No Commuter Left Behind: �Options for a �Green Bus Stop Initiative to Mitigate Flooding
Presented by Reva Siu-Masset
Covered Topics
I.
IV.
II.
III.
Introduction
Significance of adapting public transit
Recommendations
Conclusion
Climate issues that affect bus stops:
Sea level rise
Surface flooding
Erratic wet seasons
Current actions and solutions:
Sea level rise studies
Gray infrastructure
Coastal restoration
I. Introduction
II. Why transit?
How we place and design bus stops
can make a difference in protecting riders when flooding or extreme weather does occur.
Image:
Unsheltered bus stop at Smith Ranch Rd.
Image:
Sheltered bus stop at low elevation along Hwy 101.
Marin Transit �Reported Statistics
71%
39%
Daily boardings and alightings
3.2 mil
Low-income riders
No access to vehicles
Annual ridership
9,000
Minority riders
80%
Images:
Novato and San Rafael focus areas for SLR, with exposed bus stops marked.
Recommendations
Several green bus stop solutions are presented according to what are more likely to work with Marin’s unique geographic and climate needs.
III.
03 Vegetated roofs & living walls
01 Bioswales & bioretention basins
02 Shaded walkways
04 Pervious pavement
05 Rainwater harvesting
06 Artificial Intelligence
Bioswales & bioretention basins�
Bioretention basins are essentially bioswales on a larger scale, where stormwater can be conveyed into a vegetated basin that slowly filters into the ground.
Image:
Bioswales in the Springfield, Oregon transit center.
Cost-effective
Requires space
Reduces runoff by 40% to 75%
Effectiveness depends on soil type & native plants
Effective for transit centers
01
Bioswales can detain and filter stormwater runoff and vehicle pollution, reducing the urban heat island effect.
Image:
Spring Creek Depot before (left) and after (below) installing a bioretention pond.
Shading walkways
Shading walkways with trees between stations can give riders more protective coverage and increase desirability.
Image:
Tree trench schematics.
Absorbs flood waters
Massive landscaping effort (though this would add to existing Marin infrastructure)
Fights climate change
02
Provides shade & shelter
Beautifies the area
Image:
Tree-lined walkways between bus stops on 4th St & Court St.
Vegetated roofs & living walls�
Also known as green roofs, vegetated roofs are essentially mats that can be rolled on top of roofs on bus stops or transit centers.
03
Image:
A bus stop in Raposa Vista, Novato with a flat roof ideal for vegetated roofs.
Image:
Milan bus stop with living walls and green roof.
Living walls includes any vertical surface where plants can grow on. An ideal technique that can be installed on the walls of either bus shelters or transit centers.
Rainwater capture
Green roof efficacy can vary
Mitigates urban heat islands
Alleviates burden on stormwater retention systems
Does not consume additional land
Rainfall retention depends on climate and vegetation type.
Can be installed on bus stops or transit centers
High upfront costs and maintenance until vegetation establishes
Pervious pavement
A type of sustainable drainage system (SuDS) that allows water to seep through pavement and infiltrate into soils.
Image:
Pervious pavement schematics.
Enhances resilience of transit infrastructure to flooding and heavy rainfall.
Significant upfront costs, labor, and maintenance
Ideal for bus stops
04
Reduces risk of riders caught in flood
Image:
An example of pervious pavement.
Must consider subsoil infiltration rates and avoid areas prone to chemical spills
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater can be harvested using rain barrels and cisterns to reduce stormwater surges.
Image:
InterPak Engineered Rainwater Harvesting System used by the City of Guelph.
Can reduce the cost of washing vehicles and buses
Significant upfront costs, labor, and maintenance
Helps with flood control
05
Reduces reliance on municipal water
Ideal to install in transit centers
Artificial intelligence
Using AI for on-demand bus services rather than relying on solely on fixed routes.
Image:
Stratio’s depiction of a bus supported by AI.
Can increase transit efficiency and accessibility in low-demand areas
Added costs of adapting and training with a new system
Helps protect riders from waiting in water-logged areas
06
Extra tool in transit’s flood response
Requires passengers to download app
Thank you to the following organizations:
Key takeaways:
Conclusion
IV.
Got questions?