Sustainability and Built Environment Nibedita Das

UC, Davis October 31, 2006

Green Streets – An Innovative Street Design Approach

“Great streets do not just happen. Overwhelmingly, the best streets derive from a conscious act
of conception and creation of the street as a whole. The hands of decision makers are visible.”
- Allan B. Jacobs

Circulation and streetscape design is perhaps the most critical factor for building a healthy and
safe community. Research shows that public streets and roads cover nearly one-third of our
urban landscapes. Streets may be considered as the backbone of out urbanized civilization
acting as efficient conveyors of traffic daily. However, often we tend to overlook that the
massive impervious surfaces are also a high environmental polluter by depositing pollutants
directly into streams and water bodies threatening natural habitat and species. In the past,
sewage and industrial waste were considered as chief polluting sources, however since 1980s
“nonpoint” pollution caused by runoff from impervious surfaces (such as roads, roofs, lawns,
driveways, parking lots etc.) has gained much attention. In fact, nonpoint pollutants have been
recognized as the No.1 environmental pollutant in U.S.

As we all struggle towards a more sustainable world future, it seems appropriate to rethink about
our urban landscape. It seems necessary not only to improve our existing infrastructure and
design but think of newer concepts to promote sustainable design values. The Green Streets
design approach was popularized in the Portland Metro 2040 Growth Concept and Regional
Transportation Plan.

Source: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=degab

What are Green Streets?

“Green Streets” mimic natural conditions by managing runoff on the surface and at its source.
According to the Green Streets – Innovative Solutions for Stormwater and Stream Crossings the a
“green street” may be defined as –
• One component of a larger watershed approach to improving the region’s water quality
• Designed to incorporate a system of stormwater treatment within its right of way
• Minimizes the quantity of water that is piped directly to streams and rivers
• Makes visible a system of “green” infrastructure
• Incorporates the stormwater system into the aesthetics of the community
• Maximizes the use of street tree coverage for stormwater interception as well as
temperature mitigation and air quality improvement
• At points where it crosses a stream or other sensitive area, a “green” street is located and
designed to ensure the least impact on its surroundings
Sustainability and Built Environment Nibedita Das
UC, Davis October 31, 2006

• Requires a more broad-based alliance for its planning, funding, maintenance and
monitoring.

Green Street design approach is a unique way of assessing sustainable street design alternatives
by integrating various solutions. This design approach tries to blend the natural hydrological
cycle within the designed urbanscape. The key features of green streets are:

Reduction of impervious surface – Urbanization has created vast impervious landscapes which
challenge the environmental sustainability of our cities. By reducing the amount of impervious
surface requirement in Green Street and integrating planting and landscaped areas, this
alternative street design concept helps in stormwater management and reduction of heat
island effect.

Improve water quality – Urban stormwater runoff pollutes the natural water system by
contributing to the combined sewer overflows (CSO). The type of planting and biofiltration
process used in green street design help to treat runoff. This helps in improving the quality of
runoff and prevents soil erosion. The design helps in controlling the volume and flow-rate of
water reducing chances of water quality impacts of fine sediment erosion.

Use the public right-of-way for multiple purposes – The green street design approach recognizes
and respects the finite limits of our natural land resources. By integrating stormwater infiltration
and other public utilities and opportunities for recreation, the design promotes shared uses within
the public right-of-way.

Source: Green Streets – Innovative Solutions for Stormwater and Stream Crossings
Sustainability and Built Environment Nibedita Das
UC, Davis October 31, 2006

Application of Green Streets Design Solutions

Green street design solutions may be applicable to both new streets and existing streets.
Typically designing green streets in new development are less complicating than retrofitting in
existing development. The table below from Green Streets – Innovative Solutions for Stormwater
and Stream Crossings list some of these issues:

In streets where landscaped curb extensions aren't feasible, there are several sustainable
stormwater management alternatives, including:

• Swales that infiltrate and store stormwater runoff

(Source: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=degab )

Cost Implications of Green Streets

One of the main constraints for Green Streets has been their high cost implications. Besides the
political issues of designing new streets or retrofitting existing streets, the high maintenance cost
Sustainability and Built Environment Nibedita Das
UC, Davis October 31, 2006

has been a deterrent in the design popularity. The table below compares the costs between
traditional streets and green streets (based on information from Green Streets – Innovative
Solutions for Stormwater and Stream Crossings):

Traditional Green
Type of Street Street Street

New construction regional blvd. $1,108,968.00 $1,422,093.00

Retrofit of 4-lane urban arterial $148, 247.00 $1,263,677.00

Culvert Construction $21,000.00 $83,000.00

Note: A reasonable estimate of maintenance of green streets is $700/year.

Green Streets vs. Traditional Streets

Green streets provide a more complete integration of necessary functions like water quality
treatment along with high flow conveyance. Green streets approach can have considerable
savings when it comes to “end of pipe” treatment by reducing extra cost for stormwater pipes
and treatment.On the other hand, traditional streets are designed only on the basis of
conveyance. Therefore even though apparently it may seem they are less expensive, we should
not ignore the long term negative environmental impacts caused by these streets.

Based on the practical limits of high construction and maintenance costs, skilled labor
requirement and political acceptance of green street design by the community, the question
about the design feasibility and viability arises. Tree-lined streets with landscaped strips along
sidewalks may be another cheaper alternative for upgrading traditional streets. It may not be
able to filter all pollutants from the runoff, but the simple addition of trees and landscaped strips
will help in the following ways:
• Reduce impervious surface
• Promote walkability and pedestrian friendliness
• Use the public right-of way for multiple purposes
• Reduce heat island effect
• Prevent soil erosion
• Low maintenance cost.
However, we need to be careful about the types of planting we choose for such streets and
refrain from using water-intensive plants.
Sustainability and Built Environment Nibedita Das
UC, Davis October 31, 2006

References:

Green Streets – Innovative Solutions for Stormwater and Stream Crossings. 2002. Metro.

Creating Livable Streets – Street Design Guidelines. 2002. Metro

http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=degab

http://www.metro-region.org/article.cfm?articleid=262