Abstract Manager

Incorporating environmental gains into transportation project design requires more than simply mitigating risks—it demands a proactive approach to integrating green infrastructure and sustainable practices. Through neighbourhood renewal projects, Al-Terra has demonstrated how even within constrained urban environments, infrastructure design can achieve meaningful environmental benefits while delivering necessary transportation improvements.

Al-Terra's Urban Design and Renewal team prioritizes tree health and green infrastructure by embracing a design philosophy that looks to have any removed trees be replaced with new ones that are planted in better growing conditions than before. This is achieved through the implementation of low-impact development (LID) solutions which support healthier, more sustainable trees while improving air quality, enhancing stormwater management, and fostering more resilient streetscapes.

LID solutions play a critical role in treating stormwater before it enters the main stormwater system, and ultimately into existing downstream water bodies. This reduces strain on infrastructure during heavy rainfall, provides additional water for trees and plantings, and improves the quality of water. These principles are exemplified across several key projects:

• Fort Road: North Edmonton’s active transportation corridor integrates LID soil cells beneath shared pathways, addressing flooding concerns while enhancing rainwater management. Trees and plantings thrive with better water access and soil volume, supporting both the environment and active transportation.

• Garneau: In this well-established neighbourhood near the University of Alberta, road dieting created space for LID soil cells, absorbent landscaping, and planting beds within the roadway as planted chicanes to reduce hard surfaces. Road runoff water is treated through bio-retention basins in adjacent park spaces before re-entering the system, effectively mitigating flood risks and enhancing green infrastructure.

• Pleasantview: Road closures and oversized intersection reductions introduced additional greenspaces with new plantings and LID features. Soil cells and bio-retention basins treat stormwater while creating a greener, more sustainable community.

These projects, guided by a commitment to Vision Zero, Complete Streets, and Edmonton’s sustainability policies, illustrate how transportation design can deliver dual benefits: improved mobility and tangible environmental gains. Al-Terra’s work highlights the potential of thoughtful planning and innovative infrastructure solutions to transform urban spaces into greener, more sustainable, and resilient environments.