Researchers at the University of Washington have created a system for measuring the sustainability of road construction.
Modeled on existing building rating systems, like USGBC's LEED, the Greenroads performance metric is a collection of
sustainable roadway design and construction best practices. Each one
describes a particular sustainable practice and assigns a point value
according to its impact on roadway sustainability.
There are 11
"Project Requirements" that must be met in order for a roadway to be
considered a Greenroad. These include such items as noise mitigation,
low-impact drainage solutions, storm water management and waste
management plans. There are also 118 "Voluntary Credits" that a project
team can choose to pursue, such as providing scenic views, using
recycled materials, incorporating quiet pavement and accommodating
non-motorized transportation.
The points associated with the Voluntary Credits that are achieved are
added together to give a final Greenroads score. Roadway design and
construction projects may someday be able to choose to pursue several
levels of "certification" based on the points associated with the
Voluntary Credit achieved. The more points, the higher the
certification level. Currently, there are 4 certification levels
proposed: certified, silver, gold, and evergreen. Currentlly the evaluation systems is merely for
voluntary application.
It was presented at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, by the researchers and the engineering and construction firm CH2M HILL
"The LEED® system has been really successful and has achieved a lot," said primary author Steve Muench, a University of Washington assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. "Roads are a big chunk of the construction industry that has an opportunity to participate more fully in sustainability practices. I think there's a lot of opportunity there."
