GreenLITES Project Design Certification Program

Recognizing Outstanding Leadership In Transportation and

Environmental Sustainability

AASHTO Meeting

October 17, 2008

Robert A. Dennison III, P.E.

NYSDOT Chief Engineer

What is GreenLITES?

Modeled after the building industry LEEDS program and Washington State Greenroads initiative.

It is a self certification program which distinguishes transportation projects based on the extent to which they incorporate sustainable design choices.

Primarily an internal management program to measure our sustainability performance, recognize good practices and identify and improve where needed.

Provides the Department a way to demonstrate to the public how we are advancing sustainable practices.

How GreenLITES Works

NYSDOT project designs are evaluated for over 150 possible sustainable practices in five categories and an appropriate certification level, based on the total credits received, is assigned to each project.

The rating system recognizes varying certification levels, with the highest level going to designs which clearly advance the state of sustainable transportation solutions.

Certification Categories

Projects are rated in five categories:– Sustainable Sites– Water Quality– Materials and Resources– Energy and Atmosphere– Innovation/Unlisted

Sustainable Sites

Alignment Selection Context Sensitive Solutions Land Use/Community Planning Protect, Enhance or Restore Wildlife Habitat Protect, Plant or Mitigate for Removal of Tree

and Plant Communities

Water Quality

Stormwater Management (volume and quality).

Reduce runoff and associated pollutants by treating stormwater runoff through Best Management (BMPs) Practices

Materials and Resources

Reuse of Materials Recycled Content Locally Provided Material Bioengineering Techniques Hazardous Material Minimization

Energy and Atmosphere

Improve Traffic Flow Reduce Electrical Consumption Reduce Petroleum Consumption Improve Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Noise Abatement Stray Light Reduction

Innovation and Unlisted

This category gives credit to designs that significantly build upon GreenLITES categories and objectives or incorporates significant innovations in transportation environmental sustainability that have not been previously utilized on NYSDOT projects.

Four Certification Levels

Certified: This certification highlights a project design that has incorporated a number of sustainable choices.

Silver: Highlights a project design that has incorporated a number of sustainable choices with several of these choices having a high level of impact, or having advanced the state of practice.

Four Certification Levels

Gold: Certification highlights a project design that has incorporated a substantial number of sustainable choices with many of these choices having a high level of impact, or having advanced the state of practice.

Evergreen: Certification highlights a project design that has incorporated the highest number of sustainable choices with many of these choices having an extremely high level of impact. Additionally, these projects may advance the state of practice or are innovative in the way environmental sustainability is approached on the project.

Implementation Basics

Desirable sustainability choices are evaluated early in the project development process and the project is officially rated just prior to PS&E submission

A review team verifies all Gold, Evergreen projects and any projects claiming points in the unlisted and innovative categories

Review team approves new & innovative items and adds to the program as appropriate

Engineering Division maintains a program results database and prepares an annual report

Program goals are set yearly by the Commissioner, Chief Engineer and the Delivery Division Director

Recognition

All Certified, Silver, Gold and Evergreen projects receive certificates – just after PS&E submission

Each Region has a plaque listing that Region’s Evergreen projects – presented yearly by the Commissioner

Example Slingerlands Bypass (Albany)

Built storm water management basins to protect adjacent wetland areas, the Normans Kill and its tributaries.

Hundreds of feet of stream bank were preserved and the stream bank disturbed was replaced at almost a 2:1 ratio.

Wetland mitigation areas constructed replaced almost twice the area of wetlands disturbed by the project.

Almost one mile of sidewalk and improved bicycle accommodations were added along New Scotland Road, improving connectivity within the Town and the City of Albany.

The addition of a pedestrian/bike bridge and trail provides connectivity between residential areas within the Town of Bethlehem and access to a City of Albany picnic area and a proposed NYSDEC canoe launch site.

1,640 trees & 2,680 shrubs were planted. Two signalized intersections were replaced with roundabouts and two new

intersections were constructed using roundabouts which reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.

Example Route 31 Over the Seneca River (Belgium Bridge) Region 3 – Syracuse Region

Alignment redesigned to avoid an archeological resource discovered late in the design process.

Truss bridge at this site removed, repainted and placed in a location in Plainville along the canal system.

Extensive vegetative screening provided between the residential area (Radisson development) and the highway. Native species included Maple, Oak, Ash, White Spruce, Dogwood and Elderberry.

In consultation with the Town of Lysander we learned that their Master Plan included a bike path planned along the Town perimeter. The bike path addition to this contract made an important connection and link for their plan.

Project included the removal of Japanese Knotweed. Notes in the contract required no more than 5 acres of soil exposed at any time. Approximately 75% of the topsoil removed was reused in the project area. Concrete pavement on the project was rubblized and used as a subbase course in the

project. Millings on the contract were re-used as subbase for secondary roads (side streets.)

Cherry trees removed on the site were made into lumber and reused as stakes for grading purposes.

Recycled glass was used in the ditch in an effort to treat stormwater.

GreenLITES

The complete GreenLITES document is located on our web site at: https://

www.nysdot.gov/programs/greenlites

Questions?