Ontario rolls out GreenPave system for pilot projects

A points-based rating system called GreenPave for environmentally-friendly elements of road paving design is being developed by Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO).

The plan is to assist regions in rating selected pavement design alternatives. Initial tests were conducted on 30 pavement designs last year and it is now being rolled out to the five MTO regions for beta-testing.

The objective is to create a rating system for pavement sustainability that applies to all designs of flexible and rigid pavement structures, said Becca Lane, head of the pavement and foundations section at the MTO.

The unique Canadian initiative shares similarities with the LEED certification program, said Lane, suggesting that following initial beta tests the program could be rolled out to pavement designers.

“When it goes out to construction (contractors), I can see a whole second wave of beta testing because contractors could have all kinds of (green) ideas that were not thought about at the design stage,” she said.

To date, feedback from consultants and paving contractors has been positive.

“GreenPave is modeled after the Greenroads (Washington State) and GreenLITES (New York State) rating systems, but customized for Ontario,” she said.

“We also looked at the LEED certification program and Alberta’s conceptual green rating system for ideas.”

However, GreenPave differs from other sustainable programs geared to road-building because it focuses strictly on pavement, not the entire right-of-way, she pointed out.

The program has been reviewed internally at MTO and by the Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association, Cement Association of Canada, Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario and Ontario Road Builders’ Association.

“They have provided feedback on additional technologies to consider, and suggested changes to weighting factors,” she said.

The proposed rating system includes: Bronze, 7-10 points; Silver, 11-14 points; Gold, 15-19 points and Trillium, 20-35 points.

To assess how many points a design or construction element is worth, Lane said the MTO has developed a simple spreadsheet that is easy for contractors and consultants to use.

Lane said contractors can implement all types of green-friendly elements.

The pavement design department might specify a certain thickness and type of hot-mix asphalt at the design stage, but once the contract reaches the construction stage, the contractor can specify additional elements that add points to the green rating.

“So maybe we rate the design as a Bronze, but by the time the contractor constructs it is bumped up to a Silver,” she said. “The idea is to get people (contractors) thinking about how to do greener pavements.”

Many stakeholders in the roadbuilding industry are keen to pick up the green shovel, she said, noting that a 2008 workshop by the ministry garnered plenty of interest.

One of the draws is that green pavement doesn’t have to cost more money than traditional pavement to design or install.

“In fact, there could be a cost savings,” said Lane.

As an example, using more recycled asphalt saves on the price of crushing and producing new aggregate.

Also, reclaimed concrete crushed and used in a granular base can also be cost effective, especially in regions where premium aggregates are expensive, she added.

Lane suggested that an awards program recognizing the greenest road paver of the year might be implemented.