chesapeake bay green streets, green towns, green jobs (g 3 ) academy from planning to design to...

Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Towns, Green Jobs (G3) Academy

From Planning to Design to Action: Three (3) Years of Success

Contents

Overview of G3 Academy and the G3 Grants Program G3 Funding Areas and Project Highlights

White Papers Planning Documents Concept/Preliminary Designs Final Designs & Construction

Grantees Reports Questions

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Overview of G3 Academy and the

G3 Grant Program

History of the G3 Academy

Initiated by US EPA Region 3 via the Green Highways Partnership (www.greenhighwayspartnership.org)

A virtual resource and collaborative network of stewards, practitioners and sponsors

Unites a town's green vision together with the tools to accelerate local greening efforts

Community

Livability

New Green

Economic Opportuni

ties

Greater Watershed Protection

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The Chesapeake Bay G3 Grants Partnership

A result of the President’s 2009 Chesapeake Bay Protection & Restoration Executive Order

A Partnership of: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Supports local, grassroots-level greening efforts in urbanized watersheds to reduce stormwater run-off by installing “green streets”, planting trees, and reducing impervious surfaces

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The Chesapeake Bay G3 Grants Partnership

Launched in 2011 Initial focus: the Anacostia

Watershed Twenty-six (26) grants to date

Has infused a total of $1,027,320 into green initiatives from the partners

YearGrantsAwarded

EPA Funds MD Funds Total Per Year

2011 9 $220,000 $31,320 $251,320

2012 10 $170,000 $206,000 $376,000

2013 7 $200,000 $200,000 $400,000

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The Chesapeake Bay G3 Grants Partnership What it supports:

Design projects, financing strategies, and/or implementation of urban greening projects of several types.

White Papers Planning Concept Designs

Final Design Construc

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G3 Projects: White Papers

White Papers: Overview

White papers include: Analysis of green infrastructure costs relative to traditional

gray infrastructure. Analysis of innovative technologies. Analysis and/or development of Community Based Public

Private Partnerships (P3). Analyses of the interaction between climate change resiliency

and green infrastructure.

$25,000 request level

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White Paper Example: Bladensburg Finance Study

Project location

Anacostia Watershed

Tidal Anacostia Subwatershed

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Bladensburg Finance Study: White Paper

Main Objectives: Evaluate the economic benefits of

transforming Route 450 into a green street.

Develop a strategic financing strategy and implementation plan

Background: In 2007, the county approved a plan to

target reinvestment and redevelopment efforts along Route 450 – the town’s main commercial corridor.

In 2010, the Town held a Green Street Design Charrette to collaborate on design and implementation recommendations for the green street revitalization.

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Street and Sidewalk ViewsSource: LID Center

Bladensburg Finance Study: White Paper

Need for Assistance identifying how to engage the State

in understanding the impact of the road’s redesign on the local economy.

Making a case for how enhancement of the existing transportation network would support economic revitalization.

Identifying, prioritizing, and raising revenue for green infrastructure projects on Town and private property.

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Green Street Charette Source: LID Center

Bladensburg Finance Study: White Paper

Recommendations Look beyond the green street project itself in order to develop

a detailed inventory of priority green infrastructure projects. Develop a community-based revenue and funding stream to

help finance projects. Leverage other public-based financing from county, state, and

federal governments. Leveraging private investments, primarily through land and

economic development projects.

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Bladensburg Finance Study: White Paper

Leveraging Resources The State Highway

Administration is now a key partner in the Town’s green infrastructure implementation process.

Currently, the State has approved $4 million in funding.

Approximately $1.3 million was generated from various partners for in-kind services.

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G3 Projects: Planning Documents

Planning Documents: Overview$35,000 – $50,000 request level

Planning documents include: Conceptual plans for a large-scale, high-performing green

street/green infrastructure projects. Integration of multiple Low Impact Development (LID) Best

Management Practices (BMPs). Reference to a broader, integrated community watershed plan.

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Capitol Heights: Master Plan

Project location

Anacostia Watershed

Watts Branch Subwatershed

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Capitol Heights: Master Plan

Green Street Concept Source: LID Center

Metro

Old Central Ave

Chamber Ave

Capitol Heights Blvd

Main Objectives Focus on the role of public roads in

improving the health of the waterways, encouraging multimodal transportation, enhancing connectivity, and other factors of importance to the community.

Background Town officials have placed more

concerted effort on cleaning up Watts Branch and surrounding area.

In 2011, the Town produced a Community Sustainability Plan to focus revitalization efforts on transforming the area into a sustainable community.

