Green Streets: Designing permeable pavement systems in the road right-of-way

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Flooding caused by urbanization, aging infrastructure, and climate change is a growing threat to Canadians. Urban runoff negatively impacts urban water resources by accelerating erosion, reducing water quality and degrading aquatic ecosystems. Low Impact Development (LID) technologies such as permeable pavements have been shown to reduce urban runoff by increasing on-site treatment and infiltration of stormwater. Permeable pavements have been extensively applied to parking lot applications, but there is increasing interest from Canadian municipalities to implement permeable pavements within the road right-of-way. This emerging application for permeable pavements is generating several new designs, as well as construction and operation challenges. Run-on from nearby buildings increase stormwater flows to permeable pavements, pedestrian safety must be accommodated throughout winter seasons and pavements must accommodate other underground and surface utilities and infrastructure. The long-term objective of the proposed research program is to develop and improve the design, construction and operational practices to maximize permeable pavement performance and longevity of road right-of-way applications. The short-term objectives will focus on applications in Southern Ontario and will (1) develop best management practices for permeable pavement to maximize pedestrian and vehicular safety while minimizing negative environmental impacts from road salting activities and (2) evaluate non-standard permeable pavement designs  that address the unique conditions of road right-of-way applications. A lack of Canadian-specific design guidance and standardized construction and operational practices is currently inhibiting the adoption of LID technologies to reduce the impacts of urbanization on our water resources. By addressing these knowledge gaps, this research will improve the performance and ultimately, the success of green street initiatives across Canada. This work aims to benefit Canadians by reducing rates and severity of urban flooding, protecting our water resources and improving the longterm sustainability of permeable pavement construction.