Green Roads for Traffic Safety:The Role of Municipalities

Prepared By:Dr. Wael Yousef (presenting author)

& Dr. Ahmed El-kady

Urban Planning Department, Faculty of EngineeringAl-Azhar University, Egypt

Introduction

Roads and travel surfaces present

perhaps the largest urban pollution

sources and also one of the

greatest opportunities for green

infrastructure use.

Green Street Designs:

Green streets can incorporate a

wide variety of design elements

including street trees, permeable

pavements, bioretention, and

swales.

This bioretention area takes runoff

from the street through a trench

drain in the sidewalk.

Case Studies

Green Street Pilot Projects:

Portland, Oregon is a national

leader in developing green

infrastructure, Through the 1990s,

over 3 billion gallons of combined

sewer overflow discharged to the

Willamette River every year.

Vegetated Curb Extensions in

City of Portland

Green Street Pilot Projects:

The City of Chicago, Illinois has an

alley system that is perhaps the

largest in the world. These 13,000

publicly owned alleys result in

1,900 miles, or 3,500 acres, of

impermeable surfaces in addition

to the street network.

The Chicago Green Alley Program

is unique because it marries green

infrastructure practices in the

public right-of-way with green

infrastructure efforts on private

property.

The user-friendly Handbook, which

describes both facets of the

program including the design

techniques and their benefits, is an

award winning document.

Permeable Pavers and

Permeable Concrete Chicago Alleys

Chicago’s Green Alley Program uses

the following five techniques:1. Changing the grade of the alley to drain to

the street.

2. Using permeable pavement that allows

water to percolate into the ground.

3. Using light colored paving material that

reflects sunlight.

4. Incorporating recycled materials into the

pavement mix.

5. Using energy efficient light fixtures.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Elements necessary for a successful

green streets program:

1. Pilot projects are critical.

2. Leadership in sustainability from the top.

3. Buy-in from all municipal infrastructure

departments.

4. Documentation.

5. Public outreach.

Thank you for your attention

&Waiting for your

Questions