I understand that it’s not the most hospitable environment for most plants (salt, car accidents, minimal animal traffic) but that space gets mowed to keep what grows there short. Why not have some wildflowers, native grass, or even trees there? Trees would act as an extra barrier between such fast traffic
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Trees are, generally speaking, hard immovable objects and ramming into one at high speeds can easily be fatal. They’re pretty poor barriers. Sure, they’ll block you from crossing the median but at what cost? Guardrails and cable systems they have in the medians are designed to deflect fast moving cars back onto the road or slow them down without outright stopping them. Even many newer street signs and light poles are generally designed to break away when hit. Trees can’t be designed the same way and abrupt stops are not good for your health.
Native grasses/wildflowers might seem like a good compromise, but it’s practically impossible to have JUST native grasses/wildflowers and keep out brush and trees.
In Texas, TxDoT actually does actively sow native wildflowers (like the iconic bluebonnet) and some grasses in areas that don’t have groundcover yet and doesn’t mow in spring while the flowers are in bloom.
The couple of months not mowing saves money, and since they don’t mow until after the flowers have finished producing seeds, they’ll self-seed the next year, so it’s very cost efficient, and since the areas still get mowed in summer/fall/winter, brush and trees never have a chance to get established.
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