TRANSPORTATION UPDATES San Antonio tests ‘cool’ pavement in new project This spring, city crews dropped cool pavement on 12 select roads in all 10 San Antonio City Council districts in a pilot program designed to counter rising temperatures in the hottest parts of town. Senior Sustainability Manager Murray Myers said the city crews are using products similar to typical street asphalt pavement materials, but these water-based products contain additives to reflect solar radiation. Myers said conventional dark pavements magnify urban heat island effects in areas where there is more roadway and a density of concrete structures. “‘Cool pavement’ has the added benefit of reflecting more sun and absorbing less heat. In some places, there can be a difference of 10 to 15 degrees compared with places with regular pavement,” Myers said. On San Antonio’s north side, the pilot project involved applying cool pavement in two spots in Encino Park and in one spot near Vance Jackson Road. Myers said the pilot program locations were chosen using various factors, including neighborhoods most affected by heat, pavement conditions and the city’s attempt to ensure a more equitable distribution of infrastructure improvements citywide. The $1 million pilot program is supported by the city’s
COMPILED BY EDMOND ORTIZ
ONGOING PROJECTS
COOLING THE ROADS City of San Antonio work crews applied cool pavement on 12 roads, including three north side-area streets, as part of a pilot project.
B O R G
281
OVERLOOK PKWY.
Encino Park neighborhood
MOUNTAIN LODGE
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STONE OAK PKWY.
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PARK HOLLOW
ENCINO PASS
ENCINO RIDGE ST.
ENCINO LOOP
North US 281 expansion Phase 2 of widening of US 281 from Stone Oak Parkway to Borgfeld Drive has recently included alternating lane closures at Mountain Lodge, Borgfeld Drive and Overlook Parkway mainly for asphalt work. The overall project adds three lanes, including one high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction. The project also features bike lanes, pedestrian upgrades, a new freeway entrance and exit ramps. Timeline: March 2019-summer 2023 Cost: $168.8 million Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation
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Vance Jackson neighborhood
BIG MEADOWS LN.
FLINT HILL ST.
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SOURCE: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
resiliency, energy efficiency and sustainability program fund, Myers said. Higher evening temperatures lead to more energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and other harmful effects, city officials said. Myers said he and his staff will spend the next six months studying the test locations and working with The University of Texas at San Antonio researchers to evaluate the cool pavement’s potential for wider use.
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MAY 3. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT NSANEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
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