Roads present many opportunities for green infrastructure application. One principle of green infrastructure involves reducing and treating stormwater close to its source. Urban transportation right-of-ways integrated with green techniques are often called “green streets”. Green streets provide a source control for a main contributor of stormwater runoff and pollutant load. This course presents methods for using green-street designs to alleviate pollution from urban stormwater runoff. This course is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency document EPA-833-F08-009, “Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Municipal Handbook Green Streets,” by R. Lukes and C. Kloss, December, 2008.

Learning Objectives

• Students will understand the importance of street width in controlling stormwater runoff.
• Students will learn how to implement bioretention curb extensions and sidewalk planters.
• Students will understand the application of permeable pavement forms.
• Students will how to take advantage of sidewalk trees and tree boxes in green infrastructure.
• Students will learn to appreciate the administrative and technical hurdles that implementation of green strategies must surmount.
• Students will become familiar with two case studies.