Nonstructural Approaches to Reduce Sediment and Pollutant Runoff from Transportation Infrastructure in Urbanized Areas

Details

• Creators:
  Sheerin, Andrew ; Oyanedel-Craver, Vinka ; Goodwill, Joesph
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Rhode Island. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering ; University of Maine. Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center (TIDC)
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology ; Rhode Island. Department of Transportation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Chemical Analysis Coast And River Protective Works Geographic Information Systems GIS-based Modeling Heavy Metals High Volume Roads Hydrocarbon Based Materials Industrial Areas Infrastructure Nutrients Pollution Road Prioritization Roads Runoff Sediments Solids Stormwater Management Street Cleaning Street Solids Street Sweeping Traffic Traffic Related Pollution Urban Areas Urban Runoff Water Quality

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  3.15
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Rhode Island
• Edition:
  Final Report: 07/15/2021 – 09/01/2023
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of Maine. Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center (TIDC)
• Abstract:
  Urban stormwater runoff is a major contributor to water quality impairment in developed areas, transporting sediments, nutrients, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons from impervious surfaces into rivers and coastal waters. This study examined pollutant accumulation on state-maintained roadways in Warwick, Rhode Island, to support the development of an enhanced street sweeping program as a nonstructural stormwater management practice for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). Street solids and stormwater samples were collected from roadway segments representing diverse land uses, canopy coverage, and traffic volumes across multiple seasons. Physical and chemical analyses revealed substantial spatial and seasonal variability in street solid accumulation, ranging from 1,200 to over 9,300 lb./curb-mile. Heavy metals were concentrated along high-traffic commercial and industrial corridors, while nutrients were more prevalent on residential streets with dense tree canopy. Fine particles, which carry a disproportionate share of metals, were most readily mobilized during storm events. To translate these findings into actionable strategies, a GIS-based Road Prioritization Model (RPM) was developed to rank roadway segments by sweeping priority using weighted factors such as land use, canopy coverage, and traffic volume. Seasonal configurations demonstrated that targeted sweeping combined with rain forecasting can improve pollutant removal efficiency. This framework provides RIDOT with a data-driven approach to optimize sweeping operations and enhance water quality protection.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7746a1f2106bdb08ea3a523d29858003b33ff5674f23c00b77bb6924797b27cab5eced62b4fac4be6bc5500a40b01cc04642880435c2100aff72466e08284083
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/88850/dot_88850_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.50 MB ]