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Green Streets Implementation

and Green Infrastructure Maintenance
ANDREW POTTS, P.E., LEED AP, CPESC
andrew.potts@ch2m.com
MAY 1, 2014
Overview
Green streets case studies
Green infrastructure maintenance
Green Infrastructure asset management
Questions
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They typically represent 25-35% of the total impervious
area
Runoff control opportunities often exist within the right-
of-way, even in confined urban areas (with utilities, etc.)
Align well with urban greening efforts and goals; good
for business, property values, etc., desired by the public
High visibility and educational opportunities
Can be cost effectively implemented by piggybacking
with planned utility or other improvements
Permit compliance
WHY INVEST IN GREEN STREETS?
GREEN STREET COSTS/AREA MANAGED
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CITY OF LANCASTER GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM
GREEN STREETS & ALLEYS
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Green Street Focus
Pavement Management Focus
PAVEMENT ASSESSMENT
Lowest Overall Green
Street Cost
Lowest Overall Green
Street Cost
PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA YIELDED MOST COST-EFFECTIVE
GREEN STREETS OPPORTUNITIES
Pavement Condition
Street
Slope &
Other
Factors
Watershed / Basin
Priority
ADA
Priority
Road Type
- Width
- Traffic (Functional
Class)
- Ownership (City, State,
private alleys)
Tree Canopy
Flooding locations
Overhead Wires
Sidewalk Condition
Inlet Condition
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ALLEY 148 GREENED FOR 10% ADDITIONAL COST, CAPTURES
200,000 GALLONS PER YEAR, IMPROVES NEIGHBORHOOD
Conventional reconstruction (8-inch reinforced
concrete) ~$20.30/SF
Green alley retrofit (permeable pavers with infiltration
trench) ~$22.40/SF
Before (July 2011) After (February 2012)
Lancaster Brewing Public Private Partnership
Rendering by McCormick Taylor
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USING TRAFFIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TO
REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND RUNOFF
5 MPH reduction in average traffic speed
Built with Transportation and GI Grant funds
Helps local business
INTEGRATING TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVES SAFETY,
LOCAL BUSINESS, AND BRINGS NEW FUNDING SOURCES
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NEW OUTDOOR SEATING WITH POROUS PAVERS
HARRISON STREET ONONDAGA COUNTY
(SYRACUSE), NY
BEFORE: Stormwater enters catch basins and is
directly connected to sewer
AFTER: Stormwater is diverted to Green Streets
and only overflows to sewer when necessary
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Design Considerations
Use of sand-based
structural soil to enhance
rooting volume
Bike boulevard
Traffic calming
Porous paver parking
lanes
Work around and with
utilities
Bioswales
New sidewalks (beyond
project limits)
GI IMPLEMENTATION AT THE WATER STREET GATEWAY
ACHIEVES MULTIPLE COMPLETE STREET BENEFITS
Limiting Site Conditions
Utilities! (adjacent to old
Erie Canal)
Old canal remnants,
SHPO issues, old rails, etc
Mid-street pedestrian
crossing
Snow plow
considerations
Turning radii for tractor
trailers
High visibility
SowhenshouldIstartthinking
aboutmaintenance?
At the start of design!
(if not earlier)
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Effective Maintenance Starts At Design
Consider maintenance requirements when selecting GI types
Design for minimal maintenance where limited resources are available or
when located on private property
GI types that require greater or specialized maintenance might be better suited for
sites with rigorous ongoing maintenance, such as schools, commercial areas, urban
plazas and public parks
Be aware of site constraints that make maintenance difficult and avoid
locating GI in these areas (e.g., slopes)
Design pre-treatment that ensures long-term functionality
Design for ease of inspection and maintenance, provide access
Select appropriate plants for the application (e.g., salt & drought tolerant)
Include contingencies (e.g., backup drains, overflow structures, and
underdrains)
Maintenance: From Gray to Green
Typically relies less on heavy equipment and confined entry and more on
hand work, less out of site
Vegetation establishment and maintenance critical
Routine maintenance of porous materials
Routine maintenance of pretreatment devices (e.g., inlet filters)
Required inspections to meet regulatory requirements (MS4)
Highly visible systems and structures require routine maintenance for
aesthetics and public perception
Often overlaps with maintenance that is already taking place!
