Creating Green Roadways

In Creating Green Roadways, James and Matthew Sipes demonstrate that roads don't have to be the enemy of sustainability: they can be designed to minimally impact the environment while improving quality of life.

The authors examine traditional, utilitarian methods of transportation planning that have resulted in a host of negative impacts: from urban sprawl and congestion to loss of community identity and excess air and water pollution. They offer a better approach-one that blends form and function. Through case studies and photos from around the country, Creating Green Roadways provides an examination of all aspects of green roads, from transportation policy to the basics of road design, public involvement, road ecology, and the economics of sustainable roads. This comprehensive guide offers a practical strategy for rethinking how we design, plan, and maintain our transportation infrastructure.

Autorentext

James L. Sipes is a landscape architect, environmental planner, and the author of Digital Land and Sustainable Solutions to Water Resources. Matthew L. Sipes is a civil engineer with HMB Professional Engineers, Inc.

Inhalt

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Introduction

Why We Need Green Roadways

The Expansion of Our Highway Infrastructure

The Problem

Green Roadways and Quality of Life

Overview of the Book

Chapter 2. Transportation Policies

Federal Policies and Procedures

Federal Acts and Regulations

NEPA

State and Local Policies and Procedures

Chapter 3. Basic Roadway Design

Road Types

Access Control

Types of Transportation Projects

Sources of Basic Transportation Standards

Impact of Design Speeds and Level of Service on Roadway Design

Importance of Safety

Design Exceptions

Right-of-Way

Greening Roadway Components

Pedestrian Facilities

Art

Summary

Chapter 4. Design and Planning Process for Green Roadways

Overview of the Process of Planning and Designing a Green Road

Environmental Considerations in Planning

Transportation Planning

Rethinking Roads: Context-Sensitive Design/Context-Sensitive Solutions

Planning to Reduce Risks Associated with Green Roadways

Land Use Planning, Smart Growth, Complete Streets, and Transportation Infrastructure

Road Diets

Transit-Oriented Development and Highway Interchange Transit-Oriented Development

Highway Corridor Overlay District

Value Engineering

Transportation Challenges

Problems with Current Mass Transit

Rising Interest

Chapter 5. Public Involvement Process

Public Involvement Begins at the Beginning

Public Involvement Plan

Social Media and Public Involvement

Visualization

Partnership Opportunities for Green Roadways

Case Study-Public Participation

. Vancouver Land Bridge, Vancouver, Washington

Chapter 6. Green Roadways in Urban Areas

Deemphasizing Roads

Retrofitting Existing Streets

New Transportation Projects

Urban Case Studies

. Mexicantown Bagley Avenue Pedestrian Bridge and Plaza, Detroit, Michigan

. Boston's Big Dig

Portland's Green Streets Program

Multifunction Roundabout, Normal, Illinois

. Delaware Avenue Expansion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

. T-REX Light-Rail Pedestrian Bridge, Denver, Colorado

Summary

Chapter 7. Green Roadways in Rural and Suburban Areas

Rural Transportation

Types of Rural Development

The Suburbs

Livable, Walkable Communities

Suburban and Rural Case Studies

. The Rain Gardens of Maplewood, Minnesota

. State Route 17 in Horseheads, New York

. High Point Redevelopment, Seattle, Washington

Chapter 8. Cultural/Historic/Visual Resources

Cultural and Historic Resources

Archaeology

Visual Resources

Approaches for Addressing Visual Resources

Design Approaches

Road Layout

Landform

Scenic Byways

Case Studies-Cultural/Historic/Visual Resources in Transportation

. I-70 Glenwood Canyon and Snowmass Canyon, Colorado

. Paris Pike, Kentucky

. Old Florida Heritage Highway, Florida

. Merritt Parkway, Connecticut

. Nevada Landscape and Aesthetics Master Plan

. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina

. Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge, Tennessee

. Creative Corridors, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Chapter 9. Natural Resources/Environmental Sustainability

Wildlife Habitat

Road Ecology

Wildlife Crossings

Habitat Alterations

Planning for Climate Change

Open Space Opportunities

Protecting Open Space

Water Resources

Air Quality

Energy Conservation

Generating Energy

Case Studies-Integrating Natural Resources and Green Roads

. Corridor K, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee

. US Highway 93, Montana

. Alligator Alley, Florida

. Mountains to Sound Greenway, Washington

. Yellowstone National Park's East Entrance Road

. ARC International Design Competition for Wildlife Crossing Infrastructure, Vail Pass, Colorado

Chapter 10. Constructing Green Roadways

Green Construction Practices

Green Construction Materials

Recycling

Case Studies-Green Construction

. New River Gorge Bridge, West Virginia

. Meador Kansas Ellis Trail, Washington State

. US 97 Lava Butte-South Century Drive, Oregon

Chapter 11. Economics of Green Roadways

Funding Road Infrastructure

Funding Green Roadways

Increasing Efficiency

Maintenance and Life-Cycle Costs

Case Studies-Economics of Green Roadways

. Atlanta BeltLine, Georgia

. Greater East End Livable Centers, Houston, Texas

Chapter 12. Next Steps in Creating Green Roadways

Planning for Green Roadways

Changing the Emphasis of Transportation Funding

Measuring Success for Green Roadways

Sustainable Highways

Measuring Success for Green Roadways

U.S. Case Studies-Next Steps

. Manchaca Greenway, Austin, Texas

. Oregon Solar Highway

. Houston Low Impact Development-Independence Parkway, Texas

International Case Studies

. Henderson Waves Bridge, Singapore

. Clem Jones Tunnel, Brisbane, Australia

. Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion, Zaragoza, Spain

. Atlantic Road Bridge, Norway

. City of Saskatoon (Canada) Green Streets Program

Summary

Appendix 1: Resource Characteristics

Selected Resources

Index.