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Capitol Heights: Master Plan

Background (continued) Officials have struggled with how to best provide community

services, fix roads, and revitalize the area. In spite of the Capitol Heights Metro station opening in 1980,

little redevelopment has occurred. The Green Street Master Plan

Identifies implementation tools for revitalizing the Town’s roads.

Consists of five parts to help community members and stakeholders visualize the potential for a green street.

Serves as a reference to future streetscape projects in Capitol Heights and surrounding communities.

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Capitol Heights: Master Plan

Community input was solicited using a variety of techniques: Providing information

and soliciting feedback at community events

Coordinating with the Town’s Green Team

Participation at Town Council meetings

In-person and online surveys

Lessons Learned Community outreach

takes time and similar efforts in the future should include a longer timeline for community events.

Technical advisory group should lead the final design process with stakeholders to identify funding sources.

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G3 Projects: Concept/Preliminary Designs

Concept/Preliminary Designs: Overview

Concept/Preliminary Designs include: Connection to a larger vision for a Green Town Re-design and/or repair projects Innovative green infrastructure technologies Cost projections

$50,000 request level

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Capitol Heights: Concept Design

A green street concept design was prepared for Chamber Ave/Capitol Heights Blvd – which serves as an entryway to the Capitol Heights Metro.

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Metro Core Concept Source: LID Center

Capitol Heights: Concept Design

Need for Assistance Road does not have stormwater

treatment or flood controls. Road is too wide; sidewalks are

narrow/not continuous and unsafe.

Pedestrian access to the Metro Station is inadequate with little shade and poor lighting.

Significant speeding of automobiles makes crossing the street a pedestrian safety issue.

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Concrete Channel Source: Capitol Heights

Metro Access Source: Capitol Heights

Capitol Heights: Concept Design

The Park Source: LID Center

Metro Core Source: LID Center

Design elements: Reduced lane widths Pavement resurfacing Curb bump-outs Bicycle lanes Sidewalk replacement Lighting Site furnishings Gateway features Plantings

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Capitol Heights: Concept Design

Secured Funding: $45,000 from Maryland Bikeways Program grant to focus on

refining the design’s bikeways concept. $75,000 from the Maryland Department of Housing and

Community Development for the roadway’s final design and construction.

$900,000 from Maryland’s Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund for final design and construction.

$40,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for a concept sustainability design.

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Northumberland: Concept Design

Project location

Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna River Subwatershed

Lower Susquehanna River Subwatershed

60 mi to Harrisburg, PA

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Northumberland: Concept Design

Main Objectives To identify green alternatives to

help alleviate the intense flooding, storm drain collapses, erosion, and other issues along Liberty Hollow Run, a tributary to the Lower Susquehanna River

Background Liberty Hollow Run can breach its

low banks, causing flooding, erosion, and other significant water damages to more than 250 residential properties.

Upper portion is > 65% developed. A high percentage of clay and shale soils exist where the hollow begins.

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Flooding in 2011 Source: Railyn Mest

Flooding in 2011 Source: Northumberland

Northumberland: Concept Design

Liberty Hollow Stormwater Improvement Project: Identified a list of

alternatives that, if fully implemented, would reduce peak flows for the 1 inch storm event by a minimum of 20% and total flow by at least 20% at a cost of $470,000.

Green Infrastructure Practices assessed include: Rain gardens Bioswales Planter boxes Green/blue roofs Permeable pavement Infiltration trenches Tree plantings Rain barrels Downspout disconnection Detention ponds

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Northumberland: Concept Design

Project Progress: Efforts to obtain

implementation funds have just begun.

The Borough will soon post a permanent sign to educate residents on the problem, potential green infrastructure solutions, and ways to become involved.

Local nonprofits have been chosen to help with education, outreach, and implementation efforts.

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Source: Hazen and Sawyer

G3 Projects: Final Designs & Construction

Final Designs: Overview

Final designs include: 100% designs for elements of innovative green

street/stormwater management projects. Costs associated with operation and maintenance. Detailed earthwork volumes Planting plan

Applicants must have completed or sought a permit pre-application meeting prior to submitting a proposal to this program.

Final Designs: $50,000 request level

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Construction: Overview

The most competitive construction proposals leverage funding from other sources for gray infrastructure redesign, repaving, or reconfiguration.

Proposals must include a completed conceptual plan which includes: A calculation of total drainage area treated Calculation of impervious acreage treated Estimated cost per acre treated Formulas used to calculate treatment area

Construction: $250,000 request level

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Ashland Town Hall Lot: Final Design + Construction

Project Location

Lower James Watershed

Upper Chickahominy River Subwatershed

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Ashland Town Hall Lot: Final Design + Construction

Main Objectives Design and retrofit the Town of

Ashland’s municipal parking lot. Background

The Town Hall municipal parking lot serves as a multi-functional space for residents and visitors.

