E – 1202 EPA Green Streets

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

At the successful conclusion of this course, you’ll be able to identify and discuss:

• 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.