The material, now being tested on California roads, is made using recycled PET plastic and promises longer-lasting road treatments.
As part of its commitment to the sustainability goals laid out in L.A.'s Green New Deal, Los Angeles became the first city to install recycled plastic asphalt on a city street, writes Haley Rischar.
The concept of recycled pavement panels first took hold close to two decades ago when city leaders in L.A.'s coastal neighbor, Santa Monica, sought a solution to broken sidewalks caused by tree roots. To accommodate the roots and provide a smoother right-of-way for residents, Santa Monica has used rubber panels made from recycled car tires to repair sidewalks constantly under threat from unruly tree roots since 2001.
Now, a segment of First Street near near City Hall is receiving the treatment. The innovative product is infused with recycled PET plastic that "has the potential to reduce the use of petroleum in asphalt." Although not yet tested on roads, the material promises to have five or more times the strength of normal asphalt and last more than twice as long, saving money and time spent on road repairs.
The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) is also testing recycled plastic pavement in a three-lane installation on Highway 162 near Oroville.
FULL STORY: Los Angeles applies recycled plastic asphalt on first major city street
Opinion: LA Should Reject ‘Misguided’ Car-Centric Policies
Even as the city highlights clean energy and transportation for the 2028 Olympics, Metro and Caltrans move forward with plans to expand highways.
Audit: Caltrans Ignored Red Flags Before Freeway Fire
A lax inspection schedule contributed to the hazardous conditions that led to the massive blaze that shut down Interstate 10 in Los Angeles last year.
Southern California Freeway Expansion Plans Scrapped
After more than a decade of planning, Caltrans has officially dropped the I-710 Corridor Project, a plan to widen Interstate 710 for a long stretch of the freeway near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service