A sustainability rating system for roadways Steve Muench University of Washington

1. A sustainability rating system for roadways Steve MuenchUniversity of Washington

2. What we mean by “sustainability” What a Greenroad looks like Greenroads description Example credits Why bother?

3. What we mean by “sustainability”

4.  There are a lot of definitions for “sustainable” out there. Most are incomplete. This is what we think “sustainability” means. Sustainability is a system characteristic which refers to the system’s capacity to support natural laws and human values.

5.  There are a lot of definitions for “sustainable” out there. Most are incomplete. This is what we think “sustainability” means. Sustainability is a system characteristic which refers to the system’s capacity to support natural laws and human values. • Natural laws = Ecology • Rule: Don’t break the earth • How we do this: • Do not take stuff out of the earth faster than it will go back in. • Do not produce stuff (e.g., pollution) faster than it can be broken down and integrated back into nature. • Do not diminish nature’s productivity or diversity or we will affect nature’s ability to process stuff that we create or use.

6.  There are a lot of definitions for “sustainable” out there. Most are incomplete. This is what we think “sustainability” means. Sustainability is a system characteristic which refers to the system’s capacity to support natural laws and human values. • Natural laws = Ecology • Rule: Don’t break the earth • Human values = equity and economy • Equity rule: Seek quality of life for all • Economy rule: Manage resources wisely • Resources = human, natural, manufactured and financial capital

7.  There are a lot of definitions for “sustainable” out there. Most are incomplete. This is what we think “sustainability” means. Sustainability is a system characteristic which refers to the system’s capacity to support natural laws and human values. • Sustainability can be: • Measured • Judged • Managed • Improved

8.  There are a lot of definitions for “sustainable” out there. Most are incomplete. This is what we think “sustainability” means. Sustainability is a system characteristic which refers to the system’s capacity to support natural laws and human values. “Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” -UN World Commission on Environment and Development (WECD) Report (1987) chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway’s prime minister then) on page 24

9.  Sustainability does not make much sense unless you also include 4 more items. 7 total components: ecology, equity, economic extent, expectations, experience, exposure • Defining “sustainable” for your project • Extent: What is the project scope (area, time, location)? • Expectations: What are the performance expectations? • Making “sustainability” work • Experience: Need technical expertise to develop solutions • Exposure: Education and public awareness

10.  We are really just talking about being “more sustainable” than we were. We are going for “do less bad”. The goal is “do good”. Good Bad Break Even Point Use > replace Produce > broken down Excess = damage Change nature Use = replace Produce = broken down Excess = benefit Integrated into nature humans ants cherry trees Example drawn from ideas in McDonough and Braungart’s Cradle to Cradle (2002)

11. So what does a more sustainable pavement look like?

12. less paving emissions env. mgmt. sys. art recycled materials long-lasting pavement scenic views pedestrian access LID stormwater local material quality construction

13. less paving emissions Scenic views long-lasting pavement Native vegetation Natural cut slopes SWPPP Minimal footprint LID stormwater quality construction local material

14. We must be careful how we define and measure pavement sustainability. Using a standard for buildings may not be advisable. pavement = drainage, recycled material LEED numbers from Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Alliance

16. The Greenroads rating system

17. Sasobit Warm Mix Asphalt I-90 near George, WA 23 June 2008 What is it? Greenroads is a rating system designed to distinguish more sustainable new or redesigned/rehabilitated roads. It awards points for approved sustainable choices/practices and can be used to certify projects based on point value. How does it help? More sustainable roadways. This means more favorable ecological impact, lower life cycle costs and better quality of life.

18. Quiet Pavement SR 520 Near Bellevue, WA 14 July 2007 Greenroads is a project-oriented system. It does not deal with planning and it does not deal with operations.

