Paving green paths to resilient futures: An analysis of green streets policies across US and Canadian cities

Keywords: Green streets, co-benefits, urban planning, flooding, resilience, US-Canada
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

Paved surfaces, of which roads constitute a major part, comprise over 43,000 square miles across the United States (Frazer, 2005). Stormwater runoff over roads, streets, and pavements contributes to localized, overland flooding. It also impacts water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Green streets or streets that incorporate vegetation, soil, and engineered systems have emerged as one type of green infrastructure solution to reduce stormwater runoffs and flooding. Like other green infrastructures, green streets are promoted for their co-benefits, which include urban heat island effect reduction, air quality improvement, aesthetic enhancements, expansions in landscape connectivity and recreation. Compared to traditional grey stormwater infrastructures, their design and maintenance can include community knowledge and participation, thus, broadening planning. This study examines green streets policies and planning practices across 17 major US and Canadian cities. Through policy reviews and interviews with planners, we critically analyze which co-benefits materialize in plans and practice, including how green streets reduce social vulnerability and increase resilience to flood hazards in these cities. Our findings reveal that most of the surveyed cities lack dedicated frameworks or policies for planning green streets. Additionally, these cities seldom consider socio-cultural benefits, vulnerability, or environmental (in)equities in implementing piecemeal green streets projects. We note inter-jurisdictional and inter-agency knowledge coordination as a key challenge in implementing green streets and conclude with some recommendations for planning just green streets that provide multiple benefits.