Past & Current Projects

Sustainable Rest Areas/Alternative Energy Assessment

The Assessment of CDOT Rest Areas for Sustainability Improvements and Highway Corridors and Facilities for Alternative Energy Source Use Project (the Project) complements the sustainability concept by enhancing the local environment within and near the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) rest areas and right of way (ROW), meeting the needs and presenting a positive Colorado image to the traveling public and using cost effective actions that conserve natural resources and reduce rest area and CDOT facilities’ operating costs.

TerraLogic in coordination with David Evans and Associates conceptualized this innovative project. The Project evaluates sustainable actions for two distinct but related elements; sustainable assessments and improvements to CDOT rest areas and the assessment of using CDOT ROW and facility properties to develop the use of alternative forms of energy. Rest areas are important to the safety of the traveling public and the interstate trucking industry. Many CDOT rest areas are lacking an overall sustainable system to reduce costs and control greenhouse gas emissions. Very limited research information exists nationwide on sustainable rest areas and their environmental footprint.

Innovative energy generation within the CDOT can be a cost effective way to power rest areas, maintenance facilities and intersection lighting and signaling. This alternative energy approach has been recently used by the Oregon Department of Transportation using a solar array within the ROW to power a near-by interchange; this project was designed by one of our teaming members David Evans and Associates, Inc.
TerraLogic has teamed with Colorado State University-Pueblo and David Evans in the execution of this project that is scheduled to be completed February 1, 2011.

Project Contact: Vanessa Henderson- CDOT Research and Development

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