L.A. INFRASTRUCTURE FORUM SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION renovations to be net-zero carbon. • Multiply the number of communi-ties with a Walk Score of 70 or higher from 17 to 45. • Increase the proportion of residents within half a mile of parks and open space to 85%. “We’re also proud of the regional investments to stabilize water consump-tion despite continual population growth,” Pestrella added. “Water is an incredible source of life as well as a commodity. We have to stay ahead of the possibility of running out of a reliable source. We are making L.A. County spongy so surface water can infiltrate and then be recycled. Our 2045 goal is to source 80% of water locally, which will be up from 41% as of our 2017 baseline.” Another down-to-earth approach that’s paying off is pavement preserva-tion. L.A. County calculates the total cost of maintaining roads over a 20-year lifecycle. By placing an emphasis on preventive maintenance, upkeep is between $0.20-1.25 sq ft or roughly $2 per sq ft for resurfacing. The goal is to avoid major rehabilitation or recon-struction, which costs anywhere from $3-5 per sq ft. Infrastructure as a Right Infrastructure disparities between neighborhood amenities have a ripple effect. Poor air quality contributes to asthma, lack of parks or trails worsens sedentary lifestyles, the absence of sidewalks impacts diabetes rates and so on. Through its Equity in Infra-structure Initiative, L.A. County plans projects that will improve life outcomes in underserved areas. “Our work is for people—it’s in the name civil engineering,” Pestrella emphasized. “Most people recognize that some communities look ‘better’ than others, such as one neighborhood has more trees whereas one floods constantly. You have to account for historic investments and which people were excluded from that flow of money. Race and government spending intersect.” For example, improvements in the Sun Valley Watershed in San Fernando Valley lowered absentee days at a nearby school. Due to improper siting, the school had to cancel on rainy days due to flash flooding that made it unsafe to drive on the streets, much less walk. Infiltration strategies like a constructed wetland and converting gravel pits into a retention basin now help with storm drainage. Unconventional metrics like health data are also pivotal to deciding a fair distribution for L.A. County’s projects and services. Top considerations include factors like public transportation to grocery stores, distance to mental health resources and access to active recreation. “We want to know what’s the mortality rate and what diseases are driving that, especially in our lower income communities. Because infra-structure impacts everyone’s day, liveli-hoods and health,” Pestrella explained. “It can be both the root problem and solution to a community’s wellness.” The Human Side of Stormwater Projects By Maria Alvarez , Vice President and Senior Project Director, AtkinsRéalis Stormwater management isn’t just an environmental necessity— it’s an equity issue too. Allowing rainwater to infiltrate into the ground is an impor-tant way to address urban pollution. But stormwater projects also deserve credit for the beautification they lend to neighborhoods. L.A. is a city of concrete, which often places dispropor-tional stress on low-income areas. No matter the zip code, residents deserve access to nature. Stormwater projects on any scale can refresh a community in myriad ways: • Bioswales and wetlands are filled with native plants that add natural interest. • Retention planters look like a mini garden with intentional land-scaping. • Trees offer a natural habitat and shade. • Drought-tolerant plants stay lush and verdant. • Shale trails encourage active life styles and moments of respite. • Educational signage is a conversa-tional starter. Stormwater infrastructure, like the Westwood Greenway Project, are a community asset. AtkinsRéalis completed the design and construction oversight of the Westwood Greenway Project (pictured) in West Los Angeles, and the firm is currently designing the Wilmington Q Street Local Area Urban Flow Management Project. Both sites include stormwater groundwater infiltration, water quality features and community enhancements such as landscaping, pedestrian facilities and interpretive signage. Everyone benefits when stormwater projects reduce the amount of concrete. Many strategies, like bioswales, make an immediate visual difference. Others have far-reaching impacts, like green infrastructure incorporated into a park update. Stormwater projects are an essential community asset that help people have a sense of pride in where they live. enr.com/california/resources/SpecialAd 46 | December 11/18, 2023 PHOTO: COURTESY OF ATKINSRÉALIS
ENR Sections L.A. Infrastructure Forum Supplement: Page-46
