Greenroads Considered a Champion of Change

WASHINGTON — On May 8, Redmond, Wash.-based Greenroads Foundation was honored as a White House Champion of Change for Transportation Technology Solutions for the 21st Century, which highlights people and organizations who are providing significant leadership in the development of transportation technology solutions on the local, state or regional level.

The nonprofit corporation, which advances sustainability education and initiatives for transportation infrastructure, was recognized for its Greenroads Rating System, which — like LEED does for sustainable buildings — certifies sustainable roadway and transportation projects. The system determines sustainable roadway design and construction best practices that consider water, environment, access, community impact, construction practices and materials.

In order to be named a “Greenroad,” a project must complete the system’s 11 requirements. An additional 47 activities can be voluntarily completed to earn what the foundation calls “credits,” designed to promote sustainable initiatives beyond standard practice. After Greenroads reviews the project, the roadway is assigned a project score that represents four certification levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Evergreen.

There are currently more than 30 registered projects — including ones slated for completion this year in San Jose, Calif.; Denver; Houston; and San Francisco — pursuing the Greenroad certification and six have already been completed. The first official project honored was a concrete sidewalk project in Bellingham, Wash., that used 400-plus crushed, recycled toilets and earned a Greenroads Silver certification.

The Greenroads website also provides resources for those looking to learn more about sustainable transportation infrastructure. Its Membership and Education Programs, for example, encourages engagement among the transportation community including public owner agencies, designers, suppliers and contractors. Greenroads also has a professional credential program (Sustainable Transportation Professional) with an accreditation exam.

The nonprofit participates in international technical conferences and industry research, and is currently piloting projects in countries outside the U.S., with projects in Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

The Greenroads Foundation was one of 12 people or organizations to earn the Champion of Change recognition. The other 11 people or organizations recognized are:

• Sue Groth, Office of Traffic, Safety and Technology, Minnesota Department of Transportation; St. Paul, Minn.

• James Crites, executive vice president for operations at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas

• Thomas Dingus, director of the Virginia Transportation Technology Institute; Blacksburg, Va.

• John R. Hillman, COO and chairman of HCB Inc.; Wilmette, Ill.

• Jose Holguin-Veras, William H. Hart Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Director of the Center for Infrastructure, Transportation, and the Environment; Troy, N.Y.

• Akira Koyasu, CEO of Nippon Sharyo U.S.A. Inc.; Rochelle, Ill.

• James R. McCarville, executive director of the Port of Pittsburgh Commission; Pittsburgh, Pa.

• Michael L. Pack, director of the CATT Laboratory at the University of Maryland and the creative director of Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS); College Park, Md.

• Ryan Rice, Director of Transportation Systems Management & Operations for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT); Denver, Colo.

• Jeff Wharton, president of IMPulse NC; Mount Olive, N.C.

• Josh Whiton, founder of TransLoc, Raleigh, N.C.