Mekelle University

Ethiopian Institute Technology-Mekelle

School of Architecture and urban planning

Program: MSc. In urban planning and development

Course: Urban Land use and Infrastructure Planning

Assignment: on Green transportation System

Literature review

Submited to Daniel L. (Phd)

Prepared by: Haileleul Eyasu
ID.No EITM/PR161260/11
June, 2019, Mekelle
Green transportation literature review Course: Urban land Use planning and infrastructure

Contents
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 2

1.1. Background of the study ................................................................................... 2

1.2. Problem statement ............................................................................................. 3

1.3. Objective ........................................................................................................... 3

Literature review............................................................................................................. 4

2. Green Urban transportation ..................................................................................... 4

2.1. What is green infrastructure .............................................................................. 4

2.1.1. The impotency of Green infrastructure ...................................................... 5

2.2. Green transportation .......................................................................................... 5

2.2.1. Green alleys and streets .............................................................................. 6

2.2.2. None motorized mode of transportation for green transportation.............. 6

2.3. Local context of green transportation ............................................................ 7

2.4. Green Street Designs ..................................................................................... 7

3. Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 8

References ...................................................................................................................... 9

Mekelle University (EIT-M) By:- Haileleul Eyasu June, 2019 1|Page

Green transportation literature review Course: Urban land Use planning and infrastructure

1. Introduction
1.1. Background of the study
Global warming is raised as the result of urbanization born industrialization, for this
reason concerned scholars tried important and eventful theories so solve related
problems, let’s to see the urban theories in different time, “the Garden city movement”,
“green belt development”, “the concept of sustainable development” all those theories
tried to manage the ecological balance through their professional practice.
Climate change is a threat to development in our lifetime. Climate change has had a fiscal
impact on several countries due to natural disasters. Transportation contributes almost
25% of carbon dioxide emissions (Prozzi, February, 2016), and the sector’s contributions
are increasing. Sustainable transportation policies generally focus on changing
behaviours that are based on individual everyday decisions. The larger transportation
sector needs to play a role. It is important to study how developing countries are
developing and whether they can develop more sustainably.
Here this paper trays to assess what is the concept of green infrastructures mainly focus
on what does mean by green transportation system with respect to spatial and mode of
transportation systems to consider the ecological balance.
Different scholars are discussed on green transportation system from local to global
perspective here the researcher trays to see local and international practices as literature
review and some self-observations.
The experiences are observed from local urban areas of Ethiopia, which I have seen by
my nicked eye and contextualizing with some theories of green infrastructure and green
transportation concepts there is also conclusion from the overall discussion of this project.

Mekelle University (EIT-M) By:- Haileleul Eyasu June, 2019 2|Page

Green transportation literature review Course: Urban land Use planning and infrastructure

1.2. Problem statement

Globally Climate change is a threat to development in our lifetime. Climate change has
had a fiscal impact on several countries due to natural disasters. Transportation
contributes almost 25% of carbon dioxide emissions (Prozzi, February, 2016),
Even this phenomena is known worldwide there is no prime strategically planned and
managed network of natural lands, working landscapes, and other open spaces that
conserves ecosystem values and functions and provides associated benefits to human
populations as expected specially in developing world.
In reality there are policies and strategies on paper which declare each development
should have to follow the principle of green development, but there is less in practical
implementation of green development strategies.
In our countries capital city Addis Ababa context, Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory
is greater than 4.8 million tons of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) the city emits, transport
vehicles account for 47 percent of the total emission (Wolde, 2016). Transportation is the
fastest growing major contributor to global climate change. Need of Transportation in
Addis Ababa is increasing, parallel to the city’s population growth and economic
development.
Transportation is the fastest growing major contributor to global climate change, Low
carbon transportation strategies are better transportation means according to reducing
environmental air pollution.
According to the above implications I am going to contextualizing green transportation
perspective in local urban areas what looks like, what should have to be done to bring
green transportation.
1.3. Objective
The main objective of this paper is to understand what is meant by green infrastructure,
what is its relevance at local and global wise and identifying the beast alternatives to
bring green infrastructure.

Mekelle University (EIT-M) By:- Haileleul Eyasu June, 2019 3|Page

Green transportation literature review Course: Urban land Use planning and infrastructure

