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Green streets: Innovative solutions for stormwater and stream crossings

Planning and conservation  ›  Urban development and revitalization  ›  Tools for designing streets  ›  Green streets handbook

The Green streets handbook is now available. The handbook describes stormwater management strategies and includes detailed illustrations of “green” street designs that allow infiltration and limit stormwater runoff.

This is a resource for designing environmentally sound streets that can help protect streams and wildlife habitat. The handbook describes basic stormwater management strategies and illustrates street designs with features such as street trees, landscaped swales and special paving materials that allow infiltration and limit runoff. The handbook also provides guidance on balancing the needs of protecting stream corridors and providing access across those streams.

What is a green street?

A green street can be defined as a street designed to:

• integrate a system of stormwater management within its right of way
• reduce the amount of water that is piped directly to streams and rivers
• be a visible component of a system of “green infrastructure” that is incorporated into the aesthetics of the community
• make the best use of the street tree canopy for stormwater interception as well as temperature mitigation and air quality improvement
• ensure the street has the least impact on its surroundings, particularly at locations where it crosses a stream or other sensitive area.

The design and construction of green streets is one component of a larger watershed approach to improving the region's water quality, and requires a more broad-based alliance for its planning, funding, maintenance and monitoring.

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Tools for designing streets

Discover practical information for designing safe and healthy streets with four handbooks published by Metro.