Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
NACTO

Grassy Storm Drainage Can Be a Transportation Twofer, New Guide Shows

11:55 AM EDT on May 16, 2017

Indianapolis.

Few concepts are more important to modern street design than "traffic calming" — or, to use plainer language, "slowing down cars by putting large objects in the street."

But large objects (like flowerpots, pedestrian refuges, speed bumps or concrete domes) cost money. And if you want them both permanent and attractive, that's even pricier.

This is why on-street storm drainage can be a great deal for taxpayers and safe streets alike.

Slicing holes in the pavement and planting grass in them isn't cheap either. But in cities that get large bursts of rain, they're useful for preventing flooding and water pollution, and far cheaper than laying new pipes to carry stormwater away. So if your city's transportation department and its stormwater management department were to team up to put storm drainage in just the right places, it could be a very cost-efficient way to manage runoff while creating permanent, attractive separation between bike and car traffic.

A small storm drainage area can also create an excellent traffic diverter, reducing auto traffic on a bike-friendly side street.

berkeley diverter 600
Berkeley, California. Photo: Walk Eagle Rock

All of this is why it's nice to see the National Association of City Transportation Officials publishing an Urban Street Stormwater Guide, out next month:

Coming in June 2017, the Urban Street Stormwater Guide is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between city transportation, public works, and water departments to advance the discussion about how to design and construct sustainable streets. The Urban Street Stormwater Guide provides cities with national best practices for sustainable stormwater management in the public right-of-way.

NACTO has been a major force in advancing common-sense bike infrastructure. Hopefully it can help do the same with stormwater management, to everyone's benefit.

PlacesForBikes is a PeopleForBikes program to help U.S. communities build better biking, faster. You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook or sign up for their weekly news digest about building all-ages biking networks.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

The Price Is Right for Tuesday’s Headlines

If congestion pricing works in New York City, City Lab predicts that other U.S. cities will quickly follow suit.

November 28, 2023

DOT’s New Emissions Rule is a Big Deal, Even if It Doesn’t Punish States for Polluting

No states will face penalties for building needless toxic road projects — but they also won't be able to hide those impacts from the public.

November 27, 2023

Monday’s Headlines Need Less Oil

E-bikes are a great alternative for short trips, and they're actually saving more fossil fuels that electric cars.

November 27, 2023

Highway Boondoggles 2023: This Bridge is a Bridge Too Far

Presented by local transportation authorities as a simple bridge replacement, an expensive, oversized highway expansion threatens to worsen congestion in Vancouver and Portland

November 27, 2023

Friday’s Post-Turkey Headlines

Federal data says the number of people using shared bikes and e-scooters on Thanksgiving is rising.

November 24, 2023
See all posts