Literature review
2. Green Urban transportation
2.1. What is green infrastructure
Webster’s New World Dictionary defines infrastructure as “the substructure or
underlying foundation, especially the basic installations and facilities on which the
continuance and growth of a community depends.” When they hear the term
infrastructure, most people think of roads, sewers, utility lines, and other grey
infrastructure; or hospitals, schools, prisons, and other social infrastructure. Taken
together, these types of facilities are often referred to as built infrastructure. Today, many
people and organizations are talking about another type of infrastructure that is critical
to the “continuance and growth of a community”: green infrastructure.
“Green infrastructure” is a term that is appearing more and more frequently in land
conservation and development discussions across the country and around the world.
Green infrastructure means different things to different people depending on the context
in which it is used. For example, some people refer to trees in urban areas as green
infrastructure because of the “green” benefits they provide, while others use green
infrastructure to refer to engineered structures (such water treatment facilities or green
roofs) that are designed to be environmentally friendly. (Mark A. Benedict, Ph.D. ,
Edward T. McMahon, 2001)
Green infrastructure planning is a strategic landscape approach to open space
conservation, whereby local communities, landowners, and organizations work together
to identify, design, and conserve the land network essential for maintenance of healthy
ecological functioning. (Karen Firehock, January 2010)
Green infrastructure is defined as an interconnected network of green space that
conserves natural ecosystem values and functions and provides associated benefits to
human populations. In our view, green infrastructure is the ecological framework needed
for environmental, social and economic sustainability in short it is our nation’s natural
life sustaining system. Green infrastructure differs from conventional approaches to open
space planning because it looks at conservation values and actions in concert with land
development, growth management and built infrastructure planning. Other conservation
approaches typically are undertaken in isolation from or even in opposition to
development.
By design and function, urban areas are covered with impervious surfaces: roofs, roads,
sidewalks, and parking lots. Although all contribute to storm water runoff, the effects and
necessary mitigation of the various types of surfaces can vary significantly. Of these,
roads and travel surfaces present perhaps the largest urban pollution sources and also one
of the greatest opportunities for green infrastructure use. (Robb Lukes,Christopher Klos,
December 2008)

Mekelle University (EIT-M) By:- Haileleul Eyasu June, 2019 4|Page

Green transportation literature review Course: Urban land Use planning and infrastructure

Figure 1 Green infrastructure source: - ( Mackenzie Schoonmaker,Fred Wagner, may, 2015)

2.1.1. The impotency of Green infrastructure

Application of green infrastructure approaches range in scale from individual buildings,
lots, and neighbourhoods to entire cities and metro regions and the benefits range in scale
accordingly (Josh Foster, Ashley Lowe, Steve Winkelman, February 2011). Green
infrastructure can be implemented via large centralized public “macro” projects or
smaller decentralized “micro” applications on private property. Therefore, the benefits
of green infrastructure can be measured at the building or site level such that the
individual owners reap the private benefits or, if spread across many private owners, the
benefits can be aggregated to an entire community, city, county, region, or even nation.
Community implementation of green infrastructure particularly helps local governments
to achieve environmental, sustainability, and adaptation goals within their jurisdictions.
2.2. Green transportation
Roads present many opportunities for green infrastructure application. One principle of
green infrastructure involves reducing and treating storm water close to its source. Urban
transportation right-of ways integrated with green techniques are often called “green
streets”. Green streets provide a source control for a main contributor of storm water
runoff and pollutant load. In addition, green infrastructure approaches complement street
facility upgrades, street aesthetic improvements, and urban tree canopy efforts that also
make use of the right-of-way and allow it to achieve multiple goals and benefits. Using
the right-of-way for treatment also links green with grey infrastructure by making use of
the engineered conveyance of roads and providing connections to conveyance systems
when needed. (Robb Lukes,Christopher Klos, December 2008, p. 2)
Mekelle University (EIT-M) By:- Haileleul Eyasu June, 2019 5|Page
Green transportation literature review Course: Urban land Use planning and infrastructure

To achieve a sustainable transportation system, it is important that sustainable

transportation is comprehensively mentioned in the transportation planning. In addition,
there must be an institutional mechanism to implement the sustainable transportation
system. Urban land use and transportation planning is integrated which is why
organization of urban land use greatly impacts the sustainability of a transportation
system. One of the goals of sustainable transportation is to enhance the public transit
system and to reduce the usage of personal vehicles. This is why transit system and usage
of personal vehicle are important aspects of sustainable urban transportation system.
By design and function, urban areas are covered with impervious surfaces: roofs, roads,
sidewalks, and parking lots. Although all contribute to storm water runoff, the effects and
necessary mitigation of the various types of surfaces can vary significantly. Of these,
roads and travel surfaces present perhaps the largest urban pollution sources and also one
of the greatest opportunities for green infrastructure use.
2.2.1. Green alleys and streets
Alleys in cities are usually public spaces adjacent to private properties that allow for
public access by fire, police, and delivery services and also for management of storm
water runoff and heat effects around buildings and properties. Urban alleys are
traditionally surfaced with impermeable materials (e.g., asphalt, concrete) with the
objective of achieving rapid storm-water runoff into storm-sewers, in addition to
providing access for vehicles (Josh Foster, Ashley Lowe, Steve Winkelman, February
2011, p. 14). However, frequent or intense rains combined with impermeable surfaces
can lead to localized flooding, which is expected to be worse under anticipated climate
change conditions. Older infrastructure particularly suffers from these problems. Alleys
surfaced in dark materials or without shade-trees lead to increased ambient temperatures
around buildings and higher energy demand for building cooling, causing increases in the
associated costs to building owners. Higher temperatures also add to effects and can
degrade air-quality. Green alleys can help manage these impacts.
Green alleys are an example of where several site- or neighbourhood specific green
infrastructure innovations merge, producing multiple benefits and a holistic means to
implement climate adaptation. Green alleys use a number of green infrastructure
practices to achieve storm water management, heat reduction and energy conservation
goals, including:
2.2.2. None motorized mode of transportation for green transportation
Studies indicate that Non-motorized transport, walking and cycling, but also Pedi cabs
and other human-operated vehicles is the dominant transport mode in many developing
cities, especially in Asia and Africa. The smaller the city size, the higher the percentage
of non-motorized transport use. Generally, bicycles are used more extensively in
developing cities than in developed cities (Dorina Pojani 1,* and Dominic Stead 2,*,
2015).

