The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) established its Green Cities, Clean Waters Plan as an innovative, greener approach to stormwater management. Rather than tear apart and rebuild old sewage drains, the Green Cities, Clean Waters plan encourages innovative, sustainable solutions like porous pavements, creative foliage layouts and street bump-outs. The 25-year plan has just begun.

Green Streets Design Manual

The PWD recently released the City of Philadelphia’s Green Streets Design Manual, to move forward with the process. Engineers, city planners and landscape architects can use the manual to build innovative and sustainable streets project in Philadelphia (and any urban areas in the world)! This breaks down what designs work best for different street types.

Not sure about how the city will approve the project? The manual also includes specifics on necessary permitting, construction & inspection processes.

The PWD collaborated with the Mayor’s Office of Transpiration and Utilities, Streets Department, Philadelphia Parks & Rec, PennDOT and other utility agencies to develop the detailed designs.

As City of Philadelphia Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler stated:

“The Green Street Design Manual is the the foundation for a 21st century street network in Philadelphia. With over 2,500 miles of streets producing large quantities of polluted stormwater runoff, the City needs a standardized playbook for incorporating green features into the building and rebuilding of our city streets. This manual provides that playbook.”

Readers, did you take a look at the manual?

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher