Sustainability based rating systems have become quite numerous over the past few years. It is estimated that there are over 200 individual rating systems for civil engineering projects. I thought it would be informative to share a summary of some rating systems that are or are currently being planned to be used by transportation agencies. It is hard to determine if these rating systems will eventually be consolidated into just a few credible rating systems or programs. Many programs that have been developed are specific to an organization’s operations, environmental needs, local context and sustainability philosophy.
There are numerous questions for transportation agencies to consider when choosing or developing sustainability-based rating system and program. Here are a few questions to think about when developing or adopting a sustainability rating system program:
- Will the sustainability rating system be endorsed by upper management?
- Will upper management require the implementation and maintenance of the rating system?
- Is there added value in obtaining a rating program certification?
- Is there a cost savings and what is the return on the investment for program implementation?
- Do the rating system criteria reflect the agency philosophy?
- Is the rating system so complex or subjective that additional resources will be needed to manage the program or is it so superficial that the rating system means nothing?
- Does the rating system fit the context of the area and the projects?
- Will there be recognition for the Project Manager and staff who successfully implement the rating system?
- Does the rating system cover transportation planning, design, construction and operation/maintenance?
- Is there a life cycle analysis component that will identify short and long term financial requirements?
Summary of Transportation Sustainability Rating System Programs
| Agency | Program Name | Rating Categories | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York State Department of Transportation | Green Leadership in Transportation and Environmental Sustainability (GreenLITES) |
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LEED type rating system for transportation design. The internal based Certification Program is a means of evaluating the sustainability of transportation projects and to encourage the minimization of impacts to the environment and promoting sustainability in project design. Four levels of certification based upon a point/rating system. A requirement before projects can be advertized for construction. Also a version for transportation maintenance operations. |
| Washington DOT/University of Washington | GreenRoads |
|
Flexible rating system (performance metric) used to rank, score and compare road design and construction to a level of sustainability higher than current common practices. The ranking system contains a collection of required and voluntary best management practices that apply to highway design and construction. The rating system comprises 51 scoring criteria with a total of 118 points and has 4 certification levels. Points are verified by an independent review team. Basic program requirements (environmental management plans and life cycle analysis) must be met to achieve certification. |
| Illinois DOT | Illinois Livable and Sustainable Transportation (I-LAST) Rating System and Guide |
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The guide was developed by IDOT, the American Council of Engineering Companies and Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association. The guide contains a list of practices to bring sustainable practices into highway designs. The guide contains a total of 154 scoring elements with a maximum of 228 points. The rating guide provides a section that describes in detail the rating criteria and measure of effectiveness. ILAST is voluntary and not an official policy of IDOT. No internal certification program exists. |
| Portland (Oregon) Bureau of Transportation; Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission | Sustainable Transportation Access Rating System (STARS) |
|
STARS is an integrated planning/NEPA/design framework for transportation plans and projects which evaluates the full life cycle of transportation projects. The program is performance based thus requiring users to establish specific goals and objectives. The rating system takes a non-traditional approach by encouraging a mix of transportation and land use strategies to meet transportation needs. The program is organized into 29 credits; five specific credit areas are required to obtain certification. The program is currently in the pilot stage. |
| Wisconsin DOT, University of Wisconsin | Building Environmentally and Economically Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure Highways (BE2ST) |
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The BE2ST system employs quantitative assessment techniques to assess life cycle performance associated with highway design-construction. The approach uses a holistic perspective that incorporates quantitative metrics and uses mandatory screening and judgment indicators. Life cycle analysis is performed on environmental and economic parameters. |
| Federal Highway Administration | Sustainable Highways Self Evaluation Tool |
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The FHWA tool is a performance metric to monitor progress towards the goal of more sustainable roadways. The tool addresses sustainability in all phases of transportation process from planning through operation and maintenance. The rating system was developed with input from AASHTO, ASCE, ACEC and APWA. It builds upon other sustainability rating systems and encompasses the entire transportation life cycle. Some criteria weighting is used in the analysis. FHWA does not require the use of this tool to receive federal funding. Currently being Beta tested. |
| US EPA (Region 3), FHWA:, State Maryland DOT, District of Columbia DOT, Virginia DOT | Green Highway Partnerships |
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The program has an enormous amount of stakeholder involvement on the eastern mid-Atlantic portion of the US. It is a voluntary partnership to share sustainability information and guidance for highway systems. The emphasis is to fund and research innovative resource conservation practices such as watershed based best management practices. |
| Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure Ranking System | Envision |
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The American Society of Civil Engineers has been working jointly with the American Council of Engineering Companies and the American Public Works Association on a new infrastructure rating system that will verify civil engineering projects as sustainable. The rating system is based on the approach known as the "Triple Bottom Line" – economic, environmental and social impacts. The foundation of the rating system is the scoring based upon five levels of achievement for each criteria/objective. Guidance and methodologies are provided for the user. The program is out for public review and comment. |
| American Society of Landscape Architects | The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) |
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The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES™) is an interdisciplinary effort by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction, and maintenance practices. Included within the Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks is the SITES rating system, which assesses specific site performance on a 250‐point scale. Points are awarded based on credits covering such areas as site selection, the use of materials, restoration of soils and vegetation, and sustainable practices in construction and maintenance. Credits can apply to projects ranging from corporate campuses and transportation corridors to public parks and single‐family residences |
| Institution of Civil Engineer Research and Development Enabling Fund | Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme (CEEQUAL) |
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The Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme (CEEQUAL) is an assessment and awards approach for improving sustainability in civil engineering and the public realm. It aims to deliver improved project specification, design, and construction and to demonstrate the commitment of the civil engineering industry to environmental quality and social performance. The program rigorously assesses project performance across 12 areas of environmental and social concern. It rewards project and contract teams in which clients, designers, and constructors go beyond the legal and environmental minima to achieve distinctive environmental and social standards. |
| Australia DOT, Vic Roads | Integrated VicRoads Environmental Sustainability Tool (INVEST) | Under development | INVEST is similar to a number of programs in the US and distinguishes projects based on the extent to which they have incorporated sustainable choices both in design and construction. What differentiates this tool is that there are a number of prerequisite requirements that must be met before projects can be considered for a rating. While projects initially complete a self assessment questionnaire, this will be followed by independent verification where evidence of performance will need to be provided. |
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