Mekelle University (EIT-M) By:- Haileleul Eyasu June, 2019 6|Page

Green transportation literature review Course: Urban land Use planning and infrastructure

Despite its importance, non-motorized transport policy and its related infrastructure are
often neglected in policy-making in developing cities. On one hand, the political climate
is not favourable to soft modes. Politicians consider walking and cycling as a sign of
backwardness and not commensurate with their goals and aspirations. Urban elites distort
transport planning in favour of motorized modes, which they are more likely to use
themselves. Major international lenders often invest minuscule amounts in non-
motorized improvements.
2.3. Local context of green transportation
In my country Ethiopia the concept (practice) of green transportation is not as much as
needed, as the size of urban areas increased the practice of motorized practice increased,
in addition to this problem on the other hand the culture of street scape greenery is not
much developed, naturally ever green urban areas also note managed or supported by
practically aware the important of green transportation system.
2.3.1. Axum and Shre Endaselase: -
More or less Axum and shre Endaselase have better green transportation walkable
environment even those urban areas also need further greening transportation.
2.3.2. Mekelle:-
Except one street from material monument to the regional state administration office
which is less than 2 km, there is no any green street, trees on street planted are not
properly compatible with the pavement and width of the streets.
2.4. Green Street Designs
Green streets can incorporate a wide variety of design elements including street trees,
permeable pavements, bio retention, and swales. Although the design and appearance of
green streets will vary, the functional goals are the same: provide source control of storm
water, limit its transport and pollutant conveyance to the collection system, restore
predevelopment hydrology to the extent possible, and provide environmentally enhanced
roads. Successful application of green techniques will encourage soil and vegetation
contact and infiltration and retention of storm water.
Sidewalk trees and tree boxes from reducing the urban heat island effect and reducing
storm water runoff to improving the urban aesthetic and improving air quality, much is
expected of street trees. Street trees are even good for the economy. Customers spend
12% (Robb Lukes , Christopher Kloss, December, 2008) more in shops on streets lined
with trees than on those without trees.

Mekelle University (EIT-M) By:- Haileleul Eyasu June, 2019 7|Page

Green transportation literature review Course: Urban land Use planning and infrastructure

3. Conclusions
Incorporating green streets as a feature of urban storm water management requires
matching road function with environmental performance. Enhancing roads with green
elements can improve their primary function as a transportation corridor while
simultaneously mitigating their negative environmental impacts. In theory and practice
many municipalities are not far removed from dedicated green streets programs. Street
tree and other green escaping programs are often identified and promoted along urban
transportation corridors. Adapting them to become fully functional green streets requires
minor design modifications and an evaluation of how to maximize the benefits of
environmental ecosystem systems.

Mekelle University (EIT-M) By:- Haileleul Eyasu June, 2019 8|Page

Green transportation literature review Course: Urban land Use planning and infrastructure

References
Mackenzie Schoonmaker,Fred Wagner. (may, 2015). Green infrastructure for
transportation sector. Webinar: Transportation Research Board Webinar.
Dorina Pojani 1,* and Dominic Stead 2,*. (2015). Sustainable Urban Transport in the
Developing World: Beyond Megacities. Sustainablity, 7784-780.
Josh Foster, Ashley Lowe, Steve Winkelman. (February 2011). THE VALUE OF
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR URBAN CLIMATE ADAPTATION.
Washington, D.: The Center for Clean Air Policy.
Karen Firehock, J. (January 2010). A Short History of the Term Green Infrastructure
and Selected Literature. 1-6.
Mark A. Benedict, Ph.D. , Edward T. McMahon. (2001). Green infrastructures, Smart
conservation for the 21 century. Webster: The Conservation Fund.
Prozzi, J. (February, 2016). Transportation for Sustainabilit. Washington, D.C.:
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD.
Robb Lukes , Christopher Kloss. (December, 2008). Managing Wet Weather with
Green Infrastructure, handbook with green streets. Chicago: Low Impact
Development Center.
Robb Lukes,Christopher Klos. (December 2008). Managing Wet Weather with Green
Infrastructure Municipal Handbook, Green Streets. Chicago: Low Impact
Development Center, Chicago.
Wolde, M. (2016). An Overview of Addis Ababa Transport System: Implication to Air
Pollutio. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University.

Mekelle University (EIT-M) By:- Haileleul Eyasu June, 2019 9|Page