Net Zero Streets are rights-of-way that are planned,
designed, constructed, and maintained in a way that attempts to produce net
zero carbon emissions. Streets, over
time, should give back more than they take from the environment.
What goes into creating a Net Zero Street?
- Planning – should be addressed regionally and
through entire corridors – not by individual projects
- Multimodal – automobiles, transit, bicycles,
- Road Diets – reduce lanes, lane width, parking, and
pavement; one-way streets to 2-way streets
- Materials – porous paving, cement, building
- Natural Infrastructure – include vegetation,
both on site and surrounding area
- Parks – nearby open green space may assist in
reducing carbon emissions in nearby rights-of-way
- Stormwater management – helps with resiliency;
use more vegetation
- Land Use – manage land by using less.
- Renewable Energy – use wind and/or solar for any
needed energy in rights-of-way
- Site Management – use materials and vegetation
that require little to no maintenance
How can we work toward carbon neutral transportation
rights-of-way? Can we get to Net Zero Streets by 2030?
Researcher needs to develop metrics, research, models, and pilot projects, to achieve best results.
Provide federal funding to transportation research
institutions to provide research, establish models and pilot projects to
determine what is need to achieve net zero carbon rights-of-way. University Transportation Centers and/or the
Transportation Research Board could be research entities to tackle this issue.