Extreme weather events, flooding and rising sea levels devastate communities, destroy or severely damage costly infrastructure, and introduce a strong element of uncertainty in current and future planning. This new normal spotlights how and where we build new -- or strengthen existing -- infrastructure and communities and the governance systems that manage and regulate these decisions and investments. Hear experts tackle these issues, from Hurricane Sandy to sea level rise in the Bay Area. What are the weak links in terms of existing infrastructure, cross-jurisdictional government response systems and disaster preparedness? Learn about state guidelines and legislation. Discuss how transportation agencies deal with major transit infrastructure challenges. Discover the role of natural systems in protecting critical transit infrastructure Moderator: Allison Brooks, Executive Director, Bay Area Regional Collaborative, Oakland, California Eric Fang, AIA, AICP, LEED AP, Associate Principal, EE&K, a Perkins Eastman Company, New York, New York Projjal Dutta, AIA, LEED AP, Director, Sustainability Initiatives, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York, New York James Allison, Manager of Planning, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, Oakland, California JR DeLaRosa, Special Assistant for Climate Change, California Natural Resources Agency, Sacramento, California

1. HOBOKEN
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
STRATEGIC PLAN
Railvolution 2015
Eric C.Y. Fang, AIA, AICP, LEED AP

2. 1. The Problems
2. Identifying What to Protect
3. “BMP Bang for the Buck”
4. City-wide strategy
5. Implementation Strategies

3. • Increasing intensity and
frequency of severe
weather and flooding
occurrences has created
significant challenges to
Hoboken’s antiquated
stormwater management
infrastructure
• Between July 2002 and July
2012 the City recorded 26
dates with greater than 2
inches of precipitation and
tides of 4 feet or higher
T H E P R O B L E M S

4. • During storm
events,
Hoboken’s sewer
infrastructure is
overtaxed
resulting in
system backups
that produce
flooding in the
lowest-lying
areas
T H E P R O B L E M S

5. • In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene
and Superstorm Sandy
unprecedented flood levels crippled
Hoboken’s heavily-trafficked
transportation infrastructure
• Residents were stranded in their
homes for extended periods of time,
personal and public property were
destroyed
• Public health hazards were
intensified
• The storms also brought commercial
activity to an abrupt halt,
collectively costing business owners
millions of dollars in revenue.
T H E P R O B L E M S

6. • Hoboken is almost
80% (77.79%)
impervious
coverage
• Lack of pervious
coverage creates
higher demand on
the storm sewer
system.
76%
97%
83%
78%
70%
94%
82%
Percent Impervious by Sewershed
N
T H E P R O B L E M S

7. T H E P R O B L E M S : T H E S E W E R S Y S T E M D U R I N G W E T W E A T H E R ( C S O ) E V E N T S
Regulator
Pump/Pumping Station
Trunk Line
Interceptor
• Currently, the
Hoboken waste water
treatment plant is
overtaxed by storm
flows an average of
five times per month
leading to combined
sewer overflows.
• Future federal
regulations may
require the North
Hudson Sewerage
Authority to reduce
this number to four per
year

8. BMP “BANG FOR THE BUCK”
Constructed
Wetlands
Permeable
Pavements
Stormwater
Trees
Swales Rainwater
Harvest &
Reuse
Basins or
Ponds
Rain
Gardens
Stormwater
Infiltration
Planters
Subsurface
Storage
Green
Roofs
• Where should they be deployed?
• How should they be implemented?

9. Defining the Problems: Hoboken’s Seven Main Sewersheds
1.86
S T O R M W A T E R V O L U M E G E N E R A T E D D U R I N G 1 - Y E A R R A I N F A L L E V E N T
(Millions of Cubic Feet)
0.22
0.41
0.61 0.85
0.17
0.61
• Hoboken's combined sewer system
service area is organized into seven
main sewersheds
• Of these, H1 handles almost
40% of the total volume in the
City
• Total:
4.74 Million Cubic Feet

10. • Interrelationships between the system’s sewersheds may aggravate flooding.
• H1, which handles almost 40% of the total storm-water volume in the City.
T H E P R O B L E M S

11. Hoboken
Terminal
2nd Street
Station 9th Street
Station
WWTP
9th Street
Light Rail
Station
I D E N T I F Y I N G W H A T W E N E E E D T O P R O T E C T :
Transit
Transit Station
Bus Depot
Ferry
Emergency Routes
Transit Routes
¼ Mile Walk Radius

12. Jubilee Center and Hoboken
Housing Authority
I D E N T I F Y I N G W H A T W E N E E E D T O P R O T E C T :
Vulnerable communities

13. A R E A S M O S T A F F E C T E D B Y F L O O D I N G
No Respondents
Some Respondents
Many Respondents
Flooding Intersection
Flooding Street

14. Shallow Bedrock
B M P S I T I N G C O N S T R A I N T S
Park
Flood-prone Area
Poorly-Infiltrating Soils

15. Strategic BMP Implementation
Catch Basin Flood Point
Flood-prone area
Potential
North End
Rehabilitation
Area
City-Identified
Flood Areas
Shallow Bedrock
O P P O R T U N I T E S
Pervious surfaceGray Zone:
Shallow bedrock
Catch Basin
Flood Points

16. $1
$3
$6
$10 $11
$15
$28 $30
$35
$41
6 3
8
6 5
12
8 5
12
2
$0
$5
$10
$15
$20
$25
$30
$35
$40
$45
$50
Constructed
Wetlands
Permeable
Pavements
Stormwater
Trees
Swales Rainwater
Harvest &
Reuse
Basins or
Ponds
Rain
Gardens
Stormwater
Infiltration
Planters
Subsurface
Storage
Green
Roofs
Average Capital Cost ($/ cu.ft) Average O&M Cost (percentage of capital)
BMP COST-EFFECTIVENESS

