large expanses of
turf grass require maintenance out of proportion
to the ecological services provided and do not
evoke a native coastal Texas landscape. Views
from the freeway, particularly those of industrial
uses, are contrary to the desired character and
qualities of the District.