19. Greenroads Categories

20. Project Requirements (PR)

21. Development can substantially change a watershed’s hydrologic regime. From the Starting Point: Teaching Entry Level Geoscience In the NSF National Science Digital Library Diagram from Massachusetts EEA Smart Growth/Smart Energy Toolkit

22. Low impact development (LID) techniques can be used to more closely match pre-development hydrologic conditions. • Bioretention cells • Bioslopes • Catch basin controls • Gutter filters • Infiltration trenches/strips • Permeable pavement • Pollution prevention • Surface sand filter • Soil amendments • Swales • Vegetation/landscaping

23. Example PR Requirement LID Techniques for Stormwater REQ The project shall select LID measures that reduce the average annual post development runoff volume from the project right of way by at least 50% from conventional design using any of the following: Minimizing impact to existing undisturbed soil and vegetation through avoidance (e.g. lane widths, shoulder widths, slopes) Permeable hard surfaces instead of conventional impervious surfaces. Amended/engineered soils instead of conventional compacted soils Dispersed and infiltration‐based practices (e.g. dispersion, bioretention) instead of enclosed drainage systems

24. Materials & Resources (MR)

25. We have done well recycling hot mix asphalt and portland cement concrete as part of road construction. Waste in Washington State Asphalt and Concrete Recycled 1999 to 2004 HMA/PCC recycling = 30% of diverted waste Graph from Washington State Department of Ecology data

26. We can do better. We can reduce the amount to landfills, and increase the amount to high-value surfacings. Destination of Recovered HMA Destination of Recovered PCC Data from the USGS

27. Example MR Credit Recycled Content 1-4 points One point: Use recycled content to a minimum of 20% in the HMA/PCC and 40% of the total material if base course, fill, or structures are included in the project. Two points: Use recycled content to a minimum of 30% in the HMA/PCC and 50% of the total material if base course, fill, or structures are included in the project. Three points: Use recycled content to a minimum of 40% in the HMA/PCC and 60% of the total material if base course, fill, or structures are included in the project. Four points: Use recycled content to a minimum of 50% in the HMA/PCC and 70% of the total material if base course, fill, or structures are included in the project.

28. Certification Levels Version 0.96: 76 Total Points 23-30 points 31-38 points 39-46 points 47+ points 30-40% of total 40-50% of total 50-60% of total 60+% of total

29. Why bother?

30. Why bother with a rating standard? • More sustainable roads • Specific benefits: • Defines basic roadway sustainability attributes • Greater participation in roadway sustainability • Better evaluation of tradeoffs and decisions • Provide means for sustainability assessment • Allows innovation because it is end-result oriented • Confer marketable recognition on projects

31. What makes a roadway more or less sustainable and how do you translate these qualities into actionable items? A Convenient List • Researched and backed with empirical evidence • Weighted based on impact • Each item is directly actionable on a project level • Each item referenced to sustainability components

32. If improving sustainability is an agency/company goal, how do you assess your performance? Some examples from LEED: City of Denver: Greenprint Denver All City construction projects over 5,000 ft2 and major rennovations must meet LEED Silver rating level. Goal of a 10% annual increase in green buildings. Colorado State University “The green university.” All new building projcts achieve a LEED Gold rating. Received an “A” rating in buildings from the College Sustainability Report Card. State of Colorado All State funded projects (over 25% state funds) shall be built to the highest green building standard such as LEED. Initial construction costs must be recovered in 15 years or less.

33. Why should a contractor care? Because there is money to be made. • From the Turner Construction website: • “Turner has extensive experience across a wide variety of sustainable construction projects, enabling us to create a detailed databank of cost-effective Green materials, processes and suppliers to assist our clients. From our experience, the costs associated with these projects can be contained to a level comparable to traditionally constructed buildings.” • 80+ LEED certified projects • 120+ additional LEED registered projects • 300+ projects with Green elements • 600+ LEED Accredited Professionals One example…

34. We need to be on the map. Construction Market Design Market Source: ENR (24 Sep 2007)The Mainstreaming of Green Building (Tulacz) Source: ENR (18 May 2008)No Longer a Fad, Green Hits Mainstream (Tulacz and Traynor)

35. Greenroads effort right now…(8 September 2014) • Who is developing Greenroads? • University of Washington and CH2M HILL • Who is funding Greenroads so far? • TransNow (DOT Region 10 University Transportation Center) • State Pavement Technology Consortium (WA, CA, MN, TX) • Federal Lands Highway Division (FLHD) • What is the status right now? • Version 0.96 now • Online: www.greenroads.us • When can it be used? • We want comments and pilot projects NOW • Let us know via the website (www.greenroads.us)

37. Sustainability is the next great game in transportation. The game becomes serious when you keep score. Greenroads keeps score.