17. BMP H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7
Basins or Ponds
574,096 297,338 218,041
Constructed Wetlands
172,229 89,201 65,412
Swales
114,819 5,179 28,681 59,468 43,608
Stormwater Tree Pits
57,410 1,726 6,871 9,560 29,734 1,926 21,804
Rain Gardens
229,639 10,359 76,482 118,935 87,216
Subsurface Storage
172,229 12,949 154,586 57,361 89,201 43,337 65,412
Stormwater Planters
344,458 10,359 57,361 89,201 65,412
Permeable Pavements
2,762 15,296 23,787 17,443
Rainwater Harvest &
Reuse 12,968 634 3,547 5,006 9,984 1,810 4,780
Green Roofs
25,936 2,535 14,189 20,024 19,968 7,240 9,561
TOTAL
1,703,784 46,504 179,193 269,771 826,817 54,313 598,690
Gray signifies that a BMP is not recommended in a given Sewershed
POTENTIAL STORMWATER THAT CAN BE CAPTURED USING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
• H1, H4, H5 and H7 present
the biggest potential
opportunities to capture
stormwater using Green
Infrastructure BMPs
Potential Amount of Stormwater captured by BMPs by sewershed (cu. ft)
during a 1-inch storm event

18. Detention
Detain stormwater through
above-ground BMPs
(rainwater harvesting and
green/blue roofs) and
subsurface storage)
Smaller-scale BMPs for long
term incremental benefit:
• Daylighting areas
• Commercial Property
Retrofits
• Public property including
parks and schools
Jersey City
G R A Y Z O N E : D E T E N T I O N
GRAY
ZONE

19. Infiltration
Infiltrate stormwater using vegetated BMPs, eg.
rain gardens, swales, stormwater trees,
infiltration planters and permeable pavements
Large-Scale BMPs for more immediate Impact:
• Subsurface Storage under the Pino Site Park;
• Constructed wetlands or basin in the
Northwest, Western Edge and Potential
North End Rehabilitation Areas
G R E E N Z O N E : I N F I L T R A T I O N
GREEN
ZONE

20. Retention
Retain stormwater focusing on the Western
Edge and Potential North End Rehabilitation
Areas (basins or ponds, constructed wetlands,
subsurface storage)
Jersey City
B L U E Z O N E : R E T E N T I O N
BLUE
ZONE

21. GRAY
ZONE
GREEN
ZONE
BLUE
ZONE

22. N
T
T
T
Study Area
Flood-prone area
OPPORTUNITIES
Redevelopment and
Rehabilitation Areas
Publicly-Owned Land and
Critical Transit Infrastructure

23. IMPLEMENTATION
Homeowners and
Business Owners
Development
Community
Public Sector
Incorporate BMP’s into ordinances
- Redevelopment Plans
Performance Based Zoning
Stormwater Infrastructure
Trust Fund
- Zoning Ordinance
Impervious Coverage
Stormwater Regulations
Develop compatible standards in
coordination with the County and
Sewerage Authority
• Create a guidance document for
City/County public improvements
• Coordination with County (Streets)
• City: Parks Dept, Housing Authority,
Board of Education, Road Dept.
• Coordination with Regional and
State Entities (NJT)
• Pursue Funding: NJDEP
Infrastructure Trust, HUD
• Guidebook
• Economic Incentives
– Stormwater Management Tax
Credit: Currently proposed
– FAR, Height, Density incentives,
especially in areas with highest
contribution to flooding
– Research alternative funding
mechanisms for implementation
of BMPs

24. Opportunities
• Realize significant rainfall
retention/treatment
• Ripe for immediate action
• Reduced cost to the public
• Incremental development
supported
• Integrated Green Infrastructure
Challenges
• BMP Cost
• BMP Site Suitability
• BMP Implementation
• BMP Effectiveness
R E D E V E L O P M E N T A R E A O P P O R T U N I T I E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Investigation Designated Designated (Plan)

25. Performance/Incentive Zoning
• Regulate: On-Site Rainfall Retained
• Incentives: FAR, Height, Density
• Factors:
% of Pervious Coverage
% of Impervious Surface treated by BMP
Stormwater Trust Fund
• District Wide Approach
• Site constraints/cost limit BMP
• Contribution of funds
• Funds used for BMP in public realm
Regulation Rainfall Retained
1-25% 25-50% 51%+
FAR 1.0 3.2 4.0
Height 2 story 8 story 12 story
Density 28 DU/ Acre 55 DU/ Acre 90 DU/ Acre
R E C O M M E N D E D R E G U L A T I O N O P T I O N S

26. R E D E V E L O P M E N T A R E A C A S E S T U D Y :
Western Edge Upper Monroe Street
• H5 Sewershed: generates the
second-highest volume of stormwater
• Identified as high flood risk area
• Protection of public infrastructure:
9th Street NJ Transit Station
• Designated with a
Redevelopment Plan
• Capacity to retain rainfall based
upon soils and depth to bedrock
• Connectivity to open space network

27. D I S T R I C T A P P R O A C H / S T O R M W A T E R T R U S T F U N D :
BASF
SITE

28. D I S T R I C T A P P R O A C H / S T O R M W A T E R T R U S T F U N D

29. HOBOKEN
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
STRATEGIC PLAN
Railvolution 2015
Eric C.Y. Fang, AIA, AICP