Markham Green Road Pilot Project€¦ · Markham Green Road Pilot Project (14th Avenue and Middlefield Road) ... • Increase extent of urban tree canopy and vegetation to ... effect

Building Markham’s Future Together

Journey to Excellence

Markham Green Road Pilot Project(14th Avenue and Middlefield Road)

Development Services CommitteeApril 21, 2015



Environment Policies

Provincial, Regional, Municipal and Conservation

Authorities policies all require new growth to be

environmentally sustainable. The City’s Greenprint

is a long term plan to address the City’s

environmental health. The new Markham Official

Plan sets the blueprint for the growth of Markham

also places major emphasis on environmental

sustainability.

• .



Evolution of Stormwater

Management in Markham

• .

Source: MOE Subwatershed Planning,

June 1993

Wh

at

is n

ext

& w

her

e d

o w

e go f

rom

her

e?

Current

Culvert Improvements Culvert Improvements

Major/ Minor System DesignMinor System Design

Prior to 1980 19901980

Erosion/Flood Control Works

Runoff Quantity Control

Floodplain Management

Culvert Improvements

Major/ Minor System Design




Erosion/Sediment Control

Water Quality







Water Quality

Fisheries/ Aquatic Habitat

Baseflow Maintenance

Water Temperature

Infiltration

Enhancement Opportunities

Monitoring







Water Quality

Fisheries/ Aquatic Habitat

Baseflow Maintenance

Water Temperature

Infiltration

Enhancement Opportunities

Monitoring

Woodlots

Wetlands/ ESAs/ ANSIs

Ground Water

Terrestrial Habitat

Geomorphology

Low Impact Development

Climate Change

Water BalanceIncrease focus

on SOURCE

CONTROL



SWM Treatment Train Approach

• .

Source Controls

(e.g. Green Roofs)

Conveyance Controls

(e.g. Storm Sewer Pipes)

End-of-Pipe Controls

(e.g. SWM Ponds)



Examples of Green Infrastructure for Source Control

Rainwater Harvesting

Downspouts Disconnection

Green Roofs

Soakaway Pit

Control of water quality,

quantity at the source.

Reduce reliance on the

end of pipe SWM facilities.



Underground Stormwater Retention/Detention

Permeable Pavers

Bio-retention CellsVegetated Filter Strip/Swale

Examples of Green Infrastructure for Source Control



New SWM Requirements

Identify “green” municipal infrastructure options to

achieve sustainability goals

Green roads option satisfies Provincial, Regional,

Municipal and Conservation Authorities policies

(sustainable growth, source control, etc.)

Need to evaluate costs and benefits of a “green” road

option with respect to design requirements, capital costs,

long-term performance, and operation & maintenance

requirements

Identify monitoring requirements to determine the

effectiveness and long-term function and reliability of the

“green” road design feature

Undertake “green” road pilot projects



Green Road Pilot Project - 14th Ave and Middlefield Rd

SECC&L Park

Green Roads

14th Avenue



• Control storm run-off quality and quantity at the source

• Maintain infiltration/recharge into the ground to mimic pre-development

condition

• Increase extent of urban tree canopy and vegetation to enhance

environmental performance and provide unique landscape aesthetic of the

Green Road

• Increase evapotranspiration to reduce the amount of storm water run-off

• Reduce the need for storm conveyance and “end-of-pipe” SWM pond

Environmental Performance of the Green Road

Bio Swales on both sides

of Green Road

Bioswales on both sides

of the Green Road



How the Green Road Bio Swale Will Work (1)

Conventional

catch basin for

minor storms and

winter seasons

Conventional

Sidewalk

Increased tree

canopy

Bioswale

Underground pipe

to feed Bioswale

during minor

storms

Conventional curb

& gutter

Direct overflow

into Bioswale for

major storms




Runoff(Minor Storm)

Runoff(Major Storm) Runoff

(Clean roof top)

Bioswale

Bioswale

Perforated

Pipe with

Silt Sock

Manhole

Cleanout

Perforated Pipe

Infiltration




Excess Runoff

from

Major Storm

Major StormTo Sewer Main

Infiltration

Catch Basin

Runoff(Major Storm)

Runoff(Major Storm)

Storm Sewer

Main



• New design with limited municipal experience on operations and maintenance

• Potentially increase in costs of O&M compared with conventional design

• More and different types of maintenance of bio-swales, street trees and vegetation

• An allowance will be included in the capital budget for additional operation and

maintenance costs during the pilot project period

Operational & Maintenance Challenges



Partnership in Monitoring & Evaluation

• Work with the Toronto & Region

Conservation Authority (TRCA) to

monitor the effectiveness of the

design in managing runoff at the

source

• Work with City Operations and Asset

Management departments to

evaluate maintenance and

operational cost impact

• Work with Contractor and

Consultants to evaluate the design

and cost of green roads.



Next Steps

• Subject to Council approval, Engineering, Operations, Asset

Management and TRCA to monitor the performance/effectiveness of the

Green Road pilot project for 2-3 years,

• Staff report back to Council on results of the monitoring program and

cost implications,

• If approved for future use, Engineering will develop design criteria,

implementation guidelines and operation and maintenance cost

estimates for the Green Road pilot project to be used in future

development applications (i.e. Future Urban Areas and the Remington -

South 14th Avenue subdivision) and capital projects, and

• If not successful, the pilot Green Road project would be converted to a

“conventional” stormwater conveyance system.



Resolutions

• That the presentation entitled “Markham Green Road Pilot, 14th Avenue and

Middlefield Road” Project be received; and

• That the “Markham Green Road Pilot, 14th Avenue and Middlefield Road”

design concepts be endorsed in principle; and

• That Staff report back to Council on monitoring results, cost implications

and Life cycle and operation impacts prior to consideration for

implementation with future development applications; and

• That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give

effect to this resolution.

Markham Green Road Pilot Project€¦ · Markham Green Road Pilot Project (14th Avenue and Middlefield Road) ... • Increase extent of urban tree canopy and vegetation to ... effect

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