New York State DOT Breaks New Ground On Environment

• by New York State Department of Transportation

ALBANY, NY (09/16/2008)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced a first-in-the-nation initiative that will encourage the designers of department projects to minimize impacts to the environment and promote sustainability in public transportation design.

"At Governor David Paterson's direction, the New York State Department of Transportation is moving ahead proactively with efforts to protect, restore and enhance the state's natural resources wherever we work," Commissioner Glynn said. "By encouraging sustainable transportation project designs, we are taking significant steps to conserve our natural resources, enhancing the quality of our lives and reaffirming our commitment to future generations."

The new design program, named Green Leadership In Transportation and Environmental Sustainability (Green LITES), calls for the department to certify transportation project designs

based on the extent to which they incorporate sustainable environmental choices. The initiative, which formalizes internal directives and implements a recognition program, starts this month with the review of all project designs completed after Sept. 25th.

Although the concept of "green" certification is not new - the building industry has been using these standards since the mid-1990s, most notably with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system - no program to promote these goals has ever been successfully implemented for transportation design. New York's program involves all state road and bridge project designs and is being implemented through a self-certification process.

"This effort is only the latest example of New York setting the standard for environmental sensitivity in transportation planning," said Federal Highway Administrator Thomas J. Madison. "They don't just set the gold standard, they set the green standard."

NYSDOT has incorporated sustainable elements into its transportation project designs for years, but the Green LITES certification program is intended to better integrate sustainability into project designs by increasing awareness of them and expanding innovative design alternatives. The new program provides a management tool for measuring the department's performance, recognizing good practices and making improvements where needed.

"At times in the past, construction projects and environmental protection have been at odds. But they don't have to be. The new Green LITES program will encourage new approaches and ensure that transportation projects are done in the most environmental way possible," said DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis. "It's good news for the environment and good news for the state."

Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez said, "I am delighted to support the Department of Transportation's Green LITES certification program. The Green LITES program fully embraces the principles of smart growth, which integrate land use and transportation planning to reduce automobile travel and fuel consumption, minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances our quality-of-life. As the agency that houses Governor Paterson's Smart Growth Cabinet, the Department of State applauds this initiative. It is fast becoming clear that smart growth is smart energy policy."

As with the LEED program for buildings, Green LITES utilizes a rating system to score project designs and to certify them in four increasingly stringent tiers, ranging from "certified" to "silver," "gold" and "evergreen," which is the highest rating. The more sustainable elements incorporated into a design, the higher it scores.

Designs are rated in categories covering site selection, water- and air-quality protection, the minimization of waste and innovation. Examples of design elements scorers might rate highly include the selection of a project site that minimizes impacts to the environment and a project design that follows existing geographic contours. Other examples include designs that protect, enhance or restore fish and wildlife habitat, minimize storm water runoff, improve traffic flow, reduce energy and petroleum consumption, improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities and minimize noise and stray light.

"Audubon New York applauds the NYSDOT for this innovative and exciting new program," said Albert E. Caccese, executive director of Audubon New York. "As global warming is one of the greatest threats to birds, other wildlife and people, the Green LITES program will help minimize emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, while promoting alternative and sustainable transportation choices across the state. Audubon New York looks forward to working with NYSDOT to promote this important program."

Kathy Moser, acting state director for The Nature Conservancy in New York, said, "The Nature Conservancy congratulates the Department of Transportation on the creation of the Green LITES program, which will increase environmental protection and sustainable design for transportation projects in New York State. Through the leadership of Governor Paterson and Commissioner Glynn, the environmental impacts associated with transportation projects will be reduced and environmental quality will be enhanced. The Green LITES program integrates environmental qualifications into transportation planning, which will help preserve our natural resources."

Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League of New York State, said, "Historic preservation and highway engineering are new acquaintances. We are delighted with the Department of Transportation's consideration of land use and community planning objectives in their Green LITES certification scheme, and hope that this new program will lead to a greater understanding of New York State's historic roads and the role they play in our communities."

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