Buffalo's Pervious Pavement Project

This photo just opens the door for a "Best Caption" contest!

I would think melting and freezing snow and ice may present a problem

Won't this also allow road salt to poison more of the ground & the roots of street trees?

I'm impressed Mr Mayor ....

I didn't realize that Elmwood village merged with North Buffalo.

This is a great stepn the right direction. Anything done to mitigate the overflows is commendable. Pervious pavement has been used in the north, however,there are still structural and maintenance issues with this technology. By virtue of the excess void spaces within the product, yes, ice and snow can build up within it and perhaps cause fracturing. Leaves and solids and dirt, etc.. can get inside it as well. Green infrasture practices require a plethora of techniques for various situations. Green infrastructure practices must focus on the GREEN component - for several reasons.
Pervious concrete/asphalt is merely a tool in the tool box. Dave comerford and Steve Stepniak are recpeptive to the NEED for LID approaches and should be commended here. Excelent job and hopefully muchmore is on the way. This is great progress!!!

This is a relatively new process in Buffalo. In addition to concerns regarding freezing and thawing, the pores in the asphalt that allow the water to permeate to the subsurface recharge bed and subgrade must be kept clean of debris to prevent clogging. If the pores fill (they most likely will on a city street) they will not allow water to the base, hence runoff will continue to occur to the drain inlet as on a normally paved street. This system requires regular maintenance, vacuum sweeping, etc. and salt or other chemicals can not be used with system in the winter in order to protect sub-surface soils and groundwater.

This is a great stepn the right direction. Anything done to mitigate the overflows is commendable. Pervious pavement has been used in the north, however,there are still structural and maintenance issues with this technology. By virtue of the excess void spaces within the product, yes, ice and snow can build up within it and perhaps cause fracturing. Leaves and solids and dirt, etc.. can get inside it as well. Green infrasture practices require a plethora of techniques for various situations. Green infrastructure practices must focus on the GREEN component - for several reasons.
Pervious concrete/asphalt is merely a tool in the tool box. Dave comerford and Steve Stepniak are recpeptive to the NEED for LID approaches and should be commended here. Excelent job and hopefully muchmore is on the way. This is great progress!!!

Marks is correct!

It does require vacuuming at least. The void spaces must be kept clear and realtively free of debris accumulation. Too much buildup of debris, leaf matter, grit, snow, water.... and then freeze/thaw.... will allow for fracturing.
But, it still is impervious and can be an alternative in areas where green spaces cannot fit - especially on old streets, narrow lanes, and many mature trees.

simply put - pervious concrete merely has little or no sand in it.
we should still focus on, whenever possible, the GREEN component in Green Infrastructure, and all the benefits it brings to the table - when feasible.
And, we should be aware of the countless new "green products" that will inevitibly unnundate this new Green Infrastrucutre market we call "Buffalo". That is a gimme.
Most "products" will be attracive as they are marketed as an easy way out.
It is about a dedication to a philosophy or long term process and NOT some product/s.

But, this news today is a good step in the right direction for BSA and DPW.

Is the fine mayor cleaning up after his son's latest accident?

I believe this is to cut down on the water that specifically drains into Hoyt Lake. Which is what that new drainage/roadwork was all about there on this section of Forest earlier this summer. So I've heard at least..

I've seen the porous pavement in action in Europe, and it's pretty miraculous during a rainstorm. The highway had no flooding and was almost instantly dry. Primarily done for safety I think.

Fail.... Epically. The reason this is used almost nowhere in snowy climates is that eventually the snow and freeze thaw cycles destroy it. If you think the city is going to Adequately maintain this you're more delusional than the average Byron Brown supporter. The ONLY reason the city would agree to do this is because the $3M plus for the project was provided via a grant. If this were truly feasible cities would be doing it everywhere from New England to Minnesota.

Typical Brown.... Trip and fall into a grant and then promote it like its our own idea.

Looks like a NYS DOT crew, one guy working and four people watching.

Cobbled streets would have worked better, possibly cost less, and not need a vacuuming.

As far as the caption: "Maybe if I just watered the City more. . . "

One import question that wasn't addressed is the cost comparison between this and traditional road construction. Being more efficient and green is obviously good however die hard greenies never seem to fully explore or even care much about how much this is costing taxpayers in relation to current expenditures. Is it feasible? It could be but only if the city/state can afford it with already stretched resources.

Now I've been excited about green infrastructure and stormwater management.

But the Mayor appears to be REALLY excited.

It's a good thing.

Isn't Clarendon Place in Delware District?

Here's another pic -- this one may be even better:
http://bit.ly/OLdX09

Here it is so you can see it (I think):

No? Hmm. Try this:

OK then. To state the obvious, my attempts to include an image in a comment had about as much success as the South Korean badminton team.