New York City is installing its first large-scale porous pavement installation along seven miles of roadway in Brooklyn.
The project will keep 35 million gallons of stormwater out of the combined sewer system each year, according to a news release. Porous pavement will be installed along the curb line of streets, where stormwater typically drains towards a catch basin on the corner. The pavement can withstand the weight of motor vehicles, including trucks. New York has piloted the use of several different types of porous pavement for a few years in different boroughs, but this is the first large-scale implementation.
“Climate change is bringing with it rainstorms that can overwhelm our sewers and cause flooding across the five boroughs, which is why we are investing in tools that will divert rainwater away from the sewer system, such as porous pavement,” said New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Brooklyn got hit particularly hard by Tropical Storm Ophelia last September and this new porous pavement will help to ease pressure on the sewer system and protect residents during future storms.”
Over the last decade, the city has built the nation’s largest Green Infrastructure Program, the release says. Green Infrastructure intercepts stormwater before it can drain into sewers, thereby preserving some capacity in the system and helping to prevent, or reduce, flooding, backups, and overflows. Green infrastructure includes porous pavement, curbside rain gardens, permeable pavers, green or blue roofs, and underground storage. To date the city has built more than 13,000 green infrastructure installations, including more than 9,000 curbside rain gardens.
Related Stories
Urban Planning | Jul 13, 2016
'Shore to Core' competitions envision future waterfront cities
Design and research teams will use West Palm Beach, Fla., as their model.
Urban Planning | Jul 7, 2016
Y Combinator project would build new city using new technology, urban policies
Zoning, property rights, building codes all could be re-imagined.
Urban Planning | Jun 15, 2016
Swedish ‘Timber Town’ proposal from C.F. Møller provides a unique blend of nature and city
The development acts as a transition area between a traditional urban landscape and parklands.
Movers+Shapers | Jun 10, 2016
URBAN EVANGELIST: Bruce Katz sees America humming again, city by city
Katz, best known as Co-director of the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy program, believes that cities are dynamic networks of like-minded public and private interests that have the potential to generate economic growth.
Urban Planning | Jun 9, 2016
Triptyque Architecture designs air-cleansing hanging highway garden in São Paulo
The garden would filter as much as 20% of CO2 emissions while also providing a place for cultural events and community activities.
Urban Planning | May 31, 2016
Vancouver park board approves final design for urban park
The green space is intended to be a recreation area for a busy part of downtown.
Urban Planning | May 31, 2016
The entire Swedish city of Kiruna is being relocated to prevent it from collapsing into underground iron mines
Kiruna, the northernmost city in Sweden, and its 20,000 residents will be moved two miles to the east by 2040.
Urban Planning | May 23, 2016
Developer acquires 62 acres of vacant land in Chicago
Related Midwest will turn the strip that connects the South Loop to Chinatown into a neighborhood with homes, stores, and offices.
Urban Planning | May 20, 2016
Why people are the most important factor in urban regeneration
What makes large-scale urban regeneration projects successful? CallisonRTKL's Edgar Kiviet explores how cities, particularly those in Eastern Europe, are undergoing a transformation.
Urban Planning | May 16, 2016
5 steps to creating high-performance communities
Perkins+Will's Noah Friedman and Kristen Hall break down the essential ingredients to create a neighborhood that's accessible, comfortable, and vibrant.
