Pawtucket's Green & Complete Streets
February 2020
Pawtucket's Green & Complete Streets Project is on track as a local example of the Watershed Grant Program's emphasis on critical partnerships and integrated restoration. Partnering with the Narragansett Bay Commission, the City was awarded more than $376,000 to implement Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) as part of a larger transportation effort coordinated with the projected 2021 arrival of a new commuter rail and bus transit hub and the development of a transit-oriented urban district. In addition to the economic benefits expected from the new hub, the installation of the green streets elements will help restore water quality to the Blackstone River and Narragansett Bay.
At present, more than 86% of the City's land is impervious cover and its combined sewer system experiences frequent overflows due to excess stormwater inundation. To counteract these problems, the Green & Complete Streets Project will implement at least four unique GSI features to disconnect stormwater from the sewer system while also advancing multimodal (walking, biking, transit, automobile) transportation access. Preliminary designs include porous pavers, on-street rain gardens, and bioretention planters in pocket parks and along walkways to separate pedestrians and cyclists from vehicular traffic. An innovative feature will be the incorporation of so- called "silva cells," or modular pavement systems containing unlimited amounts of healthy soil beneath paving while supporting traffic loads and accommodating surrounding utilities. In addition to enhancing tree cover, the cells will help manage the rate, quality and volume of stormwater and contribute to the health and aesthetic values of the neighborhood.
Limited information regarding maintenance requirements and associated costs has historically fueled reluctance to implement GSI features in neighboring municipalities. To maximize the transferability of the present project, the Pawtucket DPW will develop a report to serve as a resource for municipal operations managers, engineers, and staff. It will also produce a set of instructional videos to demonstrate maintenance activities as an educational resource for future DPW staff.
In a Pawtucket press release, Mayor Donald R. Grebien stated "the Green & Complete Streets Project funded by this program will add green infrastructure and complete street design elements in a highly urbanized area that is expected to undergo substantial redevelopment in the next ten years."
Please direct any questions to Thomas Ardito (tardito@estuaries.org; 401-575-6109) or Dave Kurowski (dkurowski@pawtucketri.com; 401-728-0500 x279)