Green City, Clean Waters
Green Streets,
Complete Streets
Delaware Direct Partnership
March 31, 2010
• $290 million to Restore
and Preserve Stream
Corridors
• $320 million to
Upgrade Water
Pollution Control
Plants
• $1.01 billion to ‘Green’
34% of the combined
sewer area by
managing stormwater
at the source
For more information, visit www.phillywatersheds.org.
Public Lands
8 Green Programs
– Streets
Saylor Grove Stormwater Wetland
Philadelphia, PA
– Schools
– Public Facilities
– Open Spaces
Friends Center Green Roof
Philadelphia, PA
Springside School “Water Wall”
and Rain Garden
Philadelphia, PA
Private Lands
– Industrial/Commercial/Institutional
– Homes
– Parking
– Alleys, Driveways and Walkways
Green Stormwater Infrastructure
 A range of soil-water-plant systems that intercept
stormwater, infiltrate a portion of it into the ground,
evaporate a portion of it into the air, and in some cases
slowly release a portion of it back into the sewer
system

Acknowledges the symbiotic relationship between land
use and water resources
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Tools
What is a good green street?
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Minimal utility conflicts
Few to no obstructions upslope of inlets
No existing street trees upslope of inlets
Wide sidewalks
Building setback
Relatively flat street
Large drainage areas
Fewer Design / Implementation Challenges
More Design / Implementation Challenges
Site Selection Process
• Identification
• Investigation
• Selection based upon:
– Feasibility and cost-effectiveness
– Neighborhood planning
– Concurrent projects
Complete Streets
Policy directive that streets and roads should
provide for all transportation mode users.
True Complete Streets require multiple
partners and funding sources
Rhawn / Pennypack
Princeton
Unruh
Levick
Comly
Bridge
Buckius
Orthodox
Castor
Allegheny / Delaware
Rhawn Street / Pennypack Street
Cartway: 36 feet
ROW: 50-60 feet
Rhawn Street looking east from rail station
Pros:
• Link Holmesburg Junction Station to
Pennypack Park & East Coast Greenway
Cons:
• Some steep slopes
• Limited ROW
Intersection of Rhawn & State Rd.
Levick Street
Cartway: 64 feet
ROW: 80 feet
Levick Street looking east from Tulip St.
Pros:
• Provide link to Lardner Point Park &
East Coast Greenway
• Right lane striped for no travel
Cons:
• Slopes
• Traffic patterns create conflicts with
pedestrians and bicyclists
Levick at entrance to Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
Buckius Street
Buckius looking east toward river at Bridesburg Rec Center
Pros:
• Adjacent to Bridesburg Rec Center
Cons:
• Riverside trail / park not yet created
• Some separate / non-contributing areas
Cartway: 32 feet
ROW: 44 feet
E. Allegheny Ave. / N. Delaware Ave.
Cartway: 60-75 feet
ROW: varies, max 122 feet
Allegheny Ave. looking east from I-95
Pros:
• Link Monkiewicz Playground, Pulaski
Park, & East Coast Greenway
• Project awarded TIGER funding
Cons:
• Potential conflicts with industrial uses
• Some separate / non-contributing areas
Corner of Allegheny & Delaware at Pulaski Park
Are we missing any priority connector streets?
All of these streets present unique design and
implementation challenges. Which should be
our highest priority to move forward?
Rhawn / Pennypack
Levick
Buckius
Allegheny / Delaware
Ann
Lehigh
Cumberland
Columbia
Marlborough
Shackamaxon
Frankford
Germantown / Laurel
Brown
Fairmount
Spring Garden
Callowhill
E. Columbia Avenue
Cartway: 26 feet
ROW: 50 feet
Columbia looking east from Girard
Pros:
• Link Palmer Park, Hetzell Playground
& Penn Treaty Park
• Some projects already in design
Cons:
• Very limited ROW
• Tree-lined in certain blocks
Columbia looking east from I-95
Frankford Avenue
Cartway: 36 feet
ROW: 58 feet
Frankford looking east from Girard
Pros:
• NKCDC streetscape project
Cons:
• Limited ROW
• Some drainage areas are small
Columbia looking east to intersection with Delaware Ave.
Germantown Avenue / Laurel Street
Cartway: 30-32 feet
ROW: 50-60 feet
Germantown Ave. looking east
Pros:
• PWD Storm Flood Relief
project in design
Cons:
• Limited ROW
Laurel St. looking east toward Delaware Ave.
Spring Garden Street
Cartway: 88 feet
ROW: 120 feet
Spring Garden St. looking east from 2nd St.
Pros:
• Vision for Delaware to
Schuylkill greenway
connector
Cons:
• Many utility conflicts have
been identified
Spring Garden St. looking east from I-95
Are we missing any priority connector streets?
All of these streets present unique design and
implementation challenges. Which should be
our highest priority to move forward?
Columbia
Frankford
Germantown / Laurel
Spring Garden
Race
Washington
Reed
Tasker
Snyder
Race Street
Cartway: varies from 26-46 ft
ROW: varies, approx. 74 ft
Race St. looking east from 2nd St.
Pros:
• Connection to Race Street Pier
Cons:
• Traffic patterns create conflicts
with pedestrians and bicyclists
• Some separate / non-contributing
areas
Race St. at Columbus Blvd.
Washington Avenue
Cartway: 120-144 feet
ROW: 142-176 feet
Washington Ave. looking east from 2nd St.
Pros:
• Connection to Pier 53
• PWD Storm Flood Relief
project in design
Cons:
• Some existing trees
Washington Ave. at Columbus Blvd.
Tasker Street
Cartway: 26 feet
ROW: 52 feet
Tasker St. looking east to Front St.
Pros:
• Direct connection from
Pennsport to riverfront
Cons:
• Limited ROW
• Small drainage areas
Tasker St. at Columbus Blvd.
Snyder Avenue
Cartway: 44 feet
ROW: 74 feet
Snyder Ave. looking east from 2nd St.
Pros:
• Already striped for bike lanes
• PWD Storm Flood Relief project
in design
Cons:
• Multiple ownership / residential
blocks
• Some small drainage areas
Snyder Ave. looking east from I-95
Are we missing any priority connector streets?
All of these streets present unique design and
implementation challenges. Which should be
our highest priority to move forward?
Race
Washington
Tasker
Snyder
Green City Clean Waters