The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) unveiled “the greenest street in America.” It’s the first phase of a two-mile stretch along Blue Island Avenue and Cermak Road on the city’s southwest side. “This project demonstrates a full range of sustainable design techniques that improve the urban ecosystem, promote economic development, increase the safety and usability of streets for all users, and build healthy communities,” said CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein. “It provides both mitigation and adaptation strategies by reducing its carbon footprint and integrating technologies that allow the infrastructure to address and adapt to climate change.”
Up to 80 percent of the typical average rainfall will be diverted through a combination of bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavements and storm water features. More than 60 percent of the project’s construction waste was recycled and more than 23 percent of all new materials were sourced from recycled content.
By installing dark-sky friendly light fixtures, energy use of the street will be reduced by 42 percent. To help cut down on Chicago’s sweltering summer heat, nearly 40 percent of the public right of way was paved with light-colored, reflective material. Also, developers added a 131 percent increase in landscape and tree canopy cover.
The $14 million project was funded largely through Tax Increment Financing, along with $800,000 worth of grants from the Federal Highway Administration, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Midwest Generation.
This is a policy that should be implemented throughout every city, however it can easily become very expensive. $14 million for a two-mile stretch of road, is a heck of a lot of money. There needs to be more of a push from our federal and state government to help cities and other local municipalities fund such programs. We cannot continue to keep cities the way they are. It is unsustainable and initiatives such as this is the right path for a sustainable future.
Source: http://news.discovery.com/autos/chicago-constructing-greenest-street-121016.html http://specials.news.msn.com/americas-greenest-street-eats-smog
While I agree that something has to be done, and that this is a step in the right direction, this practice can not be said to be sustainable, with this large cost. Most people are already unhappy with the amount of taxes that they are paying right now. If the government helps fund many of these projects to the extent that it did this one, we could see taxes increase much more. I believe that it is the job of the government to help fund developing technologies in the world of sustainability, but to only get cities on the right track. Once a technology is developed it will become more attractive if it works and is efficient, and will become hopefully become more widely used, and thus less expensive. So the costs of roads like this one will, if it is effective, become an option in future projects, and will hopefully be used more to produce better streets in America.