In 2010, much of it was torn up for subsurface utility repairs.

In 2011, the Town Council began to set aside money from its capital improvement fund. The Retrofit Source: Chuck Epes,

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

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Ashland Town Hall Lot: Final Design + Construction

Innovative Green Infrastructure Retrofit Design Water drains into the voids of a

permeable interlocking concrete pavement system through loose stones.

It soaks into the ground below, or drains into a catch basin.

The bioretention media helps remove the pollutants from runoff.

The entire system is designed to capture and treat more than 91,000 gallons of rain water.

Multipurpose Lot Source: Chuck Epes, CBF

Permeable Pavement Source: AMT Engineering

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Ashland Town Hall Lot: Final Design + Construction

Project Success The Town has launched an outreach program to demonstrate

how permeable pavement and bioretention work in series. In 2013, Ashland received the Dave Pearson Watershed

Excellence Award from the Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Association.

The project was also awarded a Vision Award from the Urban Land Institute of Richmond.

It has been recognized by the Ashland Main Street Association with a “You’ve Been Noticed” Award for improving Ashland’s central business district streetscape.

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Flower Avenue Green Street: Final Design + Construction

Project location

Anacostia Watershed

Sligo Creek Subwatershed

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Main Objectives To redesign and retrofit Flower Avenue into a green/complete street. To reduce the runoff of polluted water into the nearby creek system

while promoting safe pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular use. Background

The project was spearheaded by a conversation between the City and the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) to transfer ownership of the road, along with $696,000 in reconstruction funds.

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Source: Takoma Park

Flower Avenue Green Street: Final Design + Construction

Flower Avenue Green Street: Final Design + Construction

Need for Assistance Lack of continuous

sidewalks on the road’s eastern side

Lack of American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks on both sides

Speeding traffic Lack of stormwater

infrastructure

Flower Avenue, looking north Source: Google Maps

Direction of stormwater runoff

Flower Avenue

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Flower Avenue Green Street: Final Design + Construction

Flower Avenue Green Street Project Goals ADA compliant sidewalks Improved pedestrian crossings and bus

stop locations Low Impact Development (LID) facilities Energy efficient lighting

Challenges Extensive system of underground

utilities narrow right-of-ways Speed and direction of water flow limited curb and gutter

Community Meeting Source: Takoma Park

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Flower Avenue Green Street: Final Design + Construction

Flower Avenue Improvements Source: Takoma Park

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Importance of Piloting Projects

Why are pilot projects important?

They serve as a catalyst for broader community revitalization and green infrastructure implementation efforts.

They encourage a wider understanding and use of LID technologies.

They demonstrate the success and positive impacts of green stormwater management on site.

They provide insight on highlights, challenges, and lessons learned for similar future projects.

They provide meaningful engagement with public users and private property owners

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The Green Street + Complete Street Connection

Green streets manage stormwater runoff in order to slow down runoff, treat pollutants, and recharge groundwater. Raised medians, lane diets, bicycle lanes and energy-efficient

lighting Complete streets enable safe and convenient access for

users of all ages and abilities. Raised medians, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, street lights, and traffic

calming measures Both Green Streets and Complete Streets

Increase quality of life and create a sense of place Increase safety for pedestrians and motorists Increase adjacent property values

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G3 Projects to Date

Street Types Targeted

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Issues Addressed

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Plans Addressed

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Types of Professionals Involved in Projects

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Grantees Reports

Project Transferability

Numerous projects from the G3 grant has led to the preparation of similar projects. 64% have been transferable.

13% have not been transferable.

28% predict that it will be transferable once the project is completed.

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Technical Assistance Needs

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Project Success

Percentage of projects that have been successful in securing funding for future steps: 57% have been successful.

7% have not been successful.

36% is in the process of securing funding. Grant funding from the G3 program can help better

position projects for success. For Ashville, Bladensburg, Capitol Heights, Takoma Park,

Northumberland: $125,000 in G3 funds -> $7.2 million leveraged

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Lessons Learned

Create a schedule that assumes significant delays. Enlist outside expertise for providing the bandwidth

needed to execute the project. Include designated access points to the bioretention area. Organize multiple webinars and workshops to reach a

large number of audience. Hold extensive public meetings to provide comprehensive

understanding of project benefits to community members.

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Questions?

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