Green stormwater infrastructure is a cost-effective, resilient approach to managing wet weather impacts while providing community benefits. Unlike conventional drainage systems that are designed to move stormwater away from the built environment, green infrastructure reduces and treats stormwater at its source, using vegetation, soil, and other measures that restore some of the natural processes to manage water. Today’s speakers will provide sample projects within TNJ and the wider region, discuss opportunities, outline the aspects of implementing these projects, including costs, benefits and the importance of developing partnerships. Presenters will highlight strategies for identifying financing, describe challenges and how they’ve been overcome in case studies, address long term needs in terms of operations and maintenance and identify resources and next step guidance. This workshop will be of interest to engineers, planners, elected officials, planning board members, public works directors, and other local and regional officials interested in investing in green infrastructure within their transportation network.
THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR 3.0 AICP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS.
Workshop Program
9:00 to 9:30 Registration and Welcome
9:30 to 9:40 Welcome – Zenobia Fields, NJTPA
9:40 to 10:00 Introductory Remarks – Bill Cesanek, AICP, Vice President, CDM Smith
- Defining green infrastructure and its importance in the physical and social environment. Discussion of how this cost effective tool can address sustainability and resiliency issues within transportation system.
10:00 to 10:30 Case Studies in Neighboring States
- Philadelphia: Elizabeth Svekla, AICP, Planning Manager, Green Stormwater Infrastructure Unit, Philadelphia Water Department
- New York City: Vincent Lee, PE, LEED AP, ENV SP, Associate Principal, Arup
10:30 to 10:45 Break
10:45 to 11:30 Case Studies in New Jersey
- Hoboken: Jennifer Gonzalez, AICP, CFM, LEED-GA, ENV SP, Director of Environmental Services and Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Hoboken, New Jersey
- Newark: Robert Thomas, Chief of Energy and Environment in the City of Newark, Department of Engineering
11:30 to 12:30 Q&A Session with the speakers – moderated by Bill Cesanek