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General GI O & M Practices and Cost
GIType RequiredRoutineMaintenance Annual
Frequency
AnnualCost
($)*
PorousPavements Vacuuming
Inspect&CleanStructures
2 0.15$0.25
perSF
Bioretention/Rain
Gardens
Inspect&CleanStructures
Establishment Watering(1
st
year)
Weeding,Pruning,Mulching
ErosionControl
2 $0.30$1.50
perSF
Vegetated Roof Inspect &CleanStructures
ReplaceVegetation
Weeding,Pruning,Mulching(optional)
2 $0.10$0.30
perSF
TreeTrenches Inspect&CleanStructures
Establishment Watering(1
st
year)
Weeding,Pruning,Mulching
2 $15 Each
Tree
Cisterns Inspect&Clean Structure&Filters 2 $100 per
1000 gal
*Total Estimated Cost Not Accounting for Overlap with Existing O&M
Barriers to Effective GI Maintenance
Budgeting for the Operations and Maintenance for
Green Infrastructure
Need for Training and Certification in Green
Infrastructure Operations and Maintenance
Developing Enforcement and Inspection Procedures
Poor Public Awareness
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Paying for Green Infrastructure Maintenance
Stormwater Utilities to fund GI O & M
Provide a stable, dedicated revenue source
Equitable approach that bases fees on impact
Incentivize private investment through credit/rebate programs
that reduce fees by reducing impact
Alternative Financing
Beneficiary Opportunity Fund
Public-Private Partnerships
Infrastructure Improvement Districts
Clean Water Funds (taxes, sewer fees, etc.)
Training and Certification in Green Infrastructure
Operations and Maintenance
Develop Maintenance Standards & Guidelines
Establish Maintenance Training and Certification
Programs
E.g., NC State BMP Maintenance Certification Program
(required in 10 cities/counties in North Carolina)
Improve Collaboration with Community Groups
Workforce development = Green Jobs
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Linking Green Infrastructure
Maintenance to Green Jobs
Highly visible vegetative GI practices
make them more likely to be
maintained
Requires workforce with new skills
Can create long term permanent jobs
Specially trained professionals for
inspections
Opportunity to create entry level
positions to disadvantaged youth
SoIvejust built150Green
InfrastructureprojectshowdoI
maintainthemall?
Asset Management
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Example of Institutionalized Maintenance for a Large-
Scale GI Program: Onondaga County (Syracuse), NY
LargescaleGIProgram(consent
decreedriven)
OnondagaLake onceoneofthe
mostpollutedlakesintheUS
Goalistosignificantlyreducelake
bacteriaandnutrients;specifically
to:
Green470acres
Reduce247MG/yearofCSOby
2018
150projectsimplementedinonly
4years(greenstreets,parking
lots,libraries,parks,schools,
roofs,etc.)
Createdneedforinstitutionalized
approachtoO&M
visit: SaveTheRain.us
Adapting an Asset Management Framework for GI
Can Greatly Enhance Maintenance Effectiveness
TrainingWorkshops
DevelopmentofStandardMaintenance
Procedures(SMPs),SeasonalConsiderations,
Schedules
AnexistingComputerizedMaintenance
ManagementSystem(CMMS)forgrey
infrastructurewasadaptedforGIprojects
(MAXIMO)
DefiningGIassets:type,location,quantity,
etc.
AssetswerelinkedtoSMPsviaCMMSand
putintoactionbyWorkOrders(who/
what/when)forpreventative maintenance
Reporting&Documentation(i.e.,tracking
laborhours,costs,problems,etc.)
Canbetailoredtospecificneedsoflocality
basedonsizeofprogram,availableresources
andcrews,andavailabilityofaCMMS
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Partnership with Onondaga Earth Corp
Entry level summer jobs for
disadvantaged youth
Public Education
4 sites maintained 2011-
2012 under pilot effort
Green Streets Implementation
and Green Infrastructure Maintenance
ANDREW POTTS, P.E., LEED AP, CPESC
andrew.potts@ch2m.com
MAY 1, 2014