Is the phrase "Green Highways" an oxymoron?

Not at all.  It reflects a new paradigm, one that bridges the gap between the environmental and transportation communities.  This bridge is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Highway Administration.  As word spreads, the network of partners expands; each partner is a unique asset in shifting the paradigm further and making our highways greener. 

What makes a highway "green?"

A green highway integrates transportation functionality and ecological sustainability.  Green highways are:

• built with permeable materials that provide superior watershed-driven stormwater management, thus preventing metals and toxins from leaching into streams and rivers               
• constructed with recycled materials, thereby reducing landfill usage               
• designed using cutting-edge technologies to protect critical habitats and ecosystems from the encroachment of highway infrastructure

For more information on what makes a highway "green," visit this section of the website.

What are the steps to building a green highway?

The major stages of the Green Highway process are:

• planning and preliminary design            
• final design and construction               
• operations and maintenance

Though this process may seem daunting, it is made manageable through GHP's multi-dimensional approach (illustrated below):

What is a charrette, and how does it fit into the Green Highways process?

A charrette is a planning session that brings in all of the stakeholders on a particular project.  The session focuses on the task at hand and challenges the participants to rapidly, openly, and honestly examine the problem and help potential adversaries reach consensus on an appropriate solution. Charrettes are often used as a valuable part of the GHP planning process.  For more information on charrettes, visit the Federal Highway Administration website.